Monday 1 February 2016

Paint it Black!

This is a post I was working on before my laptop decided it didn't want to play any more. I started it several weeks before Christmas however, with the way things are going at the moment, it may well be next Christmas before some of the projects mentioned get finished . . .

One of the new craft channels that have appeared in the last couple of months has had a few shows where they have been using decoupage and chalk-based paints to decorate a variety of MDF shapes. One of the demonstrators, John Lockwood from Creative Expressions, brought in a couple of pieces he'd picked up at a charity shop for a few pounds and had up-cycled. Previously I had been in a local shop which specialises in up-cycling and restoring furniture and whilst I loved what I saw I nearly choked on my Polo Mint when I saw what they were charging for a wee tin of paint!

I did a bit of research online and found recipes for a decoupage glue and glaze and also some for chalk-based paint (Apparently "Chalk Paint" is a Trade Name for the Annie Sloan product).  I opted for the fine calcium carbonate powder version. During a visit to a DIY store my friend spotted some of their own brand paint tester pots for the princely sum of 10p each & cleared the basket (there were only 20 or so but that's the equivalent of a litre of paint for £2 - they also have a deal on at the moment to have tester pots of mixed to order Valspar paint for £1 for 236ml so I think it will be a case of a few dark colours and buying a large tin of white to dilute them to the colour required! I have put the recipes I've used at the end of this post.
A few week's ago I espied a small side table in a second-hand shop that I thought would be a good practice piece for a spot of up-cycling.
Progress so far on the table has been slow, mainly because my back is playing up, though I have managed to get some paint on and decoupage the top and drawer front I have boobed a bit as I started to sand before I waxed and took off a wee bit more than intended. (The dark patches on the top is where it was still wet when I took the photo).

The paint goes on pretty quickly but as always watching paint dry seems to take forever but saying that it does mean I have no option but to pace myself.

  

These wooden boxes are intended to take wine bottles.

The colours I  used for the wine boxes were in fact mixed from some of the various 10p tester pots and are therefore unique to these boxes. Some Texture Paste was used with a stencil of a grapevine to add detail on three sides of each box and some gilding wax applied to add a touch of colour to the design. The boxes were given a light waxing with Rust-oleum Clear Finishing Wax.

They will be used as Christmas presents - I have been collecting wine when it's been on offer and I think (hope) these boxes will perhaps add a "Wow" factor.



Original condition
I've since also found a nice little nest of three tables for £15 and a scruffy on the outside but immaculate green baize inside East Craft card table from a second-hand shop for £10 which I snapped up. My son likes to play the card game "Magic The Gathering" with his friends and they often end up in his room either cross-legged on, or sprawled over, the floor so I thought a table to sit at would be better for them.


I had, by now, read about using white marble dust instead of the greyish calcium carbonate powder so I got some to add to some matt black paint to create this for my son's room. The plan was to keep the green baize inside as it was in excellent condition and no point in creating work when you don't need to.

On making up the paint it was obvious it wasn't going to be a pure black but rather a very dark graphite grey. Having said that it wasn't too far away from the colour of the Black and Silver Crackle Decopatch paper we decided to use for the top.




After a lick of DIY Chalk-based paint
Decided to give it a coat of varnish
instead of wax.
Finished off with some Cosmic Shimmer
Pewter Gilding Wax around the edges of the top.

After doing this one another similar table appeared on local Gum Tree site, same price but needing a bit more work (the baize was stained and ripped) - I wasn't sure to get it or not but when I mentioned it to my son he decided that it would be nice black on the outside with a red felt interior that would look great in his room. We bought it although it's in his room and still in need of up-cycling, it's sitting there because his chest of drawers is currently a work in (slow) progress and needs to be finished first!

I have tried a few of the DIY chalk-based paint recipes on the internet (Plaster of Paris, Calcium Carbonate and  Marble Dust) but my preference after having tried them is marble dust. The emulsion paint should be free of any primers as this can apparently cause problems with clumping I believe. When choosing a Matt Emulsion paint it should be free from primers.

  • Plaster of Paris - 1 Part Plaster of Paris to 3 Parts Matt Emulsion Paint. Add a little water to the powder to make a paste and slowly add the paint whilst stirring. This, for me at least, was the worst as it turned into a lumpy mass after a short while in use and ended up in the bin!

  • Very Fine powder Calcium Carbonate - 1 part to 2 parts Matt Emulsion paint.  It mixes easily with the paint although you may prefer to add one or two tablespoons of water to the powder to make a paste. Slowly add the paint to the paste and stir well. If you find the final mix too thin leave the lid off for a wee while to allow some water to evaporate or if you find it too thick slowly add a little water at a time until you get to your desired consistency. This was my original best choice. This powder is pale grey in colour so you have to bear this in mind when mixing with lighter colours.

  • Fine Marble Dust - 1 Part Marble Dust to 2 Parts Matt Emulsion paint.  It mixes easily with the paint although you may prefer to add one or two tablespoons of water to the powder to make a paste. Slowly add the paint to the paste and stir well. If you find the final mix too thin leave the lid off for a wee while to allow some water to evaporate or if you find it too thick slowly add a little water at a time until you get to your desired consistency. This is now my favourite and I've been really pleased with the results I've had with it.



What I Used
Wine Boxes
Wooden Wine Box - The Works
Paint - Assorted Sample Pots Homebase Matt Emulsion
Calcium Carbonate - Oliver Brown via Amazon.co.uk
Vine Stencil - Rustoleum Rose & Vine Set
Gilding Wax - Cosmic Shimmer
Texture Paste - DecoArt Media Sand
Wax - Rust-Oleum Furniture Finishing Wax
Small Table
Decoupage Paper - Craft Consortium White Crackle
Glue, Seal and Glaze - Cosmic Shimmer
Paint - Homebase White Matt Emulsion
Calcium Carbonate - Oliver Brown via Amazon.co.uk
Wax - Rust-Oleum Furniture Finishing Wax
Card Table
Decoupage Paper - Decopatch 469 Black and Silver Crackle
Glue, Seal and Glaze - Cosmic Shimmer
Gilding Wax - Cosmic Shimmer
Paint - Valspar Black (B&Q) Matt Emulsion
Marble Dust - Robersons
Satin Varnish - DecoArt



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