Indiscreet Secret Revealed

in·dis·creet

ˌindəˈskrēt/

adjective

having, showing, or proceeding from too great a readiness to reveal things that should remain secret or private.

definition source

I bought this dresser last week, and have been itching to paint it since. As usual, I used my home made chalk paint recipe (which is totally cheap to make). I chose the color Indiscreet from Behr, which is a gorgeous deep red. FYI-Indiscreet is the color match to Emperor's Silk from Annie Sloan. I'll tell you what I love about my chalk paint recipe, I don't have any stains leaking through. You know those sneaky stains that you swear you wiped away when you cleaned the furniture. Or those ones that keep coming through after using Killz. Ya, those ones. I have yet to see any stains coming through on my pieces, which is great cause it saves me hours of frustration. We've all been there. 

Ok, let's get started. Here's the before.

I painted a coat of teal as the first coat. I like the dimension of a different tone underneath. Then put 2 coats of red on top. Sanding is always a breeze with my recipe. I like to use a 220 grit sand paper for my finishing sanding, this way I have good control over how much paint I take off. I also clear coated with Minwax Water Base. This way the piece is nice and durable for the customer.

Can you see the teal peaking through?

Sorry about the purple tone. I was having a heck of a time editing this picture. How can was this be the best of  my efforts. Argh. Perhaps I should invest in some editing classes.

Dainty little legs.

Voila! Finis. 

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Duck Egg Side Board for Easter Dinner

Hello. I wanted to squeeze in this post before we leave for the weekend to my in-laws. I had a client contact me to have a side board re-done. She really likes the over distressed look, which isn't my forte. Thank goodness she put her trust in me, because the piece turned out fabulous. Unfortunately the hardware is not on, as they're still drying on my garage floor. And I'm pretty sure I won't be able to lug this out to take a picture before she comes next week. So here it is. Ready for her to show off at Easter Dinner!

I actually had two firsts with this side board.
1. Over distressing (baby steps, next time I will do more) 
2. Using Duck Egg Chalk Paint by Annie Sloan

I love the tone.

Lots of extra distressing.

Before and after.

Hope you liked my first Duck Egg project. I think you might see more of this color. Thanks for stopping by and enjoy your weekend.

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Emperor's Silk Makeover

Happy Friday. We're off on our last ski trip for the year, and I have to share this piece before I pack everything up. I love the look of Annie Sloan's Emperor's Silk, it's the perfect red. Bright and crisp, without looking poppy or orange. Here are the pictures that were sent from the owner. Pretty average. Nice lines, great potential.

I sanded all over lightly, but by the looks of the top it was already roughed up. Then set to painting the chalk paint on. I used 3 coats all over, to make sure I achieved the bright red. 

After it was all dry, I gave a light sand and applied Miss Mustard Seed's wax. I love the cream texture and velvet feel. I used a couple of black knobs I had to snap the pic, but would really love to see gold knobs. Of course using my fav product by Amco, Rub'n Buff in Gold leaf. You can check out my tutorial here. Super easy to use.

I think it turned out great. 

Thanks for stopping by and enjoy your weekend!

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Chalk Paint Grey Side Board

Hello. Hope everyone is enjoying their Saturday. Mine is going to be great, I can tell. The weather has finally lifted here and I can smell spring in the air. It tickles my nose and lingers with freshness. I may just have to make a stop while I'm out, and grab a bouquet of fresh flowers. 

Here's the handsome fellow I worked on last night. Below, is how he looked before.

Pretty average. I was drawn to the detail in the side doors. It did come as a full hutch, but the upper part had this ugly  unique fabric as the back panel and trimmed around all the glass. Typically, I could have pulled it off the back panel and painted it. I can not work with it around the glass, not with out many tears. The store kept it to sell seperately.

I re-stained the top with Varathane Gel Stain in Dark Walnut. Check out this post, to see my previous project using  the Gel Stain.

I wanted to show you, how it can tone down any discolorations in the wood. The top on this piece had yellowed a bit from sunlight. All fixed now.

I also used some Rub'n Buff Gold leaf on the handles. Take a look at this post to see the "how to". I think they turned out perfect.

I did light brush strokes on the side doors, too keep the depth and detail.

What a handsome piece.

Before and after.

Thanks for stopping by today, I hope you have a wonderful weekend. Take care.

Our furry family member, Cali. She's even smiling for me.

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Headboard Chalk Board DIY

Happy Monday!! Well not really. It's still freezing here, and I'm dreaming of the sun. It always makes me jealous when I see other bloggers photos with green grass and flowers in the back ground. I WISH! I have tried to convince my husband to no avail that we should move to nicer weather. Sadly, its not happening anytime soon:(

Back in December I came across this great post by createinspireme. She had turned an old headboard into a DIY chalk board. I had one of these bad boys sitting in my furnace room. Picked it up a year before hoping to refinish it for my oldest, but she changed her mind.

Here's my finished Chalk Boards. I smile that I got 2 from 1. Doesn't everyone love BOGO's?

I had the knobs saved and added some Rustoleum Oil Rubbed Bronze. My fav stuff.

If you like this DIY, please vote for me here by clicking my photo on the East Coast Creative. Check out their blog, really cool projects!. Mine is way at the bottom #210. I would love to make the team!!

Thanks for stopping in and take care. {or stay warm if you are living up North}

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Pinterest Inspiration Thursday #3

Hello. Hope all my Canadian friends had a fantastic Family Day long weekend! We're back from our ski trip. While we were in Fernie, it dumped over 12 inches of snow. For us skiers, that is {EPIC}! Unfortunately with grocery shopping and laundry when we came back, I have not been able to start any projects. I was able to Pin during our 24 hours of driving! Yay! (at least I stayed awake, I usually fall asleep just out of the drive)

First Pin, which is going to be a near future project.

I love chevron stripes!! Now to find the perfect muse.

Another future project...I'm thinking a towel holder at the lake. Maybe in a nice ocean turquoise? our local Re-Store has old bi-folds cheap. 

Also for the lake, an outdoor chandelier with solar lights. How cool? I want to take an old umbrella holder ,and put a plant holder hook at the end. Voila! and I could have a gorgeous chandelier over our picnic table. Or maybe by the campfire? Check out leahglass, for more.

These are my favs for the week. Hopefully you have found some inspiration.

You can follow me here on Pinterest!

Thank you and take care.

Hi Jack

I am Canadian....does that make me part British? The queen is on my coins. I love following Princess Kate and the new baby. That must make me part British?

I picked up this totally cute desk a week ago. Rolled it into my dining room, and it received quite a bit of attention. He was used as a store counter, school desk, lego holder, and would have been many more....except I decided to paint it, before it never left. 

I knew I wanted to do a Union Jack flag, and wanted a nice simple canvas to practice on.

I wanted neutral colors and not gender specific. There were a ton of grey and blacks. {perfect} I'm a close enough girl, so this project may not have been meant for me. 

Here's the first picture.

I taped off the two criss-cross lines, you can see where the tape was. I filled in the gaps by hand.

Next were the diagonal lines. I brought hubby in for this, my good enough wasn't...well good enough. Although I'm not sure his was either.

You can see how the inner corners of the black lines, are not symmetrical. For this girl, that's as close as it gets! Next I sanded the entire piece, with a little extra to the top. Finishing it off with Annie Sloan Soft Clear wax. I did use the dark wax for the second coat, but felt it was too dark. I used another coat of clear, to buff out the dark wax. 

Nicely distressed. I feel like it softens the lines.

Tadaa!

Now don't get me wrong... there are a ton of tutorials out there, that are precision at its best. That is not what I wanted, nor did I intend to offend anyone. 

In all seriousness, is it noticeable?

Thanks & take care.

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Big Red

Oh the weather outside is frightful

But my furniture's so delightful

And since we've no place to go

I will paint! I will paint! I will paint!

I love the feeling of Christmas with 3 feet of snow to go with it! 

Right now I'm busy finishing up some end tables, which I will post next week. So in the mean time I thought I could follow up on a picture I posted previously.

Found it at my local thrift shop in summer. Beauty, right? It sat in my husbands man cave garage for 2 months. Towards the end of summer it was being threatened with eviction...so I decided to tackle it. I first tried to use MMSP Tricyle Red, with the hopes it would chip. 

Nope. Decided not to chip. {don't you love how that works?} 

Then I tried to wax it. Nope. Looked all blotchy. For some reason  the wax absorbed in some places and some places not at all. If anyone has an answer to this, please share.

SO, then I tried some Annie Sloan Emperor's Silk. Went on great. Perfect finish, etc. Waxed the mammoth and buffed her out. I should include this was still in my husbands man cave garage. Two days later I go out to take pictures and there is a giant scrape the size of a playing card on the top. ARGH! 

Needless to say, I was back at it.

Sand out the scrape, paint, wax and buff! {third time} and get it out of the garage quick. I think it was worth the effort.

This is my favorite angle.

The handles kinda remind me of bamboo shoots.

This piece went to a great home to be used for a tv stand. {crammed and transported in a Rav4}

Till next time, stay warm and take care.

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Back on

Hello...I'd like to start by apologizing to my followers. I have not been very committed to this blog. I discovered this spring, that I don't like to paint in summer. Not even a smidge. Second, I give credit to the people that post every day! {not me} I won't give you any excuses, but commit to posting my furniture upcycles until summer.

I don't have a before for this one. I love the curves and handles. This was my fav dresser thus far.

I found this sofa table. Pretty bland, and I wasn't sure on what to do with it.

Voila! Kind of a beachy color? The lady that picked it up, was using it for a photo shoot, my table will be shown off in many homes.

Here's another one, with no before. I am lovin the teal and rich wood tone. 

Here's one more night stand, I LOVE the tone in the picture.

Take care.

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