French Family Crest

I think this finish mimics old slate stone.  What do you think?  Of course, it's not.  It's one of my old cabinet doors from the salvage yard.  This finish was super easy so I'll just get right to the point and tell you how I did it, but seriously, do you think my name is bold enough in the picture?  What's up with that? 

 I sanded the door because it had a gloss finish that was super yucky.  Then I painted it with two coats of Americana Ultra Blue Deep acrylic paint.  You see, I wanted to make a look-alike blue enamel French address plaque.  Just wasn't in the cards.  To see the blue, look below.  It's bright!  I wanted to age it a bit so I took my Gold Rub n' Buff and went all around the edges to give it a border.  Again, very bright.  Then I took white gesso and went over the whole door working in sections and wiping it back with a paper towel.  This sort of streaked it and grayed it and made it look more like slate which does have a lot of blue.

 Then I took some craft glaze medium and mixed it with my black acrylic paint.  I washed it around the edges and on the gold edges which were already dulled way down by the gesso wash.  Then I used my new grain sack stencil by Maison de Stencils.  This is one stencil, not several.  I just laid it on my door and used ivory white acrylic paint but just a really light treatment.  This is supposed to look like an old French plaque that's been calcified over time.  Now I sprayed it with a clear flat sealer and voila it's done.

 Here is the bright blue I started with.  I may do some enamel copycat signs another time.  I do love this blue.

 Isn't this door ugly?  No wonder it was ripped out and replaced.  For the link to Maison de Stencils click here.  They have a wonderful variety and also the best looking stencils around.

The winner of the give away for my French wreaths is Sally Puckett.  Congratulations, Sally.  I'll be contacting you to get your address.  Thanks for leaving a comment and thanks to all of you who left comments as well.



I'm partying at...


Mondays          Le Chateau des Fleurs        The Graphics Fairy     Metamorphosis Monday
Tuesdays          Knick of Time       Tutus and Tea Parties       Coastal Charm  
                                      Boogie Board Cottage    A Stroll Thru Life
Wednesdays     Savvy Southern Style         Ivy and Elephants        Faded Charm Cottage            
                                     Fine Craft Guild      
Thursdays        Embracing Change     The Shabby Creek Cottage    No Minimalist Here 
                                     Between Naps on the Porch Tablescape Thursday    Fishtail Cottage
                                     Rustic Restorations Homespun Happenings
Fridays            French Country Cottage       My Romantic Home        Miss Mustard Seed
                                    At the Picket Fence     Potpourri Friday     Common Ground
                                    The Charm of Home    Decorating Insanity   Rooted in Thyme
Saturdays        Funky Junk Interiors

Sundays           It's Overflowing