I hope you had the chance to join or watch me on Hometalk Live – if not, make sure to watch it on Facebook at Hometalk Live with Jennifer 🙂 This was a ton of fun and I’m looking forward to my next project in December!!! WOOHOO 🙂
As I always start my projects, this table went out the back door for a good sanding and cleaning – the previous owner had a “love-affair” with Pledge! Many layer and layers of build-up needed to come off. Once the sanding was complete, I cleaned the table with a mixture of Vinegar and water 50/50 – this helps to remove dirt and grease. Even with all my efforts – I still felt there was some of the Pledge build-up left and I was done with sanding (if you know what I mean)!!! So to insure that all my efforts would stick – I decided to prime the entire piece with XIM Primer for adhesion (XIM has lot’s of different primers – make sure to find the one you need for your project).
I wanted to get the center panel done first, so I taped off at the recessed grove in the table and primed with XIM primer. Allowed this to dry and then started on the Crocodile pattern. Using my brand ArtsSyVille Embellishments Texture Medium – I troweled on a thin (1/16″ to 1/8″ thickness) layer of Texture Medium using my Japanese Trowel. This takes a little practice using a trowel – but check out my YouTube Video’s for more instruction on this technique. I troweled the Texture Medium over the entire center panel and while it was wet, I rolled the Crocodile Roller through the wet material. As you can see the top had a stripe of wood that went down the middle of the panel – this was my guide. I rolled through the center following the wood stripe and then rolled to the right and left – centering the pattern on the panel.
After rolling the Crocodile Roller through the wet AE Texture Medium – I removed the tape and allow the Texture Medium to dry completely. While I was waiting for that to dry, I finished priming the rest of the table. Once the Texture Medium is dry – you will need to sand down the “peaks” that the roller creates as it lifts up the material a little – I just sand by hand, using 150/220 grit sandpaper and sand by feel, not sight. You just want to smooth out the rough areas – don’t element the pattern you have created. Once it was sanded, I dusted and cleanup up the top to get it ready for it’s first layer of paint!!!
The center panel with the Crocodile roller was painted in the Modern Masters Metallic Smoke color – this paint color covers very well and I actually did get full coverage with one coat. When you watch the video, you will notice that the metallic paints show very distinctive brush/roller marks – this is due to the metallic particles in the paint. As you brush or roll in one direction, it’s laying the particles down in that direction, which shows the brush marks. Best to brush in one direction to element as many brush marks as possible – I wasn’t worried with this project, I knew I was layering over it and everything else I was doing would hide those marks!!! (But, I do suggest practicing with metallic paints – they are a little tricky). The rest of the table was painted in Debi’s Design Diary DIY Paints Old 57 (one of my favorite colors) – I applied two coats for complete coverage, allowing the first coat to completely dry before applying the second coat. Once all the base painting was completed – it was time for some Dry Brushing 🙂
I love the Dry Brushing technique – this adds depth and dimension while highlighting the texture. To create a dry brush technique – first, you want to start with a Filbert style stencil brush or an older stiff Chip brush (it’s best with a stiffer bristle). Pour a little paint onto a palette (or foam plate) and pick up a little paint on the bristles, work the paint into the brush and then off-load all the paint on a paper towel (yes, this seems crazy – but it’s the only way to create a true Dry Brush). The dryer the better, this puts you in control of the paint and so you can place it where you want. With a light touch, brush over the area you want to highlight – on the top, I highlighted all the Crocodile pattern, bringing out the edges and creating depth – this was done with Modern Masters Metallic Teal (such a beautiful combination). Then as I went onto the Old 57 on the rest of the table I used the SeaGlass by DIY Paints – I was looking to create a little more interest and highlight all the detail – this will be subtle when completed, but adds that extra depth that you don’t see all the time!
So, with my choice to use the DIY Chalky Paints – I did add another step for myself. Which meant I had to seal the paint before glazing – Chalky paints are way too porous to glaze directly over and have any control of your glaze. This is one of my FAV sealers and I love that you just wipe it on – Final Coat the Wipe on Varnish. Just tip the bottle onto a staining pad – just allow a little product to come out and wipe onto the surface – it’s meant to go on paper thin and it dries within minutes!!! Allowing you to go to the next step fast 🙂 I only wiped on one layer, which I knew would give me some control but I also wanted the glaze to grab a little and create a very distressed/aged look. Once the Final Coat was dry – it was time to glaze this baby!!!
I did start with the center panel over the Metallic Smoke – which I knew would glaze easy. I brushed on the American Paint Company Black glaze using a Chip Brush and then wiped off the excess, just leaving a little in the recessed ares of the Crocodile texture – this creates so much depth and dimension to the top and brings out the pattern! I wiped most of the glaze off – still wanting to see the Teal that was dry brushed on 🙂 Then I started the top edge and worked my way down all around the table – it’s pretty scary brushing on a Black Glaze! I worked in one section at a time, knowing that I only had one coat of the Final Coat and it was just giving me a little working time, but also still grabbing the glaze fast (but that was the look I was going for – Distressed/Aged). I brushed on the glaze using the chip brush and wiped off the excess with Cheesecloth (I love using this stuff) – I left a lot of glaze behind, left more in the edges and corners to enhance the style I was going for.
If you want a cleaner more refined look with the glaze, make sure to use a least two layers of the Final Coat or a brush on varnish, which will give you better coverage and a more sealed surface. This will allow you to control the glaze better and you can almost pull all of the glaze back off, just leaving it where you want it. There are so many looks that can be created with glaze – I think that’s why I love it so much – lot’s options and looks!!!
I waited for the entire piece to dry completely and with glaze this can be overnight. I applied the America Paint Company Hard Coat for a durable finish (remember I have a household full of boys most of the time – we need durable)!!!
Make sure to check out my Fauxy Rollers page on Facebook – a great place to be inspired!!!
Products Used:
ArtsSyVille Embellishments Texture Medium
Decorative Pattern Roller – Crocodile
Modern Masters Metallic Paints – Smoke & Teal (you will have to call the studio for these products – not on website at this time)
Debi’s Design Diary DIY Paints – Old 57 & Seaglass
American Paint Company – Black Glaze & Hard Coat
Final Coat Wipe on Varnish – Semi-gloss
You can purchase all the materials and supplies through Artistic Painting Studio – If you don’t find something online, please feel free to call the studio at 714-386-3243.
Blessings and Happy Painting!!!
Jenn
