I want to thank everyone again for such warm and wonderful birthday wishes and hope everyone had a great holiday!
Do you remember this chair I did for the blog make over party?
(And are you ready for this months' on the 25th?)
This was how it was after it was freshly made-over and before any distressing.
While it was very nice, it was kinda blah. So I used one of those secret tricks that any one could do.
After doing the typical candle rub on the edges and then sanding, I decided it needed more...a real beat up look...And it is so simple to do with such a simple ordinary thing...
Masking tape!
After your piece is painted, let it dry for a few hours and put masking tape over the area you would like to "distress." For a more complete reveal , press really hard, for a light lifting, just touch the tape o the paint gently and remove right away. You can even burnish it with a popsicle stick or the back of a spoon for a deep "grab." If you would like a color to show underneath, paint that color a few days before and let it cure. Also, it never hurts to apply a small bit of varnish to make sure the undercoating isn't going to lift.
and let 'er rip!
For the striping, I barely pressed down on the tape.
and pulled it up.
See, I
told you it was easy!
Jen
That is flippin awesome! Thank you so much for sharing your secrets.
ReplyDeleteThanks so much for the tutorial - you're right! I think I could do that Jen! I will have to give it a try one of these days. Keep sharing your marvelous secrets with us :)
ReplyDeleteWhat a cool tip. I admit, the same thing has happened to me when I didn't want it to, but I never considered the same "technique" for distressing! Thanks for sharing.
ReplyDeleteOoooohhh! I love tips from you professionals! Thank you!
ReplyDeleteAnd yes, I'm ready for the 25th!
The Texas Woman
Holy cow...I didn't know about this trick!! I always wondered how they did that. And who knew it was so easy! Thanks for sharing your wealth of knowledge. Now I need to go distress something!
ReplyDeleteSuch a simple tip, but one that not many would think of. :) thanks!
ReplyDeleteAmazing. I never would have thought of that yet it makes so much sense! Thank you for the great tip.
ReplyDeleteThank you for sharing these instructions-such an easy way to get that wonderful aged look! Your chair looks awesome! laurie
ReplyDeletethanks for the tip, jen:) i've never seen that before, and it looks wonderful!
ReplyDeleteso pretty and shabby~
ReplyDeletesandy toe
It looks great Jen! I'll be looking through some of your projects... got something I want to do with a chair here at home.. Thanks!!! Vanessa
ReplyDeletei would like your address....i have about 100 chairs I would like you to do just like that!
ReplyDeleteIt really looks so cute with the distressing! Good tip!
ReplyDeleteManuela
Hi, I saw a comment you left about using vinegar as weed killer. I'd love to know how you do this. Feel free to email me. Thanks! P.S. Love your blog and will be back!
ReplyDeleteThere is a cool trick I can add to my "magic bag". I love it!
ReplyDelete-c
I am so glad you posted this.. i paint and then i worry about "how to distress the piece"... now I know... big thanks,
ReplyDeleteLuLu
Hi Jen! Thank you for the reminder about the 25th...we'll be there!!
ReplyDeleteSo great! Thanks for the tutorial! I've been offline for over a week, and missed your birthday. Hope it was wonderful! :)
ReplyDeleteThis is awesome - I love it. I can just picture my husband thinking I'm crazy!
ReplyDeleteI have never heard the masking tape trick...it turned out amazing!
ReplyDeleteI did not know about the tape thingy. That is cool. Now how does that wax thing work exactly?
ReplyDeleteAbsolutely love it!
ReplyDeletevery nice! I love the blue :)
ReplyDeleteThe chair looks great! I really like the striped bit, and the distressing.
ReplyDeleteGreat great idea! Much more user friendly than sandpaper!
ReplyDeleteLooks fabulous! That is a very cool trick!
ReplyDeletewow, wow, wow! This is greatness! Thank you so much for sharing! Kelly
ReplyDeleteYou make it look so easy for us. Thanks for a great tutorial!
ReplyDeleteThank you a million times for this post! You have no idea how I'm so going to do this. I sat outside distressing a dresser, primed, painted gray, then a creme color. I wanted each color to come through. Sanding blocks were not working! So I grabbed the electric sander. Way...WAY...to much work! Tape is my new BFF.
ReplyDeleteThank you for the tip,
Shanna