Chalk & Milk Paint Tips & Techniques. Helpful How-to’s & DIYs

Piano Bench Makeover with Old World Clay & Chalk Paint & Stencils

29/10/2017

It was a "Paint Therapy Day" where I
needed a bit of creative fun to clear my head.

And what better than this picture-perfect
sad little roadside rescue bench
(that I'd spotted earlier at a garage sale for $10)

BEFORE

The fabric top was still in good shape, it just needed a scrub up.
I used vinegar with clove oil to combat any mildew.

The underside had a quick coat to tidy it up in
Old World Clay & Chalk Paint in the
oh-so-pretty shade of Ocean Pearl,
a soft grey-white with a hint of lavender.

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Wood TV Trays Become TRES-Chic & Warehouse-worthy with Fusion Mineral Paint & a Raised Stencil

6/9/2017

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I've been on the hunt for a set of these babies for awhile.

The before

I had to drive 35 minutes and pay $25 but...worth it!

This is one of those can't-wait-projects that magically jumps to the front of the painting line because you're just dying to get started. Do you know the kind?

I knew Fusion Mineral Paint would rock the mid-century industrial warehouse look that I wanted—is this even possible with dowdy timber TV trays?

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An Estate Sale Table Makeover with Milk Paint & Metallic Made for a Coffee Lover

20/3/2017

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It was an eye-spy-with-my-little-eye moment.

There I was. At an estate sale.
Not an ordinary estate sale.
A super-fancy-wear-something-without-paint estate sale.

Everything was completely out of my price range.
Until I saw this.
$30 done and dusted!

In retrospect if I'd seen this sweet girl at an op shop
I might've thought $30 was a bit steep.

When in Rome...

Here's how she came up.
Now she could strut right back into that
estate sale with pride if she wanted!

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Embracing the Artist Within with Hand-painted Stencils from Miss Mustard Seed

9/2/2017

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Known for her elegant hand-painted furniture, blogger, interior designer and Milk Paint enthusiast Marian Parsons, also known as Miss Mustard Seed, waited for inspiration to strike before designing a stencil line that reflects her unique artistic view.

For those who admire the beauty of hand-painted furniture, Miss Mustard Seed has made the look even easier to achieve by expanding the Miss Mustard Seed’s Milk Paint line to include an exciting new range of stencils based on her very own brush strokes!

We're thrilled to be one of the few retailers in Australia carrying this very special range. Look how beautiful!

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Hello Little Star & Little Stork — Painting for Kids with Fusion's Tones For Tots

26/5/2016

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I had barely come down from the high of winning the Fusion Custom Colour Mixing Contest when I was contacted to participate in a sneak-preview of the brand new Fusion Mineral Paint collection for kids, Tones For Tots.

Ohhhhh babbbyyyy.....I am ALL IN!

A little background on this awesome new range — Tones For Tots was created after the arrival of Fusion president Jennylyn Pringle's son Taylor. The seven new colours are cute enough to be inspired by favourite nursery rhymes but tough enough to pass rigorous testing and be declared safe for use on children's furniture and toys.

"We at Fusion™ wanted to develop a paint that was TRULY zero VOC and non-toxic for you and your loved ones," explains Jennylyn. "Through years of development we have achieved this without sacrificing quality and durability. Fusion is a best-in-class paint that features an environmentally and health conscious formulation."

tones-for-tots-natural-nursery-australia

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Painting Leather with Old World Clay & Chalk Paint — The Ultimate Ikea Hack!

22/3/2016

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If you don't have one of these chairs, you've probably seen one.

You can find them on Gumtree and ebay and at garage sales (or maybe even stashed in your shed or garage?)

They still sell them at Ikea in various forms (the Poang chair) from $189 on up. They're a useful piece, solid construction and can squeeze into a tight spot.

Obviously this one had seen better days — what better to play on?

BEFORE: Ikea chair in need of love...

Let's go coastal with Old World Clay & Chalk Paint.

The awesome thing about painting this chair? The seat cushion and headrest slipped right off the frame.

WIP: Painting with a Cling On Brush using Old World Paint in the colour City Lights

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Rescuing a Little Australian History — Painting and Reloving an Antique Wood Toolbox

2/7/2015

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Sometimes it's all about timing — or luck.
But other times, I believe it's fate.
On the drive home from a meeting with our insurance agent,
(honestly...boring-as, right?)
My husband spotted an elderly gentleman swinging
this amazingly tool caddy into a rubbish skip.
Knowing me well,
he pointed it out and at my urging screeched
into a U-turn and pulled up kerbside.
I hopped out and approached the gentlemen
to ask if I could have that beautiful solid wood toolbox.

What ensued was like a comedy routine.
He said, "I don't know why you'd want it...but take it if you like."

I told him I restore and refinish furniture
and that I generally love old stuff.
Again...he just stared at me blankly.
I'm used to that.
I've had that stare from family, friends and strangers most my life.

Eventually my enthusiasm either frightened or
intrigued him into telling me he was a retired builder.
He'd been building houses for more than 50 years.
This toolbox was one of his first projects he built
to hold his chisels and other tools.

"Don't you want to keep it?" I asked again.

"It's been collecting dust for years, it's yours if you want it," he said.
And back to that puzzled look...

adelaide-history-vintage-toolbox-makeover

BEFORE: A little bit of Adelaide history in this vintage toolbox

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Tale of a Chippy Table...and a Reverse Stencil!

3/6/2015

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After a meeting in the city, I was supposed to get back to the studio
to finish up some projects asap...but was sidelined...
A favourite second-hand-haunt beckoned.
I'm searching for a specific display piece for the Shop and popped in.
Well, that's how I justified it.

Back in the corner of the store, flipped on her top was this beauty.
Marked down no less!
Yup, that's more justification...

before-after-furniture-makeover-custom-design

Some of our pieces are for sale, or we can create a custom painted beauty for you, email for details

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What Happened When the Quote to Pave my Veranda was $15,000 OR.... How I Stencilled my Cement Front Porch

28/5/2015

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I love my house and for a custom-designed sofa,
antique bookcases or a beautiful outdoor set,
I'll sell an organ to get the money for it.

But when the quote to pave my front porch came in at
$14,800 and another at $12,500
all I could envision were lost opportunities.

How much furniture I couldn't buy.
How many rugs, chairs and armoires
would slip through my fingers--
How many "bargains" I'd be forced to walk away from.
I was faced with a decision.
The cost of paving was equivalent to a small island.
And I preferred the island.

I'm a firm believer of paint can fix anything.
So I got to thinking...

Quite awhile back I stencilled my Studio floors
and I still love them.
See the blog post on stencilling the studio floors HERE.

stenciling-floors-cement-concrete-stencil

For The Love Creations Design Studio floors — stenciling in progress

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Using Furniture Wax to Stencil?! HOOKED!!!

23/5/2015

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Miss Mustard Seed's Milk Paint in Miss Mustard Seed YELLOW!

It was a freezing cold night and on a whim
I went out to the studio to paint something....anything...

This table has been patiently waiting for
some love and the cold inspired me want to paint it
sunshine-y and bright. The perfect choice?
What better than Miss Mustard Seed Yellow!

Because this was a spur-of-the-moment thing,
I started painting so quickly I didn't think about taking a before photo.
But take my word for it.
It was a hot mess of shiny enamel.

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