HomeTutorialsHand PaintedTablescapes

Thursday, June 14, 2012

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

13 comments:

srpprcrftr said...

I am so loving that door. That's all just one stencil on the whole door? I thought maybe you'd combined stencils. Love the finish, it's outstanding. I always really like everything you do. How do you know how to distress and make things look old? I'd really love to try something like that but don't know if I could afford all those materials you've used. I'll have to think on it and see what I have and could use for a substitute.

Kathy @ Creative Home Expressions said...

Wow, you're right, Maggie, that was one ugly door! You'd never know it looked like that, though, after your transformation. I love that stencil! The crown is really an eye-catcher.

Dee ⚜️⚜️⚜️⚜️⚜️ said...

Hi Maggie,

Beautiful! I would have never known it was once a cabinet door. I love the stencil you used and how you did the painting to get it to look aged.

Congratulations to Sally!

Dee

farmhouse-story said...

this has such a great look! love that stencil site:)

Tammy said...

Wow! You did it again! Another beautiful sign!

Nothing But Blue Skies... said...

That is gorgeous, Maggie! You are so talented!!

xo-Lisa

Linda Leyble said...

That is really lovely! I have used their stencils before and I love them too. I didn't know about this one...is it fairly new?

When you figure out how to do the blue enameled signs...let me know. I want to do that as well. I know that Benjamin Moore has a fairly new paint line that mimics a high shine lacquer (but it's water based). I have a tester of it in red that I have yet to try out. If the red looks good, perhaps I'll try the blue - will let you know!

Lovely project!

Linda

Okio B Designs said...

Ooh la la! This is gorgeous! =) Coming over from Between Naps on the Porch and so glad I did. I'm your newest follower and can't wait to read through some of your older posts.

Jeanine

Pamela said...

Maggie your sign is perfection! I just love it. Thanx for sharing how you made it!

The Charm of Home said...

Beautiful! Love the graphic you used! Thank you for joining me at Home Sweet Home!
Sherry

Lisa Sall - Sall's Country Life said...

I'm loving this sign!! You did a great job, you'd never know it's a replica!! Love your sight, I'm joining your followers.

Sherry @ No Minimalist Here said...

Fabulous! The finish and the stencil are wonderful. Thanks for linking to the Open House party this week.

Ivy and Elephants said...

I love the sign! You are so amazing, I can't believe all the great things you create.We'd love to have you link it with us, too!
Hugs,
Patti