This project was so much fun to create and I always love sharing with my videos – but I thought it would be great to provide you with some written instructions too!!!
My frame was create by a local wood-crafter that makes a lot of projects for me – this was designed to provide me with a wide frame area to create on and will be finished with a chalkboard installed. You can also try your local craft store – I’m sure they will have something fun for you to paint.
I started out with painting the frame Home Plate – one of the colors by American Paint Company. Once it was dry, I wet sanded it to create a smooth surface – this was accomplished by using Cheesecloth and water. Just rub back and forth – it will remove some of the paint as it smooths out the paint. This is why a little of the raw wood was showing when I was starting to paint on the second color.
I picked Shoreline by American Paint Company for my contrasting color – I did want a strong contrast in color for this technique (and Shoreline is one of my favorite colors)!
I gathered the my supplies and the Chrysanthemum Roller for my second layer. This is where the fun begins!!! Just paint on the Shoreline, I painted one side at a time to allow the paint to set up a little, but not too much – need to roll through before it dries. Once you have an area painted, just roll through the wet paint and the roller removes the paint creating the pattern. It’s best to “off-load” the roller on some paper so that the roller will continue to lift the paint as you roll. I like to off-load after each section.
Once you have painted the areas that you planned to roll through and all the rolling is done – I then finished out the sides and allow the paint to dry.
After everything has dried – I began to Distress the painting. I like using a wet-distress technique – Cheesecloth and water! You can spray the water onto your cheesecloth as well as spray water on the painted area that you plan to distress – I like to spray the painted area so that it’s easier to remove and I work less! Distressing is a personal thing to me – I think everyone has the “creative license” to distress as much or as little as desired – it’s a personal taste thing…….so distress as much as you would like! When using the rollers – it will peak up the paint and make a physical texture – I like to wet sand the surface to make it smooth as well as distress the finish. Again, after getting your project wet and distressing the finish – you will need to allow the paint to dry before you can do anything else……..I hate watching paint dry – so I usually have several projects going at once.
Now we are onto the Wax – I love what the wax does to the paint. It deepens the colors and brings out the richness of the paint. You can use your favorite Wax Brush or Cheesecloth to apply the wax – again, personal preference. Either way, less is best – don’t lay the wax on thick and heavy – it will take forever for it to dry. Thin wins with Waxing – just put on a small amount to the ends of your wax brush or pick up a little with the cheesecloth and rub it over the painted area – I try and spread it out as far as it will go before picking up more wax. (Also – you should always remove the wax from the container and put it onto a disposable surface – that way you don’t contaminate the entire can of wax).
I like to apply Clear Wax first – you can let the clear wax dry or you can just put the Dark Wax right over the Clear Wax. The longer you allow the clear wax to dry – the more control you will have with the Dark Wax. I went right over the clear wax with the dark wax – don’t even think I waited a minute – but I was looking for a darker distressed finish.
List of supplies and materials for this project:
- Frame – custom or purchased
- American Paint Company colors – Home Plate & Shoreline
- American Paint Company – Clear and Dark Wax
- Artistic Painting Studio – Chrysanthemum Roller
- Artistic Painting Studio – Cheesecloth
- Spray bottle for water
- Artistic Painting Studio – European Wax Brush
- Artistic Painting Studio – Multi-purpose paint brush
Check out the video to watch the process and many thanks for watching and reading!!! Rolling with American Paint Company
Blessings,
Jenn
