Faux Painting, a Shabby Chic Tutorial

I needed some shabby chic furniture to use for display for some of the items I make for my etsy shop.

I had this country bench from my younger days, but, I was just never really thrilled with the color of the stain.

So, I thought I would update it with a new look and give it some great, shabby chic styling. :)

First, I sanded it down with a rough grit sandpaper to remove the sheen of the stain and to give it some tooth to allow the paint to adhere well.

Then, I gave it a good dusting with this paint brush. 

I use this a lot when my minis get dusty from being left out too long, it does a wonderful job of removing any dust. Did you know, that is how museums keep a lot of their artifacts clean? With a paint brush, yes!

I picked out a green paint to use as my base color.

I love these little jars of acrylic paint that you can pick up at the craft store inexpensively.

The one I chose was Folk Art "Yellow Citron" by Plaid.

Well, I decided it was just too yellowy for my liking, so I grabbed another green, America's Mint Julep Green from DecoArt.

I mixed with my favorite and most universal tool, the bamboo skewer. I use these skewers for everything, they are just so handy for so many different applications. 

These dispose-able food containers are great for mixing paints in. Just make sure you mix enough paint at one time so there is enough for your entire project. The lid can be placed on the container while you wait for a coat to dry, saving your paint from drying up.

I wasn't trying to be matchy matchy with the items for my etsy shop, as I would be keeping the bench, but, as so many of you know what I mean, I had a color in my mind's eye and that was what I wanted.

I call it Vintage Green. ;)

Finally, I was happy with the shade of green.

Two good coats were just what this piece needed.

Next to begin the shabby chic process.

I diluted Folk Art "Wicker White" paint from Plaid with water to make a white wash.

I didn't want a solid coverage for the top coat of paint.

Another coat of the white wash or two.

It looks more like a solid coat than it actually is, there is some of the green visible on the bench, it just didn't photograph as well, as I thought it did. ;)

Lastly, an all over sanding with a fine grit sandpaper to show some age, wear and tear.

I didn't add any type of clear coat to this, as I preferred the rustic, matte finish.

I think it has a lot more charm and character than it did before, wouldn't you agree?

Now, it's perfect for using in displays for my minis for sale and eventually, it will end up in my dollhouse in the shabby chic bedroom.

So, don't be afraid to experiment and have fun with your minis. It doesn't have to be all rule oriented, do what you want! 

You don't even have to be an expert painter to make use of the shabby chic styling.

Would you like to see some other tutorials I have made?

Click here, to find a tutorial on how to faux finish some resin planters to make them look aged.

Click here, to find a tutorial on how to make replacement cushions for a popular rocker glider.

Enjoy! :)

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Welcome New Followers! :)

Oy, it's been a while since I've welcomed my new followers and there are whoa the many!

Nice to see I was even gaining followers in my absence from blogging, that was sweet! :)

And, just as spring welcomes us with flowers....

I welcome all of you! :)

Heleni

lluna45

ayamontinomaria

maria I

dee

klara

Brujita

Linda

Dave Williams

Chrissey

Marlies

Laurie H.

Stan

Beatriz Martin

Fabiola

Alison

Gemma

inglebor willigenburg

anna

Jaana

Vinweeda Magic

Heidi

CARMEN

Jenny

Angela

lula miniland

Paco

PolkadotShroom

chourparvril

Tanya

Jollie

May

Dave Fluty

Susi

Violet

Mrs. Pitstop

Nuno Mata

Malu 2

Debbie Mise

Pepita

GWCC

Eli en Karina

weelittlewest

Just

Lenira

Eva

Roberto Ferres

Miniatures by Natalie

lisajohnsonrichards

Daisy

clerk

Sara Scales

berri

Ester y su Mundo

Tabitha Corsica

XIONY Miniatures

Enchanticals

Clara

Daydreamer

Kim

Lirael

Andriana Guedes

Art of Mini

mini_babies

ARTISANNE

Nina

Heather

BiWuBar

Tracy

otterline

mairi

marie

and..........

from out of the shadows we welcome...

erika

ta_pozzo

Marrin Powell

maushaus17

oneill686

rivervujc@comcast.net

mspapelita

mattysdolls

Mini Aussie

wrovsell

Thank you all so much for becoming a follower of my blog! :)

Everyone, there's lots of links to click and new blogs to be found!

Really, there are a lot of fabulous links here. :)

Stop by and tell them I sent you and tell them I said Hi! :)

If you have a blog and don't see a link at your name, please let me know by commenting on this post with a link and I'll try to catch up with my next posting. :) Hate to leave anyone out! :)

If you speak in another language, I strongly encourage you to add the google translate widget. You can steal if from my blog. While I love looking at the pictures, I also love to see the words you write and be able to read them in my language. :) Just a thought, you might gain more readers that way. :)

anyhoo....

If you haven't signed up for my giveaway, see this post and follow the directions! :)

If you are having any problems with getting in touch with your swap mate, email me and I will help you as best I can! :) dales_dreams@comcast.net

Hopefully, more info to come soon! I apologise for the delay, but, I've been compounded with computer issues as of late and you know, that stuff we call life... when we're not making, buying, playing with minis. :)

Wow, remind me to welcome followers more often! This took hours and hours to do! :)

But, I hope you all find wonderful new great blogs to follow as a result!

As always, if you've been following my blog for a while, you know, everything that is highlighted in pink is a clickable link, so click around! Have some fun! :)

Until next time my friends! :)

News Flash!!!

I've reached 300 sales in my etsy shop!

Many thanks to all of my customers! :)

New Acquisition or the New Kid in Town!

So, what a find is this?! I think this deserves a second chance, don't you? :)

Hubby is so good to rescue this for me. :)

He was afraid I was going to tell him to put it in the trash, but,

Nooooo! This has potential!

I'm thinking this is from the eighties given the choices in colors.

Shame it's missing a dormer, but, I bet I can find a replacement or find two new ones that match.

I'm not sure whether this was ever all wired up, or did the owner just give up at this point?

Which makes me think of my other house. See this blog post here.

Both houses do seem to have a lot of similarities, but that might just be because they are both traditionally styled homes.

Wiring is what has gotten hubby and I stumped with the first house, but, I am determined now to get both houses wired and finished.

Determined! lol ;)

I figure we can wire the first house with wires and the second house with tape.

Then we can compare the two and see which we like better.

Who knows, there could be a third house waiting around for me next year! lol ;)

Well, I don't think that I need another house at this point.

At least not until I make some progress with the two that I have now.

So, when wiring a house with wire, you have to wall paper, right?

Is it the same when you wire with the tape?

I had wanted to just paint the first house. But, I'm told you have to wallpaper to cover up the wires.

I am warming up to the idea of wall papering. The idea of doing it on poster board first, is helping me out with the thought of doing it.

We know who made this house, unlike the first house.

I think it looks very similar to this house here.

And, we know who the house was intended for. :)

Maybe I can reuse the initials in naming the house.

CM

Any ideas?

The  cool part is that, now that I have two houses.... I can go forward with the ideas I had for decorating the first house and stop second guessing my decisions. Because I have another one to do different things with. :)

The ideas in the head are running amuck!

Join my mailing list! :)

Just email me, dale's dreams, put mailing list in the subject line and you'll be informed of private sales. Your privacy will always be respected, I'll never share the list and you can opt out at any time. And, don't worry, they won't be that often! lol Maybe once or twice a year. :)

C'mon in! We're having a little party! :)

 The table is all set, c'mon, don't be shy, have a bite to eat.

There's lots of sweet delicacies to enjoy. :)

Amongst all these goodies are the gifts I got from the girls. :)

From Pei Li

I very carefully, removed them from the box. :)

A sweet box of macaroons, beautiful hydrangeas and a tray of the most delicate, delightful desserts. :)

Amazing the details on things so tiny!

From Asuka

Lace cookies, all sealed in individual bags. To keep their freshness, of course! :) (how does she do that???)

Aren't these just super sweet? :) She made the box, too. I like how it's patterned on the outside and the inside.

From Cindy

A strawberry cake, that is pink, my favorite color. :)

Cute, cute, cute cupcakes. Look at the tiny silver sprinkles on them. All precisely placed.

A fruit danish, pain du chocolate and a croissant.

The best part, the tiny, tiny cupcake papers.

The size of them has me completely dumb founded!

And, she folds each crimp by hand. She showed Sans! and I how to do it, but, I'll leave it up to Cindy to be the world supplier of cupcake papers. :)

and some of her tatting! :)

Cindy showed us how she tats, but, it's beyond me, I'll never get that. I can't figure out how she is able to make patterns, it's just little knots, you know?!

From Sans!

More flowers! :) As if she were not already generous enough. She shared some more of her flowers with me. We were supposed to hit Bangkok, but there was too much going on over there. That's where these are from.

and trims! I'm sure I'll find uses for both of these!

Thank you ladies, oh, so much for the precious, precious goodies and for making my stay in Singapore so memorable. It's nice having a little bit from all of you to remember the trip.

While we're at it, let's welcome some new followers to the party as well.

Welcome!

Minnie Kitchen

Nyork

Lainie's Little Things

Wanda

JRB CREATIONS

martimez

miniature wonderland

flyngreorgiabelle

duendes

Margaret

Fiver

minicrochetmad

Bozse

Veselina

Dark Squirrel Victoria

Terry

Emily

cecilia colo - Miniaturist

cinderellamoments

Trudy Hylant

C'mon in and make yourself at home. Don't forget to get a bite to eat. :)

It's virtual, it will never run out. :)

Additional credits for the party

Folding screen Yuki

Little black cat Hanna

Ferrero Rocher Paky

Additional croissants Betsy Niederer

Turning Mike Rowe

Brie, crackers and grapes NJD Miniatures

Bunny Bassom Bear

Pink flowers Tallulah Belle

Church bird house Sandy Copeland

Apples, wine and candle sticks I bought in Paris

Floral plates, pitcher, planter and stand I bought at my last local miniatures show

Table and chairs Ray

Everyone, thanks for coming to my party.

Hope you all had a good time. :)

All right, last one out, turn out the lights and blow out the candles.

I'm heading for bed. lol ;)

Busy, busy, busy!

My how time flies so quickly these days!

I'm normally busy, but it's been crazy busy around here.

Here is a sewing cabinet I filled for a client.

I think it came out cute and she's pleased with it,

that's the most important part.

If you'd like to see the progress on her house, click here.

The album now has 37 pages in it, enjoy! :)

I have not been up on my blog reading and I apologise to all.

Maybe, I can get a chance to catch up on my reading while I am on vacation.

I got to go out to lunch today and I met up with a gal from my town that is also a miniaturist and has an etsy shop as well. I was so tickled to me her. I don't know any miniaturists in my area, most of the people I know into minis are on line. Her name is Agnes and here is her etsy shop.

Too cute, she messaged me what she was wearing so I could find her, black carpris, pink shirt.

LOL! What was I wearing? black pants, pink shirt.

That right there is a sign. ;)

She belongs to several local clubs and said she would take me to them. That sounds like fun. :)

Well, that's all for now... I'm off to Singapore on Monday. :)

My shop is still open, but delivery of merchandise will wait until I return.

In the mean time, email me at dales_dreams@comcast.net

and put mailing list in the subject line.

I'm going to have a private sale over the summer, but you have to sign up for the mailing list to know about it. :)

Going on a little trip...

Well, I might need to pack the larger bags and not the mini ones. ;)

I'm going to Singapore to visit with Sans!

How cool, is that?!

I'm also going to get to meet Cindy, aka Snowfern.

And hopefully, I'll get to meet up with Jocelyn, Pei Li, and Asuka.

I've dubbed them the Singapore girls. All are members of TeamMIDS on Etsy. With the exception of Sans, who Cindy and I are trying to have join us as a collector member. Yes, you don't have to sell miniatures to belong to our team. :)

Needless to say, I am thrilled and excited beyond belief and am ever so grateful for Sans' enormous generosity. Thank you so much, Sans!

Sans and Cindy will be my tour guides and are going to immerse me in the Singapore culture. There is so much to see and do there. It's going to be a fabulous trip. :)

The luggage in the above picture is made by Whimsy Cottage Minis, one of my dearest friends. :) The hutch and carpet can be found in my etsy shop.

I used to think I'd have nothing to blog about. Now, I have so much to blog about and not enough time to do it all. I guess, that's why my blog posts tend to be on the long side. Oh, well! ;)

Some recent work for Ray of Minibuilder for one of his clients.

This is the inspiration photograph.

And, this is the finished result.

 I was so excited to win Tallulah Belle's giveaway.

I cannot commend Jayne near enough for how she did this giveaway. Such a novel idea, with a big impact for others.

Isn't this just the sweetest thing ever? I love it!
And, it is so tiny! As it always is with minis, they are always so much better in person, than the picture. I thought this would be like water pitcher size, but, it's more like creamer pitcher size. Tiny! :)
Thank you so much, Jayne!
Thank you for making a difference in other people's lives. :)

Until next time, my blogging friends... :)

What's come in the mail recently!

Finally, my urns have arrived! :)

They are from Golden Unicorn Minis, her shop has been on vacation, but it is now up and running again. :)

Don't they look fantastic? All the way around the plants are different, which is why I took a few pictures, I love all of the detailing, just like what I would have done with real life urns. Someday, they will flank the front door of my dollhouse.

If you would like to see the tutorial for faux finishing these aged urns, click here.

Porch or lawn chairs from Inside-Out Minis. She's taking a break at the moment, but, be sure to bookmark her shop for future reference. You can look at her sales to see previous work.

She customised these for me in black. I have these vintage chairs in real life and plan on vamping them up this summer and painting them black.

A mug tree, also by Inside-Out Minis. Another custom request from me, plain (without mugs) and painted black. Looks like iron work, doesn't it?

I have a tutorial from the gal at Inside-Out Minis to make clay tea cups. If one of you DIY'ers are interested in it, let me know in the comments. Some of you know, I'll never touch the clay, so I'll pass this along. If more than one are interested, I'll do a draw. It is completely detailed with color photographs, instructions and tools to accomplish it.

Table is by my buddy Ray of minibuilder on etsy.

I was able to get my mug and my husband's at a local craft shop, but, because my children have unusual names, they weren't available. :( 

But, I managed to find a guy on ebay named facetmulti and he created the mugs that I couldn't find. :)

I've been crazy busy as usual with life, family, custom orders and collaborations. I'm way behind on my blog reading, more than usual. Probably doesn't help that I've discovered Facebook, lol, but,  I see a lot of you out there, so that's nice. :)

I'm terribly behind on my personal correspondence and I'm hoping to get up with that soon, I haven't forgotten about you! :)

My giveaway is on Sunday, so if you would like to be included in it, just make a comment on that posting.

I'll see you on Sunday with the results. :)

As always, click on the pink links and poke the pictures to see them larger. :)