How to Paint & Age Small Pieces with Acrylic Craft Paint
Hi everyone! If you follow my blog regularly, you’ll be familiar with my “paint process.” I’ve mentioned it a number of times in the past, and I just finished two more small projects that I thought I’d share with you: a bread board and a pedestal stand.
Here are the materials I use to get the look I want: steel wool, sand paper, foam brushes, letter stamps or stencils, acrylic craft paint, furniture wax, and dark stain (optional). Often people think you need special paint to do projects like these, but you don’t. Craft paint works great. In fact, I often use it on furniture as well, especially if I’ve managed to buy the paint on sale or for cheap at a garage sale. Some of the benefits of acrylic paint include: it’s convenient because we often have it on hand, it’s manageable because it comes in small containers with small openings, and it makes smaller messes because of the small size.
I bought this 70s era bread board at Goodwill for 50 cents. I knew right away that I wanted to paint it and add the work “eat.” Before painting, it’s always a good idea to roughen up your surface with a light sanding. This is called giving your surface “tooth,” a surface that will hold the paint.
If you use chalk paint, many times you don’t need to sand (though you can’t rely on this every time–every surface is different). Homemade Chalkpaint: Add 1 teaspoon or less of cornstarch or unsanded grout to a 2 oz bottle of craft paint, mix and apply.
Here’s another look at the distressing.
Done!
Next up, the pedestal stand. It also received two coats of craft paint, after a light sanding. This photo shows the stand after the first coat of paint.
This piece has an interesting metal surface; I think it was designed to be a candle holder.
I like the yellow lemons against the aqua blue.
It also looks nice on my new table cloth.
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Those came out really pretty. I especially like the fact that you concocted your own "chalky" paint and promote using basic supplies and materials rather than project-specific brand name supplies form a craft store. I'm all for that. Great job!
Thanks Linda! I do like to keep things simple, if I can 🙂
I love a good distressed painting post! You chose beautiful colors. Yes, I have used craft paint on furniture with great results. The lemons on the turquoise stand – Ah!
Thanks Donna! I feel the same way–can't get enough of the paint makeovers 🙂
You make it look so easy!! I have such a hard time with distressed that it distresses ME! Love your made over bread board and stand. I would think they were naturally aged!
When you visit the area this summer, bring along a piece and we'll paint it together!!
Love the bread board. Great color too.
Thanks Kim! I'm trying to be adventurous and venture outside my normal black and taupe 🙂
Looks great Diana … I like your method of distressing. Sometimes when I add stain, I get the 'dirty' look and have to work like heck to get if off. Thanks for reminding us to use Craft paint. I never think of that and I have a box full, just likely drying out.
Love both pieces Diana! I use my acrylic paints quite often to paint small items. I do things very similarly, but I haven't tried the steel wool. Will have to.
hugs,
Jann
LOVE your projects and your very good DIY. I also use the minwax for patina. My most useful and popular technique is Elmer's glue and craft paint for crackle effects. I found it on the Kraft website and blogged about it in 2010 and that post is still going strong. Kudos for your creativity!