~how to dry brush with Chalk Paint® by Annie Sloan or I've been framed! and extras ~

Ok....put away the obituary....I am still very much alive!

Forgive me Blogger for I have sinned...it has been months since my last blog post.

Man....do I owe some penance.

Here we go.....

I have been trolling some Facebook painting sites and hearing a lot of talk on dry brushing.

What is dry brushing you say?

Well it is just the best thing since white bread....Oh wait a minute...my doctor just told me white bread is bad for you! OK....the best thing since gluten free grain bread!

Dry brushing is a great painting technique that is perfect for bringing out all the wonderful detail in your painted pieces. You can also achieve some awesome metallic effects for lamps...so many possibilities.

Don't know how to dry brush, well I will fix that.

Let's get started!

The perfect easy beginner project is an ornate frame.

All you need is Chalk Paint®, a paint brush and some paper towels.

Load the tips of your brush with paint.

Now this is the

 IMPORTANT

part..

OFFLOAD

Offloading means wiping off almost all of the paint you just loaded onto your brush.

I know it sounds counter productive, but take my word for it...it works.

Now with a very light touch ...softly brush over the raised areas of your frame.

This will deposit paint only on those high areas. 

Less is more...you can always add more later if needed.

Just look at the difference...now you clearly see all that lovely flowery detail.

Isn't this pretty?

Here I lightly painted some Chalk Paint® in the color Provence and then dry brushed using Imported French Gilding wax...so elegant and so easy.

This technique literally takes a few minutes.

This was the same black frame that I painted Old White and then dry brushed with King Gold gilding wax. 

Lacy and gorgeous!

PS...that's one of my little paintings in the frame.

I have been getting the urge to work on canvas lately.

Ummmm..I feel a painting binge coming on.

So the next time you see an ornate but plain piece of furniture or home decor piece...

Give the fun dry brushing technique a try.

You just might give birth to a masterpiece!

The variations on this technique are limitless.

You can also layer your dry brushing to add more color and depth.

Chalk Paint® by Annie Sloan makes it so easy and quick because it dries so fast.

Are you ready to take your painting to a new level?

Give dry brushing a try.

Here is something I have been working on lately. This vanity was one of those dark mahogany pieces we all love to restyle.

I painted her with Annie Sloan's lovely Provence, which is a gorgeous turquoise blue. 

I trimmed her in Old White and added Antoinette to her drawers sides.

Then she got dressed in some beautiful stencilling. 

Royal Design Studios 'Springtime in Paris' was used on the vanity top.

Some decorative designs were stenciled on the front and drawers.

Imported French Gilding wax in King gold was added for extra glamour and bling.

The drawer bottoms and the vanity compartment was decoupaged using one of the lovely Cavallini wrap papers I carry at the shop.

I used the vintage bird wrap for this project. 

Clear and Dark Soft wax were applied for patina in addition to sandpaper distressing.

I really love how she turned out and she will be replacing the French gilded dresser in my front window...

yup...that one is SOLD!

Oh yeah....I forgot to tell you, I also painted my very first upholstered piece using Chalk Paint® in Old Ochre. I misted the tapestry fabric with water and applied two coats of slightly watered down Chalk Paint®.

Taped off three ticking stripes in Aubusson Blue and waxed the whole chair.

The legs were based in Old Ochre and washed with more Aubusson Blue.

She looks so much better and feels just like soft leather..my customers have been amazed at this process. 

My gal Sue had fun using a couple of pretty painting techniques on these ornate alter candlesticks.

The Empty Nest will be offering a workshop painting candlesticks in November. 

They make the perfect holiday hostess gift.

Getting ready to do some Fall decorating? The Empty Nest has just the perfect addition to your Autumn vignette...real cotton bolles!

Put them under a glass cloche or make a Fall wreath..beautiful and so natural in design.

From reviving old dull furniture pieces to creating stunning stencilled walls...

Chalk Paint® by Annie Sloan is so much more than paint!

Phew...I did it...... I finished a blog post!!!

Thanks so much for staying with me and not deserting my little blog.

Working at the shop 6 days a week..posting on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, answering 

e-mails and doing battle with dust bunnies ...A gal runs out of time!

I know you have so many choices and different places to spend your valuable time and I truly appreciated that have given me a little of it.

I love you all the more for that honor and I send out huge cyber {{{{{hugs}}}}} to all of you.

Now go make something beautiful.

Until next time...be kind and stay creative!