TUTORIALS TIPS AND TIDBITS #72

photo source

WELCOME TO 

TUTORIALS TIPS AND TIDBITS #72

Before we begin, I need your help! BADLY!

I have been nominated for 2013 Best Home Blog and your votes will make my blogging dream a reality!

Could you please vote for me... and maybe vote every day until Nov15th? You will? You are so sweet!

Thanks! 

Go to LAMPS PLUS on Facebook and "like" LAMPS PLUS. Find an icon that sorta looks like this... under the main header...

Click on it and vote!

I am in the FAMILY category!

Wish me luck... AND VOTE! 

Thanks, again!

Now let's get inspired...

TUTORIALS TIPS AND TIDBITS #66

Welcome to...

TUTORIALS TIPS AND TIDBITS #66

Last week we had a fabulous turnout and lots and lots of incredible projects, fall decor, recipes and tidbits!

My "must-make" list just keeps getting bigger and bigger!

Here are some examples of the great posts from last week...

TUTORIAL TIPS AND TIDBITS #58

Welcome to...

TUTORIALS TIPS AND TIDBITS #58

This is the place where you can share your creative ideas, tutorials, tips, recipes, crafts, makeovers, 

dyi's, projects... and any little tidbit you have going on!!!

I just want to remind you that this is called Tutorial, Tips and TIDBITS for a reason. I think that any little tidbit you have to share qualifies!

I'll show you... here are some great features from last week...

TUTORIALS TIPS AND TIDBITS #53

Welcome to 

TUTORIALS TIPS AND TIDBITS!

In two week's TTT will be trying something new... a guest host!

And it could be YOU

It's easy, fun, brings traffic to your blog and let's you participate in a new way! Don't worry if you have never done anything like this before... I'll walk you through it!

If you are interested in being a TTT guest host drop me an e-mail at stonegable333@gmail.com

Now, here are some features from last week...

TUTORIAL TIPS AND TIDBITS #45 AND GIVEAWAY WINNER

Welcome to TUTORIALS TIPS AND TIDBITS!

Since beginning TTT my "must-make" list is getting so long! I also have learned many great tips and tidbits that make my life easier in lots of areas. Thank you so much for your uplifting inspiration!!!! Wait till you see this week's features!!!!

Before we begin, here is the winner of the 

STONEGABLE AT HOME GIVEAWAY...

The winner is... 

LISA

Who commented: Wow! what a great giveaway - and my 2 favorite things - dishes and blue and white! I'll share on facebook. Thanks for all you do.

  Congratulations!

 Please e-mail me your address. My e-mail in on the sidebar.

I hope you will check out my AT HOME web page.

Click HERE to find lots of wonderful home products and great deals. A new flash sale is going on now... lots of beautiful vases!

Here are some of the features from last week's TTT... 

WINE CORK MONOGRAM from LIFE IN MY EMPTY NEST

CHECKERED THRIFT STORE STOOL from THE NORTH END LOFT

UPDATING COASTERS from WORTHING COURT

FABULOUS RESTORATION LIKE MAKEOVER from CITY FARMHOUSE

SLEEP UNDER THE STARS from CEDAR HILL RANCH

PEANUT BUTTER CUP BROWNIES from HOME STYLED

GORGEOUS (my word) CHALKBOARD WALL from FURNITURE-OLOGY

PILLOW TUTORIAL from DAISEY JAYNE

This week my offering is HOW TO MAKE FAKE-OUT FABREZE

If you have been featured, please grab a "featured" button on my sidebar!

* Please link your post using your permalink

* Please link back to TUTORIALS TIPS AND TIDBITS in the body of your post. You can find my button TTT button on my sidebar. No mass link page, please!

* Visit other TTT participants... let's all visit at least 3 others and comment

* Please link up only photographs that belong to you.

* It would be nice if you would follow me, thanks!

* If you would like to pin an image on Pinterest, please pin it from the original source, not StoneGable

* By participating, you are giving me permission to use your linked post and picture as a featured link in an upcoming TUTORIALS TIPS AND TIDBITS. I may also use your post and any image to alter for a TTT title page and facebook announcement.

TUTORIALS TIPS AND TIDBITS # 39

Welcome to TUTORIALS TIPS AND TIDBITS #39!

It's exciting for me to see all the creativity and brilliant ideas that flood in every TUTORIALS TIPS AND TIDBITS!

You are one talented bunch!!! Thanks, for sharing it here every week!

Let's look at a few features from last week... all creative and brilliant..

I think all of us should head over to BEYOND THE SCREEN DOOR and read Sonya's post. It is about being content! Because most of us look at beautiful things on the blogs and that could make it is hard to be content with the reality of our lives! Great post... and a really fabulous PALLET PROJECT.

I love free printables... and this one is a lovely IRISH BLESSING from A STEP IN THE JOURNEY. Great fonts!!!

ECLECTICALLY VINTAGE shared this adorable BURLAP BUNNY RUNNER. Oh, this one I just have to make!  It gives new meaning to Peter Cottontail!

This recipe is not just for breakfast! APPLE PIE PANCAKES from BACK FOR SECONDS would be scrumptious any time!!!!

Spring is blooming at COMMON GROUND... just look at her beautiful SPRING ENTRY. The basket of white tulips is stunning!

CONFESSIONS OF A PLATE ADDICT is having FUN WITH DECOUPAGE EASTER EGGS.  So many creative and pretty ideas!!!

Burlap... burlap... burlap everywhere! And how charming it looks made into an EASY BURLAP WREATH FOR SPRING from 21 ROSEMARY LANE!

Here's my offering this week... HOW TO CREATE A COLOR WASH EFFECT.  It is easy to do and really makes painted furniture something special!

If you have been featured at TUTORIALS TIPS AND TIDBITS please grab a "Featured" button from my sidebar.

Now let's see what great TUTORIALS, TIPS AND TIDBITS  you have for us this week!

Remember, any little tidbit will do!

* Please link your post using your permalink

* Please link back to TUTORIALS TIPS AND TIDBITS in the body of your post. You can find my button TTT button on my sidebar. No mass link page, please!

* Visit other TTT participants... let's all visit at least 3 others and comment

* Please link up only photographs that belong to you.

* It would be nice if you would follow me, thanks!

* If you would like to pin an image on Pinterest, please pin it from the original source, not StoneGable

* By participating, you are giving me permission to use your linked post and picture as a featured link in an upcoming TUTORIALS TIPS AND TIDBITS. I may also use your post and any image to alter for a TTT title page and facebook announcement.

CREATING A COLOR WASH EFFECT

As promised, today I am sharing a very easy and very beautiful painting effect.

The technique is called 

COLOR WASH

With very little practice you can create some stunning outcomes...

Here is a chair I am working on using the color wash technique...

A color wash should be done with one dark and one lighter paint. It leaves a striated or striped effect. It can be very subtle as in the dining room chairs I am painting...

Or bolder and more pronounced, like the buffet I recently painted...

The same two colors were used on both pieces.  

Each piece was base coated in Country Grey and washed in Pure White.  The lines are more pronounced in the buffet. It is a matter of pressure applied when removing the wash. 

Painting a piece with a color wash is a very creative and satisfying process.

Supplies

Annie Sloan Chalk Paint in two different colors (I chose Pure White and Country Grey)

*practice boards , see the end of the post for more information

paintbrush

small containers to hold the wash (I use plastic cups)

cheese cloth gauze (I buy a big roll that has pull off sheets through my ASCP stockist)

bucket of water

optional:

latex free gloves

Creating a Wash

I used the same colors to paint both boards... but reversed the colors in the base coat and  in the color wash process...

One board was painted Pure White (PW) and the other Country Grey (CG).

1. Mix a small amount of PW in a cup. For every 1 part paint add 1/2 to 1 part water. Mix well. A little goes a long way.

2. When the base coat (PW) is dry, paint over the whole board with the wash (CG)

3. Use one length of cheesecloth and fold it over four times. Every time you wipe down an area on your board, use a clean side of your cheesecloth.

4. Gently swipe down the practice board in a straight line. As the cheesecloth removes some of the color wash it will make interesting lines or stripes on your board. You can go over your board if your lines are wavy. Just don't overwork it.

5. Let it dry completely

 Use the opposite colors to create a different look (see image bottom left).

Applying Dark Wax To A Wash

Apply a coat of clear wax to the board, let it dry and buff with a clean white rag.

2. To see the effects of applying dark wax, tape the middle of the board with two strips of painter's tape.

Scuff up the right side of the board with sandpaper.  Add a layer of clear wax and immediately add a heavy coat of dark wax. Rub it off with a clean white rag and buff.

To the left side of the board, add a layer of clear wax and immediately add a light coat of dark wax. Rub it off with a clean white rag and buff.

3. Remove the tape... you can see how the applications of wax will change the appearance of the wash. This will help you decide the look you desire when painting and waxing a piece of furniture.

4. Now you will have several examples of wax application for each color technique.

left, light application of dark wax; middle, only clear wax applied; right, sanded and heavy dark wax application.

As you can see a color wash can have some beautiful and interesting results! It is my favorite technique to use when painting furniture.

back of the dining room chair done in a color wash

*A note about practice boards:

I buy a long length of baseboard or crown molding and have it cut into 5" pieces where I buy it.  Then I can practice on it to see the result of the colors and effects I choose before painting on a piece of furniture.

Label the back of each practice board with the color of paint and the steps you used to create each board's effect.

To see a post on practice boards with lots of tips, click HERE.

Remember to stop back and join us tonight at 8:00 for

TUTORIALS TIPS AND TIDBITS
show up and show off your creativity... any little tidbit will do!

PAINTED BUFFET PEEK

This is NOT a "final reveal", but a big work in progress...

and a story...

There was once a professor at a major university who taught a Behavior Science class.  The class was held in a large auditorium holding about 500 students.

The room was filled with ready-to-learn students and the professor was keeping them engaged by his very interesting lesson.

About 20 minutes into his class the professor stopped...

"Oh, I forgot to mention... PLEASE don't look at that giant picture of the blue dog on the wall... PLEASE! Refrain from looking at the giant picture of the blue dog on the wall!"

Of course all the student's attention was then focused on the giant picture of the big blue dog on the wall behind and to the left of the professor 

"If however, you should look at the giant picture of the blue dog on the wall even after I have instructed you not to, PLEASE use your answer buzzers and push it each time you do".

Let's just say there was a buzzer frenzy! Once pointed out, it became almost impossible for the students not to look at the giant picture of the blue dog on the wall!

What I want to tell you today (but will not because I know then you will) is to not look at the very dated marbled wall paper on the foyer walls... or the arrangement on the top of the buffet.... or the sanding dust lying on the hardwood floors... or the stack of mirrors and pictures that are reflected in the mirror.

I want to tell you that the foyer is the last to be painted a beautiful soft putty white because we have to scrape off wallpaper... and I was up this morning at 4:00 with the dog and while I was waiting for him to come back inside I was finding things to plop on the buffet just to pass the time... and my back is acting up, so wiping up paint dust is far down on my list... and that the foyer has become sorta a dumping ground for all the wall hangings we really don't know what to do with as we finish the living room and dinning room we have been working on first because we didn't have to scrape wallpaper off of those walls!

 I'm afraid that if I tell you then you will look at it... and miss the buffet... and the pretty new mirror... and the new lamp that is both silver and gold... and the very cool burlap lamp shade!

This buffet used to live in my dining room.  It was a piece we bought from Ethan Allen 26 years ago. Solid as a rock... and still in great condition.

I have learned that there are just some pieces that I can not afford to replace. They were such an investment years ago and I could not replace them  with a piece that equaled their quality.

So I am am painting them.

 I decided to paint the buffet white... and once everything is in and decorated we will see how it looks!

It took a lot to cover the dark wood! So if I want to change the color I have a great base to work from!

I painted the buffet with ASCP Pure white to mirror the wainscoting in the dining room.

The buffet was gently sanded and softly stained... for now.

The original hardware is solid brass, but I chose to replace it with updated silver knobs and handles.

I chose to sit this little sturdy buffet in my foyer tucked under the stairs for a very useful reason!

I'll share that with you on Saturday when I give you a peek at Abby's bridal shower!

This watery blue mirror (Ballard) was something that I could not get out of my mind when I first saw it... and when the buffet was finished, I knew why! It belonged in the foyer too!

There is a whole lot to do and change and fluff before my foyer is complete... but for now I hope you liked the little peek!

TUTORIALS TIPS AND TIDBITS # 38 AND SL GIVEAWAY WINNER

Welcome to

 TUTORIALS TIPS AND TIDBITS!

Before we get started... it's time to announce the

SARA LEE NATIONAL POUND CAKE DAY WINNER...

Congratulations to...

NANCY REINKE

she wrote...

This looks sooooo yummy. Great photos, by the way.

Please e-mail me (e-mail button is on my sidebar) with your address and I will get your gift certificate and coupons out to you.

A big thank you to the nice folks at SARA LEE DESSERTS for this yummy giveaway!

Head over to their FACEBOOK PAGE or WEB-SITE for other great dessert ideas!

Now here's just a few features from last week's TTT...

 Look at this adorable SPRING WREATH from TWELVEOEIGHT.  Don't you feel happy just looking at it?

These CANDY FILLED YARN EGGS are sooooo creative... and easy! Who doesn't have yarn or string or twine lying around the house! Head over to MODERN CHRISTIAN HOMEMAKER to see this easy tutorial!

Jenn at CLEAN AND SCENTSIBLE is getting ready for Easter. Love her EASTER BUFFET AND HUTCH! Those bunnies are so cute!

So many of us are painting our furniture these days. It's good to know that we can REMOVE PAINT FROM PAINTED FURNITURE. LAKE GIRL PAINTS went from black back to natural and white.

WOW, this is a great tutorial!

A STEP INTO THE JOURNEY shared how to make HOMEMADE ICE CREAM SANDWICHES.  Oh, YUMMY! I am making these!!!

I want to stop right here, dig through me fabric and make this darling BIRD PINCUSHION right now!!!!  Rett, could you use one of these?

How inspiring... from PIECED PASTIMES.

You will want to stop by MARKET NINE HOME and get some great tips about KEEPING YOU HOME NEW AND FRESH BY ROTATING ACCESSORIES.  Beautiful rooms and very helpful tips!

CURED LEMONS from MAKE MINE LEMON will make you pucker up! What a great post for enhancing a lemons flavor!!!

If you have been featured at TUTORIALS TIPS AND TIDBITS please grab a "Featured" button from my sidebar.

Now let's see what great TUTORIALS, TIPS AND TIDBITS  you have for us this week!

Remember, any little tidbit will do!

* Please link your post using your permalink

* Please link back to TUTORIALS TIPS AND TIDBITS in the body of your post. You can find my button TTT button on my sidebar. No mass link page, please!

* Visit other TTT participants... let's all visit at least 3 others and comment

* Please link up only photographs that belong to you.

* It would be nice if you would follow me, thanks!

* If you would like to pin an image on Pinterest, please pin it from the original source, not StoneGable

* By participating, you are giving me permission to use your linked post and picture as a featured link in an upcoming TUTORIALS TIPS AND TIDBITS. I may also use your post and any image to alter for a TTT title page and facebook announcement.