Tag Archives: chalk paint projects

Farmhouse Animals w/Rub on Transfers

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I had a bit of a brainstorm this morning. I was inspired by a YouTube video where someone decoupaged napkins on animal cut outs.

I had these cool pig and rooster wood cut outs. They stand alone. The rooster is 4 3/4“ tall x 4 1/2” w. The pig is 4” tall x 5 3/4” w.

I also had a sheet of Dollar Tree rub on transfers with farmhouse images.

So….. I gave them a coat of white paint so the transfers would stand out and then applied the transfers as they were on the sheet and filled in where needed. They are protected with Mod Podge matte spray. Sorry, forgot to get a pic of spraying them.

I love how they turned out!

These Are a Few of my Favorite Things….

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I have been cranking out a few crafts for our booths. It’s been so nice crafting in my clean craft area.

These are just a few things of my favorite things…..

Fall is in the Air

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I’ve been busy creating Fall decor, both for my booth and for me. 

Lady night, while watching TV, I made my first gnome of the season. I saw this idea of creating a tassel gnome on Pinterest and couldn’t wait to make one. I am so going to make some for my booth. They will make such cute ornaments!

But then, I had to create a pumpkin for him to hang on. My Dollar Tree finally got in some of the bead stickers so I added some to a DT orange styrofoam pumpkin and painted it with my new custom color. It is a 50/50 mix of our Missouri Limestone Paint Company Chalk-style paint “Evening Shade” and our newest color “Soothing Sage.”

I only gave it one coat as I wanted some of the orange poking through. I also dry brushed a tiny bit of “Soothing Sage”. I added a small round doily And look at that stem! Yes, it is a decorative hook.

Here’s the link for the tutorial I used to make the twine gnome ornament.

https://justthatperfectpiece.com/easy-gnome-christmas-ornament-diy/

Here’s a few more of my favorite fall projects I’ve completed this year.

Halloween Deck Display “Tree”

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Today is September 30th and it is a beautiful Fall day in Missouri ….. the perfect day to make a Halloween decoration for my Halloween Deck Display “Tree”. See my summer garden and fall displays below.

I used our Missouri Limestone Paint Company chalk-style paint (colors: Crisp Kale, Coal Shovel, January, and Harvest Pumpkin) and Sharpie oil paint pens. I had to have an inspiration piece to look at or I wouldn’t have been able to draw the faces. This is the inspiration photo I saw that was posted by https://www.facebook.com/ReScapedotcom/ I found the artist and they are for sale on Etsy for $74.95. https://pin.it/7DjaZfV

I used the photo above to help guide me when drawing the faces on mine below. FYI – if I can do this anyone can. We sell our paint in 2 oz ($3.99) containers that are perfect for projects like this as well as other sizes. Message me if interested in a porch pickup of paint. We can also ship.

Here’s my version of these cute and easy to make blocks.

And now here is my Halloween Deck Display “Tree”.

I used a silver tray and glued to a base. The painted and distressed it and the candelabra. The skeleton head are from Dollar Tree.
4×4 blocks are 15”, 10”x and 6” tall.
Dollar Tree idea I saw.
This pumpkin’s face is a vinyl cut out.
It didn’t take long to turn off the motion detector sounds on these Dollar Tree finds.
Fall Display
Summer Deck Garden

A Fall Dollar Tree Door Mat

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I’ve been seeing the Dollar Tree Felt Pumpkins, Leaves, and Acorns used as stencils on the Dollar Tree gray door mats. This morning, I used the leaf one to create this beautiful door mat. You can do it, too!

Yes, I made that cute little fall gnome door hanger, too.

These are the materials I used. I used our paint brand we own and produce, Missouri Limestone Paint Company chalk-style paint: Grannies Lace, Old Tin Barn, Bordeaux, English Ivy, and Possum Grape Jam. However, any brand and type of paint should do fine.

I used the side that was more ribbed. On my next one I will use the flatter side. This mat really soaks up the paint. This is the first coat. I eventually did two coats and then a little more to cover well the area that will be under the leaf stencil. The rest can have a more dry brush look.

I then placed the stencil on the mat and just started pounding the Old Tin Barn color on the spines and all around the leaf. You don’t have to do the whole thing at this point. I just did around the leaf area then removed the leaf stencil.

I then continued pouncing the Old Tin Barn color all around.

Using the same brush, without washing it out, I pounced the Bordeaux color on randomly over the Old Tin Barn, trying to blend it a bit.

Using the same brush again, I pounced on randomly the English Ivy color.

Using the same process, I added a bit of Possum Grape Jam color.

This photo shows all the different colors, much like you would see in nature in the fall.

The last step is to take the mat outside and give it a couple coats of the SPAR Urethane waterbased exterior sealer. It says it is gloss, but doesn’t show up gloss on the mat. I don’t think, once chalk-style paint cures for 30 days, a sealer is really needed, but in the meantime I think it just helps protect it a little.

And there it is! A beautiful Fall door mat. The pumpkin and acorn would also look nice.

And here’s my acorn one. I’m keeping this one. It’s pretty appropriate since we have a ton of oak trees (not to mention leaves) in our yard.

I’ve Been a Crafting and Painting Fanatic Lately

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I’m not sure why but I suspect that besides finding all kinds of cute ideas I have to try, and the fact I recently ordered 24 pumpkin wreath forms from Dollar Tree and have been searching for ideas on how to use them and get side tracked with more cute ideas to try, I find it takes my mind off the news for awhile.

So today, I’m just going to share pics of some of the things I’ve been crafting and painting lately, since July. Trust me, almost everything I have done here is not original. I saw it somewhere and thought, “I (meaning me and sometimes Danny, my other half) can do that!”

There are over 50 here and I probably even missed a few, so I made them into a gallery. But I am sure I have them on my Instagram page and my Facebook page, so if you are curious to see a larger version, and sometimes how I created projects , you can go to:

https://instagram.com/sharsumpaint

https://Facebook.com/sharsumpaint

So now, sit back and get inspired.

Bringing a Garden Bench Back to Life!

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This garden bench had good bones. It just needed some paint and the boards refreshed and I knew just the way to do it.

First of all – the paint. Our Missouri Limestone Paint Company chalk-style paint is perfect for the cast iron metal on this bench. It actually only took one coat of our gorgeous dark green color called “Evening Shade”. It also needed no sealer. Our chalk-style paint, when used on metals like this, cure naturally with the heat and the sun baking it in.

Yes, we ship!!! You can purchase all of our 45 colors in 16 oz. jars through our online distributor, Connie Mathews of Winston Home Designs.

The whole project took less than two hours, even when you have a cute little helper. 🙂

Next – the wood. The wood was in really good shape, just bleached out and dry. Wise Owl Salve in White Tea scent to the rescue! We don’t sell this product ourselves, but I love it and have used it to rehydrate wood and as a sealer on several projects. It comes in several wonderful scents! I purchase mine through a fellow painter in Massachusetts. I was fortunate to meet Sarah, of the Princess and the Peacock, while on a trip to visit my cousin, who lives about 30 minutes from her shop! I’ve linked her name to the Wise Owl Salve section of her online shop.

I tried to show in the photo below the difference the Salve makes in bringing the wood back to life!

The Salve is so easy to apply, then let it soak it, and buff. And Yes, you can use it on furniture left out in the weather, and we do have some weather here in Missouri. The bench may need a reapplication of wax down the road, but it only takes a few minutes so that isn’t a problem.

And that is all there was to it. This bench now looks almost brand new and holds a prominent spot in my front yard under the trees.

A Winthrop Style Secretary – Should it Stay or Should it Go?

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I just can’t keep myself from picking up a paintbrush before Christmas. Last week, my childhood friend came to visit for a week (I’m fond of saying my best friend since 4th grade).  She was the one who introduced me to chalk paint in the first place. Now, she wanted to see me paint the Winthrop Style Secretary (Lammert’s Furniture in St. Louis – possibly around 1940’s) that had been sitting in my hallway for months.  I had purchased it at a resale shop and just hadn’t been able to decide how I wanted to paint it.  It did need painting on the outside and some work done on the drawers and pull down.  But the inside was really in pretty good shape and I wanted to leave it original if I could. So, what color would go with the wood and would be a neutral color that would fit in with just about any decor?

With my friend Cindy’s help, we decided on a new color I had asked Missouri Limestone Paint Company to mix.  I wanted a linen color and they came up with exactly what I had in mind…and named it “Vintage Linen”.  It is a gorgeous color and looks beautiful next to the wood on the Secretary.  I also made a glaze with French Roast and lightly glazed the feet and the finial and area around it.

We decided to paint it right in the hallway, so we put down some plastic and got started.  Since the lighting there wasn’t the greatest and it was a small space to work in, she was my assistant and held a flashlight and was quick to let me know if I missed a spot.  : )

I really become attached to pieces once I’ve painted them, and this piece was one that really makes me want to keep it, especially since it does fit in my living room nicely and blends in with my decor.  Once I decorated it with my snowman collection, I really fell in love.  I do have it for sale for $250.00, however, I’m perfectly happy if it doesn’t sell.  : )

Now for some pics!

originalsecretary secretary_snowman1

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

originalsecretaryinside secretaryinsidefinished

 

 

 

 

 

Even though the inside was in good condition, there were several spots and scratches.  My magic stain/sealer by Varathane (water-based) took care of that and restored the beautiful wood finish. It also refreshed the wood on the doors and the fretwork.

I think this one might be one that stays!

Update:  I didn’t have time to get too attached as it sold quickly.  : )

secretary_snowman

TIP OF THE WEEK: THANKSGIVING HOLIDAYS – Creating a Barn Wood Look With Paint on a Farm Table Top

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You can create a barn wood like look on a table top using Missouri Limestone Company chalk-based paint and a stain_sealer. I have a step-by-step tutorial here to show you how!

For previous TIP OF THE WEEK click here.

The tip of the week is a little late thanks to Thanksgiving holidays. One of my sons and his two sons ages 4 and 17 months came to visit the week before Thanksgiving so need I say more.

My tip of the week for the Thanksgiving holidays shows you how I created a barn wood look on a table top. Plus I get to share the final results of the farm table set.  This is one of those projects I sure wished I had #1 – a garage to work in and #2 – that my dining room was big enough for me to keep it.  I posted pics of the progress and that generated so much interest, I sold it the day I finished it, so others liked it, too.

 

I did manage to get some time in to finish the huge farm table set I started (hoping to finish before Thanksgiving) the day after so that wasn’t too bad.  It took a couple of mornings getting up at 4:30 am to work on it before the little ones were up.  I really needed to get it out of the basement before everyone got here so we could get to the bed.  I was thinking we might have to sleep on it.  It sure was big enough. LOL

TIP OF THE WEEK

How to create a barn wood look with paint and Varathane’swater-based stain and sealer (I call this my magic stain).  I love it!  I debated about keeping this as my secret weapon, but I can’t do that.  I’m an educator and I just have to share what I have learned myself.  Hence the name of our paint company….SharSum Paint, a play of words based on my name Sharon Sumner (Share Some – get it?)

But first, some before pics of the table and chairs.

original-top originalbase originalchairs

farmtablebenchchairsbefore

The table and chairs were basically in pretty good shape.  We had to do some repair on some of the veneer under the table top and on the leaves and had to put the sliding mechanism back together, but this was a good sturdy set.

TIP #1:  Creating a barnwood type look on a table top.  I really didn’t know how this was going to turn out, so I did a practice piece and then decided to just go with it.  I really do love how it turned out and it is all due to my magic stain/sealer technique.

First, I gathered my supplies.  I used Missouri Limestone Paint Company’s chalk-based paint.  I needed Grannie’s Lace (an off white) Sunday Silver (a medium gray), French Roast (a dark brown) and Varathane water-based stain and sealer in Dark Walnut.

I painted the leaves and table first with the French Roast.  The pic shows a finished sample.

barnwoodlooksupplies

Next, I used Grannie’s Lace and dry-brushed over the French Roast.  Then, just a little of the Sunday Silver dry-brushed, and even less of French Roast again.  I then did a light wash of Grannie’s Lace.  I took dry paper towel and just started rubbing that wash in.  Sometimes I rubbed down to the French Roast and sometimes even harder down to the original finish.  The picture below shows the dry brushing.  UPDATE:  I did another table top after this (see pics at bottom of post).  I didn’t bother using the paper towel and rubbing it in.  Instead, I did a dry brush technique on the other colors (adding just a bit of water – not much) and tried to keep the brushing as straight as possible.)  It turned out as nice, if not better, with much less work.

2016-11-14_225107555_480a1_ios-1

The magic comes when I add the Varathane water-based stain and sealer.  I used Dark Walnut.  It somehow just blends everything all together and seals it at the same time.  You can see the white wash on the picture below.

2016-11-20_170958642_3595a_ios

The more coats you put on, the darker it becomes.  I used 3 coats on this table and leaves.  I very lightly sanded in between coats.  The result was a very smooth finish.  The sealer has a little shinier finish than I like, though, plus I always want to have a really durable surface on a table, so I added two coats of Varathane water-based satin polyurethane, which toned down the shine.  Every single time I would walk past the table top, I just had to admire it and feel the smoothness.  : )

So, there’s your tip of the week.  And now for the finished farm set.  By the way, we made a bench for this table out of 3 complimentary chairs.  Check it out on a previous tip of the week.The lady buying the set loved the bench.  She has two little ones and one on the way and she said she was worried about the benches with no backs and afraid the kids would turn them over too easily.  She loved how heavy and sturdy the chair bench was.

finishedbench finished-table farmtableset10 farmtableset9 farmtableset8 farmtableset7 farmtableset6 farmtableset5 farmtableset4 farmtableset3 farmtableset1

The 2nd table top I did is pictured below.

 

 

 

Getting ready for a Vintage Artisan Fair

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SharSum Paint will be a vendor at the Vintage Artisan Fair in Eureka, MO on October 1, 2016.  We will be demonstrating Missouri Limestone Paint and will (hopefully) personally have quite a few painted and vintage items for sale!  Our niece, Elizabeth, has been busy painting with our Missouri Limestone Company’s chalk-based paint, too, and we will have her items for sale also.

We worked on furniture repairs and painted outside all day yesterday. It was so nice outside!  Here’s a sneak peek at an end table I’m working on for the fair. It will have an oval one to match. They will be available at the fair, if I don’t break down and sell them before. Shabby chic distress. Missouri Limestone Paint Company “Winter Gloves” dry brushed over the solid oak table. Drawers are painted with “Winter Gloves” then a coat of “Front Porch”. Distressed with steel wool to produce gray shading. Finished with Briwax. Waiting for painted hardware to dry. Ready to start the oval one to match. But not today.

shabbyoakrectangle


 shabbyoakrectangle1

shabbyoakrecandoval

Here’s a few more items we plan on bringing (if they don’t sell first!

spigots 1880ssofatable groupofitemsforfair

spigots farmcabinet1 waterfallset vintage-chairs