Thanks for all the compliments about my pretty little fairy baby at the Renfest! I have to agree, she's a cutey.
We had her most of the holiday weekend, along with my mother-in-law here for a few days from Green River, WY. Chasing Sugarwings kept me busy most of the time, but after she left, I had a day to spend with my husband's mother. She sat at the dining table and embroidered and at first I was up and down doing little chores here and there, and tidying up the place (after Hurricane Sugarwings has blown through, there is a lot of picking up to do).
But I did spend a bit of time sitting at the table and the more I sat, the more I stared at the buffet and the painting above it. The buffet had been maple finish and I painted it gray with a cream glaze over it last spring. And the picture was one that I have loved for years but always thought about lightening up.
For the last few years, EVERYONE told me not to paint it. And I rarely leave things as is, but I knew that this frame was worth money the way it was.
But honestly, was I ever going to sell it? No, I've had it for a long time and always plan on keeping it. I figure that I deserve to look at it and enjoy it, without debating whether or not it should be painted.
I know, there will be gasps of horror. But I'm glad I did it. And I didn't just slap some white on it, I took my time and made the frame look old. Well, "took my time" is all relative, I guess. I paint fast, I had the buffet, the small mirror frame, and the large, antique frame done in about 3 hours while I chatted with my mother-in-law.
Here is what I did:
- Primer, good bonding primer. I just tucked some wax paper behind the frame and painted it on the wall right where it hung. The wax paper protected the wall from my brush.
- A coat of ivory/bisque eggshell paint
- Thick coat of porcelain crackle finish (I worked on the buffet while this dried)
- Next, I brushed on and wiped off coffee with cream colored glaze
- After that dried, I lightly sanded all raised areas. I was careful to do this lightly with a sanding sponge, because much of the ornamentation was plaster. I wanted to get down to the gold paint, not the white plaster.
- I added another layer of crackle glaze.
- As the crackle glaze dried, it had a chemical reaction with the exposed gold paint and turned a greenish tint, like a copper patina. (this is a trick I discovered accidentally a while back and love to use. Its unpredictable but pretty)
- Over this, I brushed on and rubbed off an ivory glaze and a sepia glaze, randomly putting them over the frame, some over lapping, some spots one color, some spots no glaze.
- After it all dried, it was a little too green, so I dry brushed the ivory/bisque colored base paint over the areas that were too vivid.
- Then a little more sanding to bring out the dark wood and more of the gold paint underneath.
This was a lot of steps, but I think they paid off, the frame looks like it was out in someone's shed being stored away for years.
The main trick is to not be too perfect. Nature doesn't age things perfectly. Sometimes the trick to a good faux finish is to be messy.
I did NOT cover this with clear coat. If I had, there might have been another chemical reaction with the newly sanded spots with gold paint showing through. It would have turned more green after the clear coat dried.
The buffet got a very similar treatment, with a creamy white painted streakily over the existing gray, so the gray showed through.
Then, crackle glaze, and sepia brushed on and wiped off over the crackle, after it dried.
I used the sepia very heavy in corners and edges.
When it was all dry, I used an acrylic clear coat over the entire piece.
I love crackle. Its tricky and unpredictable, but wow, when it comes out nice, it is really something. Don't ever use too much, use it selectively in spots. Not on every single inch of the piece. And feel free to add another coat or two if needed, and you're not thrilled with the first. (this only applies to porcelain crackle, weathered crackle is a different product. Read your labels!!)
After repainting, I re-foofed the top of the buffet, using some of the projects that I made in the Romantic Gothic Ghosts class. This cone was done from Beth's images and tutorial. I didn't have a cone handy, so I used an upside down party hat.
I'm so glad that I have the class pretties to display in my "new" dining room for fall! The moody, wistful shades (with NO orange!!) are just what this room needs to look festive and still look like "my" house- not the Halloween party store.
We are adding some little videos, giveaways, and decorating tips to the Gothic Ghost blog. The posts will be left up as long as I have a Typepad account (and I don't see me leaving any time soon), so you can take the classes at your leisure. But if you want to win any of the prizes, those are time sensitive. There are still three to give away.
Often, I see the beautiful posts up for White Wednesday, but I'm never in time to enter. Well, today seems to be a good fit and timely too. So, I'll be linking with Faded Charm.
As much as I love whites, I really should make more of an effort to be a part of it regularly!!
There are so many link parties now a days… Here are more that I joined. I usually don't get around to it, but they are always fun when I do!
I can almost hear the frame saying “Ahhhh I needed that…” I love to paint things too. Great job!
-Danielle
AMAZINGGGGGGGGGGGGG transformation! wow! hats off to you, alot of work and you made it amazingly beautiful! great inspiration 🙂
hugs mandyxx
Well, I love it and I love the buffet/dresser piece, too! I’ve got one of those on the mental list in my head of things I’d like to get ~ eventually.
Karla….that frame turned out so beautiful! You did such a wonderful job.
LuLu♥
Looks great, Karla!
I’m going to print out the instructions when I work on my armoire. I’m not happy with the way it looks. It doesn’t look as good as the picture I took. SOOOOOO will be reworking it. Thanks for the instructions!!!! Yours is fabulous!!!
Sandy
Just beautiful and your granddaughter is so cute!
Rondell
Everything is just beautiful, as usual !
Loving the buffet the most ! Thanks for the instructions.
What a transformation-it brightens up the room!
Karla It turned out beautiful!! I am loving this technique and , you will probably think I am crazy but I am wondering what you think about using this as a wall treatment? I still have that dining room that I need to do something with and I am loving the crackling, aged look of your buffet and would love that on my walls!
That frame is so gorgeous and the picture just seems to pop now with it’s new look!
bee blessed
mary
You did a great job with your faux work. I agree that I like the frame painted better than NOT! I will get back with you on the flowers when I get a little further along on the book. I have a few (3 or 4) from the package of blossoms I bought from you a few weeks back. I need to do the pages & see what they say. You know how things you are creating “SPEAK” to you when you begin working on them… I hope to get started tomorrow. Today was doctor appointments(he’s doing GREAT but, tires easily) & taking his truck in & leaving it for a big service(since he can’t drive it was the perfect time for our son to help me get it dropped off) HUGS!
Charlene
I think it looks fabulous!!
Awesome work on that frame Miss Karla! Beautiful as always, and the close up pictures of the crackle finish are wonderful. I want to crackle EVERYTHING right now. Mine never seems to get that look though 🙂 Have a wonderful night! Eileen
Karla…as usual ,absolutely gorgeous,you do a smashing job…I love the finished product…I cant believe you painted it on the wall!!!good for you…Lorraine
Karla, I think it looks beautiful!!! So does the buffet. Let someone in the future cringe when they try to strip it. It’s yours! Enjoy it! The whole room is so pulled together after your paint job.
Hugs,
Diane
Good decision….both pieces look great in your room!
Yes, yes! You did the right thing! The frame looks amazing and so does the buffet.
Karla you are fab…I loved that you painted the frame while talking to you MIL…I love your sense of adventure..makes me wanna go to it, maybe I will lol
Karla, you’re SO talented and you make it sound so laissez-faire easy. All of your painting is fab. That frame got a wonderful lightening up and I think it looks even better now with your magic painting treatment.
I think you did a wonderful thing by painting it! That looks great!
Such a great mirror….Very pretty~~ Miss Karla!
I loved how you aged it too:)
xo
Kay Ellen
Hey Sweet Karla! The mirror is so much more “you” now, good job! I like that you did it in spite of it being “worth more” the other way. It is yours, you should do what you want with it! Am so looking forward to getting the Baby Book from the boutique, the girl wanted me to make her something scrapbook-y and girly, and I think that foofing up this 1940s book will be the perfect compromise! Your Friend, Bobbi
Dear Karla……You and you transformations are just amazing. I am following along your idea of a no orange halloween and have been making some ghostly tags in off white and sepia. I plan on decorating the entrance hall of my house. I wish I had the guts to paint the little antique mirrored table I have there.
Laraine
Oh my heavens you did such an amazing job! I just love it and I think it looks fabulous painted white!
Hugs,
Olivia
Karla,
I am just not that much of purist and I adore the frame transformation and even like it better than the before, it really makes the artwork stand out. I’ll be wearing one of Beth’s cones as a dunce hat after I messed up my banner but at least I’ll look cute ;c) You two are posting faster than I can craft! Looks like more homework for me.
I paint a lot, and I LOVE what you did! Thanks for the
how-to!
Karla, you did an amazingly job,-the close up pictures shows what an artist you are, -everything looks old and used,and beautifull-and not at all new painted- the wonderfull old painting looks great in it`s “new” frame.
It is all very beautifull, and your dining room looks fantastic.Also love the cone you made.
Hugs, Dorthe
Wow! Everything looks amazing.
I love how the buffet looks splotchy. I’m not sure how you accomplished that.
~elaine~
Hi Karla… LOVE the transformation!! See, I still want to paint the little frame I showed last week, EVERYONE said NO… but we’ll see:-)
I haven’t thought to use crackle since the eighties when everything was smothered in it… you are so right a little in selective areas look awesome! I love to see your projects, Thanks!
Bella
Beautiful projects….
Warm blessings,
Spencer
Yep, you made the right choice! Did you make over the frame and the chest both in one day?! Now that’s a “Just do it!” I can appreciate!
Susanne.
You are so brave and talented! I would never have the courage – it took me forever to decide to paint an old table that sits on the porch. I love the server and frame turned out.
Leann
It really DID turn out beautiful, Karla~ wonderful transformation!
Hi everything looks beautiful. You did a great job on the buffet and frame. You dining room look wonderful. Have a good weekend.
The Swedish Room
Wow, what a great post! I appreciate having instructions included so that I can refer back if I decide to try a similar paint treatment. Your links to the link parties are appreciated too. I need to try joining a few, as I’ve just been admiring from afar. Oh, and your Mini Cinderella from the last post is so adorable, as always.
Thanks for the tutorial and GREAT idea about party hats as cones! Duh. But I never thought of it!
Wonderful walk through on your altered mirror. That room is gorgeous for sure.
Hydrangeas are my favorite too. I have one remaining plant out of 3, it has yet to bloom for me. You have given me hope.
I think you did a fabulous job… I love that crackle glaze too and have ‘aged’ many things with it and feel it gives an authentic look that isn’t too contrived and obvious faux aging. Sometimes you have to be bold and please yourself with your Lovelies, I feel you made the right choice having this piece, that you plan on keeping, just the way YOU want to enjoy it best. Thanks for telling us your process, it differs slightly from mine so the next time I age something I’m going to try it this way because it does look worth the effort and extra steps.
Dawn… The Bohemian