Every now and again I get the craft bug and start looking through my flat to find things to paint, stitch, or just make pretty. Of course in a one bed flat with a very curious cat that is easier said than done so when I received these chalk paints from Sarah-Jayne Chalk Paints I had to look smaller than I would have liked. I picked up this jewellery box as part of a £1 lucky dip box at an auction waaaaaaay back when I first moved in. I basically kitted out my whole flat for twenty quid (see my auction adventure here). Ever since it has been sat on the dresser I picked up at the same auction waiting to be painted.
The time has come.
Step 1: Sand!
Now I know you don’t need to sand with most chalk paints and the Sarah-Jayne Chalk Paints are no exception to this; however the drawers on this box were already super tight and I knew I needed to sand them down or else the added layers of paint and wax would just weld them closed permanently. I sanded the entire thing by hand and it took forever but was totally worth as the drawers now slide in perfectly with zero friction.
Step 2: Paint!
So on super large surfaces I’m pretty sure I would get a better finish with a roller, but I think I got away with just a simple brush job. The paint itself is a chalkier finish than other paints I’ve used - be warned it does highlight any flaws in the wood - but this is because it is super pigmented. I could have gotten away with only one coat of the brighter colours - how amazing is Duchess? - the vintage white needed 3 layers to get rid of the last few streaks but, again, this could just have been my haphazard brush technique.
Step 3: Decorate!
Picking up on my skills learned from The Craft Loft I decided I also wanted to decoupage with a beautiful floral napkin I picked up in Sostrene Grene. These large white surfaces just called out for some intricate detail. Now with this being only my 3rd time decopaging I am still 100% learning. One thing I learned from this project is that intricate patterns are fricken hard to apply but easier fix. The florals and whispy branches were painstakingly torn out and so fragile that upon application they quite regularly melted in to the glue. Thankfully I was able to just layer over another branch from elsewhere in the napkin and I think it turned out ok. It definitely wasn’t as obvious that I had layered as it was with larger block prints I have used in previous attempts.
Step 4: Wax!
I use a cheap muslin face cloth from Primark to do my waxing in fairly chaotic circles. I probably use far too much but I prefer that really soft texture you get from a thick waxing and it means that I’m confident it won’t get scraped off during use. One thing I learnt from this project is that you can’t decoupage over wax - duh Bex - so when I decided that the drawers might need extra detail it didn’t work but I’m kind of glad as now it doesn’t look too busy. I also attempted to use some silver wax to add a bit of texture but it really didn’t work with the flat surfaces of this box. I shall save that for another project!
Step 5: Fill!
Of course the best thing about making a jewellery box is filling it! Before I started this my rings and earrings were just strewn in their designated drawers and I found it difficult to pick them out. I wanted to create little holders like a proper jewellery box! I picked up a 50p sheet of felt from The Range in Ballymena and with the aid of some hot glue and rolled up leaflets, otherwise destined for the bin, I created little ring holders! How cute is that though? I have more felt and will be doing the same for my earrings too - or at least the ones that MadEye hasn’t stolen and hidden.
And there you have it! I learned a lot from this little project and I have plenty of these gorgeous paints left over that those larger projects which is really helping me add some colour to the boring magnolia you find in rent accommodation. I’ve already started sanding! Which reminds me... does anyone have the lend of a power sander?! My arms hurt!
*These products were gifted for review however all opinions are my own.
*These products were gifted for review however all opinions are my own.
I wish I could be as crafty as you! That piece is absolutely beautiful and I love how you took us through each stage and what you did! <3
ReplyDeleteThe end product looks brilliant, and has given me a slight itch to do some more craft and maybe attempt my own decoupage! Where are the chalk paints available from? Can you buy them online?
Hayley The Tiny
www.hayleythetiny.co.uk
Aw Thankyou mdear! You should definitely give it a go! Painting is so relaxing I find. She doesn’t sell online but she has a few stockists mapped on her website linked above. There’s ones in Comber, Ballyclare, Lurgan, Ballymena/Broughshane and all over the place!
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