Sweet L.O.V.E. ~ Personalized Letter Photography

Several years ago letter photography seemed to explode and you could buy them everywhere. This still remains true. However, as a DYI'er I could not bring myself to purchase one. So, my husband and I set out looking for letters. We took our own photographs in some of our favorite places around town. Not all are local, as you can see from the Golden Gate Bridge, but most are from the Old Market area. Family benefited from the first round, as we gave them away for Christmas that year.

This project is a custom order I call Sweet LOVE!

Each frame was given a new life and re-purposed for this project. The frames were painted and waxed.

Each letter was printed on metallic paper, which in the right light gives off a snazzy little bit of dazzle.

Since its all custom, so is the matting. Each mat board was hand cut to size. 

Edges were slightly distressed.

What a fun project!

 I can still remember where we took each photograph, 

and the days we spent trying to capture different letters in everyday objects.

 I am thrilled to share this personalized letter photography, and

 I hope the new owners love it as much as I do!

  

Thanks for visiting!

Lisa

Modern Bassett Dresser made over in Graphite Chalk Paint

Look at this handsome fella!

Furniture restoration is so dangerous. I want to keep each piece!
 I fall in love with something about each piece of furniture.
I love everything about this dresser - the modern lines, original hardware, the secret bottom drawer! 

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The Makeover

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Products Used:

Annie Sloan Chalk Paint - Graphite

Annie Sloan Dark Wax

Stains and veneer damage made the "to paint or not to paint" decision quite easy.

A little cleaning...

a little wood filler and sanding...

...and he was ready for paint.

In doing my own research before starting this project (a step I seem to skip often),

Graphite requires dark wax in order to take the flat chalky gray color to a near black.

Look at that difference with just one coat of wax!

 and Voila!

This was a fun, rewarding project. I hope to find him a good home. 

Maybe it will be in mine if I can find room...hmm...

Thanks for visiting!

Lisa

Distressed Antique Table in Duck Egg Chalk Paint

The makeover of table 1 is complete!  Her sister table is drying and will be posted soon. As mentioned in a previous post, my mom found three great pieces at her neighborhood garage sale - the armoir and two tables. I thoroughly enjoyed refurbishing this table.

Products and Techniques Used:

Sealed with Sherwin Williams ProBlock

Annie Sloan Chalk Paint - Duck Egg

Annie Sloan Clear Wax

Annie Sloan Dark Wax

Distressed the edges

 This table has character everywhere you look.

   The makeover. 

Here are the sister tables waiting to come home from the garage sale.

 The table on the left with the fabulous water ring is one of the few and the best before photo taken. The top was in pretty bad shape, but the legs were decent and sturdy.

 

 The water ring gave me fits throughout this project. I did my research before hand, but in haste, I skipped a step. On my Pinterest page, there are several tutorials that recommend applying a coat of Shellac before painting. My Shellac was old, had to be thrown out, and I am impatient. I had already applied two coats of Chalk Paint before succumbing to the fact that I should have used Shellac. Because I did not have any on hand, I used Sherwin Williams ProBlock Primer, which had worked well in the past. The stain itself did not show through, but the texture did. So frustrating, but the frustration is all my own fault.

In total, there are 4 coats of chalk paint, two coats to Problock, and probably five coats of wax (honestly I lost count). I had to work and rework, sand and re-sand to get the table top to its shiny brilliance. Do what others say, not what I do. Much time, paint and effort could have been spared.

 In the end, the table makeover turned out well. Another win for Annie Sloan Chalk Paint. This product is new to me. I find that it is very easy to work with. The paint dries very fast compared to water-based latex paint and works so well with the clear and dark wax. 

If you have yet to try chalk paint, give it a try. You'll love it!

 Thanks for visiting!

Lisa