It’s no secret, I’m a lover of the Shabby Chic. Absolutely drool over the small cottage stores I come across, love finding little bits and pieces in thrift stores, and am a huge fan of Target’s Shabby line. My desire to Shabby-it-up can get expensive. Let’s face it, even when on sale, Target’s Shabby stuff isn’t usually something I can afford.
I took matters into my own hands, and turned some boring furniture into pieces I am absolutely in love with – and I did it for free. I happened to have the supplies on hand, but if you don’t, it really won’t cost you much.
Supplies needed:
- Piece of furniture, photo frame, shelf, or the like.
- Two flavors of paint – a dark (charcoal for me) for the base and a light (white or cream I usually do) for the top coat.
- Wax candle.
- Small piece of sand paper or block.
The how to:
- Paint your darker color first. I prefer a charcoal.
- Let it dry overnight, you want it good and dry for the next step.
- Now take your wax candle and rub it along anywhere you’re wanting the “effect” to take place. I like to focus mainly along the edges and corners. Sometimes I’ll smooth it on thicker in random areas, for a more dramatic result.
- Bust out the lighter color and paint away. The wax from the candle will act as a repellent of sorts, allowing the darker color to show through.
- Again, allow this to dry.
- Lastly, you’ll take your sanding block or paper and gently go over the areas where your wax was. This will allow for more of the distressed look. You won’t need to be too aggressive with it, as the wax has done a good job in the first place. Depending on the piece, I’ve gone over areas that didn’t have wax to begin with. It is all about how you want it to look, there really is no right or wrong way.
In this time of financial struggle, when we are clipping coupons and cutting corners, I think finding ways to be creative with what we already have is a gift. Being able to make use of something sitting in the garage or a fabulous freebie from Craigslist, and turning them into new and exciting treasures – ah what joy!
I’d love to hear how you have done this in your own life? Looking forward to reading your comments!
