So somehow I discovered Joanna and Chip Gaines. I fell in love with them, their family and their incredible creations! I wanted to be just like Joanna… Well, I’m not there yet, but she has definitely reminded me of my craft passion that was well forgotten… until now.
So I don’t know how it started but I found a coffee table and two side tables that I thought I could paint white and stain the top (I remembered seeing one like that on “Fixer Upper”. Then before I knew it I had purchased a dining table, a TV cabinet and a side board! OMGosh I had no idea what I had gotten myself in to… This was even before I had started the coffee table.
This is the photo on the eBay ad of my first furniture purchase.
This is what I did with them!
Well that was it… I had the bug!
I was going to just use “normal” paint but then a girlfriend said have you heard of “chalk paint” and I said yes I had some vague memory about it. She said you must get Annie Sloan – it’s the best. So even though I already purchased my normal paint and stain I decided to get Annie Sloane’s Old White and some clear wax.
First I had to sand the top so I could stain it. Man I never knew it was so much hard work!! They make it look so easy on TV. The next step was to tape off the top of the tables so I didn’t get stain all over the bottom half. Then once the 3 coasts had dried (with sanding in between) I had to tape off the stained area so I didn’t put chalk paint all over it.
Three coats later and one wax coat… I looked at the other (very large and detailed) pieces I had purchased and thought OH NO what have I done!! Even though it is a lot of work… and I forget every time how tough the first coat is… I now can’t stop painting furniture… and other stuff too LOL!!
I hope you will enjoy my journey as I share the “crafty” things I have created with you.
With love,
Joanne