A Crackle Finish with Glue? Of Course.
January 28, 2010 at 11:29 am | Posted in Uncategorized | 4 CommentsTags: crackle finish, glue, making weathered furniture
Here is an experiment with crackle paint. However, the real crackle paint is rather expensive, so I searched the internet for some sort of directions, and found an article which I cannot find now. In the article, the author experimented with of all things, Elmer’s Glue. The piece of wood experimented on turned out beautifully crackled, so I decided to try it on my dresser. Unfortunately I do not have a ‘before’ picture, unaware at the time of the possibility of blogging about it. I painted the bottom of my dresser green with a cream crackle on top.
First, paint on your base coat. I used a green in a Matte finish.
Allow it to dry – I think I had to wait a couple of days just because of other things.
Now, gather your supplies for the crackle. You will need Elmer’s glue, a top paint, a plastic bowl or something to hold the glue that you don’t mind having ruined, sponge brush for the glue, and a regular bristle brush for the paint. Make sure you keep both brushes wrapped up well in between uses because they will dry out – the brush used for glue dries out quickly.
I did the drawers first and propped them up so the front of the drawer was as level as possible. First, with your sponge brush, paint on a good layer of glue over entire drawer, then IMMEDIANTLY brush on your top coat of paint. The paint on the drawer will be runny, so be careful.
As the paint dries the glue constricts, creating the ‘crackle’ finish. Don’t worry about little nicks because it just adds to the ‘weathered’ look.
And that is the finished project. It was relatively simple though time consuming. The main thing to remember is that your top coat of paint needs to go on top of the wet glue. Also, try to keep what ever surface you are working on as level as possible or else the finish will run. I had to keep rotating my dresser which was part of the reason it took so long because it takes a while for the finish to dry.
Invisible Floating Bookshelf
January 25, 2010 at 12:52 pm | Posted in Whatnots | 2 CommentsTags: books, bookshelf, invisible floating bookshelves
I actually found these in a magazine a while back. I think they would be pretty sweet up on a wall – you could even hang them as a sort of display to fill up a large space. They come in two sizes – small and large and can hold up to 20lbs. I have the small pictured. Barnes & Noble offers them for $9.95 here.
Crates and. . .Crates
January 21, 2010 at 4:59 pm | Posted in Uncategorized | Leave a commentTags: bookcases, crates
Probably known already to the select few who actually read my blog, being of course of that accomadating nature of a friend who is always interested for your sake, is the fact that my family has recently more or less finished a 900 square foot addition to our house. This addition, which includes a bathroom and two bedrooms- one for me and one for my sister, rendered it necessary to move what furniture we had, from our old room, into our new apartments. More on that some other time. (Read: when I have decent pictures to show). The main point here I would like to make is that with the move, we were each left without a bookcase, and I was left without a bedside table. I still have no definete home for some of my most beloved friends – dear Jane is left with Dickens in my former bedroom quite alone with each other.
KatyRae mentioned sometime back in November, an experiment with milk paint (terribly odd sounding I know) and crates. I also have crates – in fact I believe we acquired them from the same source. My crates have been sitting down in our very dilapidated shed gathering you-probably-don’t-want-to-know-what, but a few found the slightly higher calling of carrying kindling and odds and ends. That is, until I remembered them. I had used one for scrapbooking supplies at one point but the relocation of a certain tall cabinet rendered its services no longer necessary. That is, until I remembered it.
The brilliant idea was a joint effort between myself and my father. I asked him if it would be possible to stand one of the crates on its end and stick a shelf in the middle. He, being knowlagable in such matters of carpentry, replied it would not be sturdy enough, but if I wanted to lay them down lengthwise and stack them like that instead it would work. So I considered, and found the suggestion a good one.
And I now have a bedside table. The weight of the books is plenty to keep the crates steady.
I also used the suggestion for my dear sister’s room. As I mentioned, I have no bookcase, but she does. We stacked three cases on each other. I think it looks lovely, don’t you?
Um, yes. . . a new blog. Ahem.
January 20, 2010 at 8:13 pm | Posted in Uncategorized | Leave a comment
Oh of course only I would introduce a new blog and then lo and behold there is nothing to read. In the meanwhile, as you are waiting upon by inner craftiness to break loose, please visit your own personal psychiatrist here to find out what typeface you are. Password: character.
(Thanks, Jessica!)
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