PAINTING SKY & CLOUDS ARTWORK IN A NICHE ABOVE THE LINEN CABINET

PAINTING SKY & CLOUDS ARTWORK IN A NICHE ABOVE THE LINEN CABINET

While I was doing other work at Carolina's home she asked me to look at her guest bath.  She wanted me to paint the cabinets black and metallic gold.  There was an open space above her linen cabinet and she asked if I could paint a sky inside of it.  

She added a bird nest.  

That completed the scene and looked just beautiful to me.

There is a light at the bottom, shining up at the sky.

Here you can see it from the guest bedroom.

Before she added the bird nest.

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TUTORIAL

In a small space like this you can paint the blue first and add swirly white or you can paint the white first and paint some swirly blue.  Then, work on the area to get your clouds and sky just the way you want them.  I used brushes, but you can use a rag or a sponge.  If you want to add some branches, use a small brush.  Use the paint colors of green for leaves and brown for branches.  Draw your branches then draw tiny leaves or the size you want them to be for your sky.
I used craft paints.

A CONVERSATION WITH DONNIE ABOUT PAINTING FURNITURE

A CONVERSATION WITH DONNIE ABOUT PAINTING FURNITURE

On my blog I have a tab labeled "Ask Me".  A few friends have asked questions there, but I get lots of paint and painting questions through my email address.  I will always give you the best answer I can for your project.  There are a few special techniques that I'm still using in my business and would rather not give out that information, just yet.  For most questions though, please feel free to 'Ask Me" or EMAIL ME.  You'll find my email address on the "Ask Me" tab.

I would love to help you with your projects!

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Below is a conversation that I had with Donnie and thought you might find it helpful.

"Hey  Lynda, I have a dresser and nitestand with bed.  headboard and footboard.  Frame and siderails.  I also have the mirror that matches the dresser it does not mount to the dresser but hangs on the wall behind it.  It is almost identical, drawers and all to the one you did.  How should I finish these.  Please reply back. 
 I am trying to start a small business to help in my retirement. 

Thank you, 

Donnie in Ga."

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My Reply:

Hi Donnie,

     When I paint furniture, it's usually for a client and they're using it in their home and want the colors to go with that room's decor.  I have found that "decor" colors are "regional".  I'm not sure what your clientele will be, but you will need to paint what you think your clients will want.  Your furniture is probably off white french provincial.  You could paint it white and distress it.  You could use a gel stain and make it look like stained wood.  Read the instructions to do that or ask your paint store.  You can get tons of finishes and ideas from Google and Pinterest searches.  To get ideas of what your clientele might be, go to flea markets and craft stores that sell furniture in your area.  Any store that sells furniture would be a good place to visit.  They would, usually, know what is trending.  I do love painting furniture and hope you do very, very well in your business!

     Hope that was helpful.

Lynda"

PAINT & DECORATE...I WANT TO INSPIRE & SHOW THAT IT CAN BE DONE & YOU CAN DO IT!!

PAINT & DECORATE...I WANT TO INSPIRE & SHOW THAT IT CAN BE DONE & YOU CAN DO IT!!

 Today, I was working on finishing touches in this huge beautiful home where I've been working for the last 12 days.  My client wants to start moving in tomorrow.  I was sealing some cabinets that I painted and thinking about yesterday, a distressed a porous brick bathroom floor that I painted metallic silver.  And, there were three chandeliers that I still needed to touch up with metallic silver and metallic copper paint.  These chandeliers were black wrought iron and the copper and silver would tie in better with my client's decor.  
     While I was working I kept thinking about my next post.  I realized that one of the reasons I'm loving blogging is because I can show others what I do and that it can be done.  Like touching up a chandelier.  Whoever thought they could do that!  But, I've done it for many years and is usually an improvement because it's no longer in style, wrong color, etc..  I've touched up and painted the whole chandelier several times.  One time, my client gave me a chandelier that was brass and bronzy, very contemporary.  At his request, I painted it to look very old and rusty and LOVE the way it turned out.  My client had some small white silk shades and he stained them, I think with tea.  It all looked great!
     I work for a very limited number of decorators, maybe three.  The ones that are familiar with the kind of work that I do.  Lots of my clients are very, very talented and creative people.  I love that they call me when they have a new idea or new project!  I've been working with paint for so long that I can, usually,  figure out just about anything they might show me or ask me to do.  At least, I can get very close.
     A few times through the years my clients have said, "you make it look so easy".  And, it is for me because it's just routine, to me.  But, they get brave or I have encouraged them to do it themselves and when they did, they did a great job. 
     Today, I realized by blogging, I want to inspire and encourage others to not be afraid to try faux finishes and painting.  If you're not happy with the way something is looking 
or you're tired of it PAINT IT!!  And, if you mess up, paint it again!

FROM BATH CABINET TO A HAND PAINTED ARTSY BIRD CABINET & TUTORIAL

FROM BATH CABINET TO A HAND PAINTED ARTSY BIRD CABINET & TUTORIAL

In a home where I was working, my clients happened to be remodeling one of their bathrooms.  They were replacing their cabinets and put them in the garage to be hauled off.  One of the cabinets was a linen cabinet that hung over the commode and when I saw it in the garage I just knew I could do something special with it.

I bet lots of you have this same cabinet over your commode with the opening on the bottom for tissues, towels, etc.  I asked a carpenter to help me with the feet.  I asked him to turn it upside down with the opening at the top.  I found these feet at Lowes.  Actually, they are fence post finials.  I asked him to attach these feet to the cabinet.  The little wrought iron corner pieces I found at Hobby Lobby.
LOVE their 40% off coupons!!

Added the new handles and painted right over them.

 I primed and painted it a soft blue. 

 Painted all of the artwork on front and sides.  

Aged it with an antiquing glaze and sealed it with a clear coat.

The inside I painted an off white that matched the other artwork.  

I painted little metallic dots on the front of the shelves.

Painted metallic copper/bronze around the feet and a couple of other places on the cabinet.

I really love how this cabinet turned out and it sold very quickly!  

One of these days I think I will get to see it again in a client's home.

I do hope so!!

 Because I forgot to take a "before" photo of the original linen cabinet, 
I found this on Google to show you. 
 I wanted you to see what I started with.
See!  I turned open space to the top for my cabinet.

You can do it, too!

PURCHASING A LIGHTWEIGHT COMPRESSOR & DRILL

PURCHASING A LIGHTWEIGHT COMPRESSOR & DRILL

When I purchase a new tool, I get the lightest weight tool I can find.  This small nail gun and compressor are perfect for me.  The compressor is small and not very heavy.
I'm so happy with this drill.  I replaced an older drill that was heavy and the battery was getting old.  This new drill is lighter and has a lithium battery that lasts for a very long time.

 

DRAWING & PAINTING STRIPES

DRAWING & PAINTING STRIPES

 

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DRAWING & PAINTING STRIPES TUTORIAL

First, I painted the base coat.  The client told me about how wide they wanted the stripes.  I measured around the room and decided how wide they could be.  But, it's important to count the stripes and make sure that when you get to the end, you don't have two of the same color.  Even though I know how to count, I still use my yard stick and go around the room, saying to myself: "pink/orange, pink/orange".  A long time ago when I was painting stripes I had everything measured just perfectly and at the end, I had two of the same color!!!!!  Not sure how that happened, but, that's why I count around the room just making sure there are NO mistakes!  As you're painting, if you see you're going to have a few inches left over or a few inches short, it's ok to start adding or taking away 1/4" or 1/2" to each stripe.  As you're wrapping around a corner, you can cheat a little bit, too.  

It will all come out looking really nice.  

Have fun!! 

(LINK TO)

HAND PAINTING STRIPES & A PLAYHOUSE

(LINK TO)

PAINTING STRIPES & FLOWERS ON A NURSERY DRESSER

(LINK TO)

 PAINTING STRI[ES ON AN ANTIQUE DRESSER

(LINK TO)

HAND PAINTING TREE & STRIPES ARTWORK ON A PINE ARMOIRE

 DISTRESSED AMERICAN FLAG I PAINTED

ONE STRIPE IS COOL

(LINK TO)

PAINTING ONE STRIPE ON SMALL CABINET

Parents to-be asked me to paint these stripes in their nursery.

The dad measured and marked where he wanted me to paint the stripes.Then!  I had to make them match at the fourth corner.  Plan ahead to end your stripes behind the door.

(LINK TO)

PAINTING APPLE GREEN & CHOCOLATE STRIPES IN AN ENTRY HALL

(LINK TO)

PAINTING CLOUDS & STRIPES IN A KID'S BEDROOM

(LINK TO)

PAINTING ZEBRA STRIPES ON A CEILING & TUTORIAL 

PAINTING ARTWORK ON CANVAS DROP CLOTHS

PAINTING ARTWORK ON CANVAS DROP CLOTHS

The holidays are right around the corner and I bet you're planning your decorations.  A very inexpensive and fun way to decorate is with canvas drop cloths.  These are the halloween drop cloths that I painted for a client.  You can find canvas drop cloths at paint stores.

You can paint these, too.

They were so much fun!

I used craft paints.

  For all of the metallic swipes that you see, I used a very wide brush.

Your kids would have so much fun painting these,too.

Witches, black cats, spiders, ghosts, etc. are all very easy to paint.

Just spread out the drop cloths on your driveway and let'em go at it!!

Have fun!

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Here is (another) link to my tutorial about painting on canvas cloths:

HAND PAINTED CHAIR SEAT COVERS & TUTORIAL PAINTING ON CANVAS CLOTH

A STURDY TABLE FOR MY ROUTER TABLE

A STURDY TABLE FOR MY ROUTER TABLE

When I got my new router it was difficult for me to hold it in place when I was working with it.  My neighbor is a carpenter and built this table for me.  It is so nice to work with my router, now.

  He made it just my height.

It stays in place when I'm pushing on the boards that I'm cutting.  See that little silver latch on the front?  That is to open and lean the table back so I can replace the router bit. 

That shelf is to hold my shop vac to catch all of the saw dust and it really does catch it all.  Standing so close and leaning over the table, I didn't have to breathe in any of the dust.  He even custom made a little pvc attachment so my vacuum hose would fit the router table outlet.  See those two rollers on the bottom?

See the posts on this side?  He thought of everything.

On this side I lift the table, hold onto the metal legs and pull.  The rollers on the other side let it roll so I can move it wherever I need to.  Being a carpenter he thought of everything that might be a problem for me using my router.  So easy!  And, so nice!

VISE-GRIPS...MY NEWEST FAVORITE TOOL

VISE-GRIPS...MY NEWEST FAVORITE TOOL

I was mowing my yard and the muffler on my lawn mower started smoking.  It was really rusty.  I tried to remove the muffler so I could take it to Lowe's by my house and get the exact same one.  I tried and tried to take that rusty muffler off and it wouldn't budge.

At Lowe's I found the replacement muffler and asked the guys how I could remove the old rusty one.  They said I needed vise-grips.  Some of them had a smaller width opening and this one is really large so it could fit my muffler.  It can also be adjusted to fit something smaller.  They were under 20.00.  I came home and used those vise-grips and could not believe how easy it was.  You punch that round silver button to adjust the size and then just turn whatever you're trying to loosen.  I think this will be one of my favorite tools.  Maybe you already knew about vise-grips.  I wanted to share this great find with you, just in case.

HAND PAINTED BLACK & WHITE CHECKERED WOODEN KNOBS

HAND PAINTED BLACK & WHITE CHECKERED WOODEN KNOBS

A blog follower was painting her kitchen and needed new knobs.  She contacted me and asked if I could paint black and white checkered knobs for her kitchen.  She was painting her kitchen cabinets black and these knobs would look great on black.  I painted samples for her and posted a tutorial on my blog so she could see how I painted the samples in black and white checks.  

(LINK TO TUTORIAL)

HAND PAINTING BLACK & WHITE CHECKERED KNOBS

PAINTING A NEW FINISH ON AN ELEGANT WINDOW CORNICE

PAINTING A NEW FINISH ON AN ELEGANT WINDOW CORNICE

Too much metallic gold and too much green patina on these cornices.

I was asked to tone down/age/antique them to match the room decor.

(LINK TO TUTORIAL)

PAINTING A NEW FINISH ON AN ELEGANT WINDOW CORNICE

PAINTING A BEAUTIFUL CHANDELIER CEILING MEDALLION TO MATCH WALL COLOR

My clients were building a home.  They purchased this beautiful large ceiling medallion for the dining room chandelier and said maybe I could paint it to match the cabinets nearby.  I said, "I'll be glad to do that but let me show you how it will look if I paint it with the wall color.  If you don't like it I will paint it to match the cabinets."
They LOVED it!

It was already white.  I used the wall color.  I painted on and used a rag to wipe off some areas.  Then, I painted the swirly scrollie areas more solid to contrast and set off the lighter wiped areas.  Because the paint was an eggshell sheen, it did not need to be sealed.

My clients were very happy with the way it turned out.

This house is out in the country and the gray and green colors they used looked so nice with the beautiful nature scenes you could see from their very large windows.

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PAINTING & INSTALLING A CEILING MEDALLION 

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TUTORIAL

     This ceiling medallion was white. 

 I painted the dark brown, then the gold and silver.  

     If you want to paint a ceiling medallion you don't have to do all the detail.  Paint a base coat and  sponge metallic paints or any colors you want all over.  You can leave it white or you can paint it a solid color like your ceiling or wall color. 

 Then, seal it with a dull or satin clear coat.  

     It's most convenient to install a ceiling medallion when you are changing out your light fixture or fan.  If you have an electrician he will have to take your fixture down, attach the ceiling medallion to the ceiling and reattach the fixture.
     If you want to do it the easy way...there are medallions that are a little smaller and are in two pieces.  Once you paint the two pieces you attach them to the ceiling around the base of your light fixture or fan.  Sometimes, to get it to fit properly, you have to unscrew the fixture canopy at the ceiling.  That is the part of the fixture on the ceiling that hides the wiring.  All you have to do is loosen the canopy with a screw driver, lower it, attach the ceiling medallion and then re-screw the canopy at the ceiling.  One thing that might be important is to measure how wide your canopy is.  Some are three inches and some are four inches, etc.  You need to make sure it will fit in that middle part of your ceiling medallion.

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Base coat tan, painted metallic gold & aged with black paint.

Tan base, painted metallic silver, gold & copper.

Painted moss green base, metallic silver, gold & burgundy.

The green base looks like a patina.

Painted tan base, metallic copper trimmed with metallic gold.

Aged with brown paint.

Green base coat, metallic gold, silver & burgundy.

Painted moss green base coat.  Used two shades of metallic gold.

Then lightly rubbed metallic gold all over.

Dark brown base coat.  Metallic gold & silver.

Aged with same dark brown.

Turquoise, pink, purple, yellow & green.

Metallic gold & silver.  Antiquing glaze to age.

Dark brown base, crackle medium  Painted purple grapes

green leaves & dark brown vines.

Tan base coat.  Metallic gold & metallic burgundy.

HAND PAINTING BIRD NESTS ON PILLOWS & TUTORIAL

HAND PAINTING BIRD NESTS ON PILLOWS & TUTORIAL

I LOVE TO PAINT BIRD NESTS

(LINK TO)
HAND PAINTING BIRD NESTS ON PILLOWS & TUTORIAL

DRAWING & PAINTING TROMPE L'OEIL WINDOW & SKY ARTWORK ABOVE PATIO DOORS

DRAW & PAINT WINDOWS ~ SKIES ~ SHUTTERS

Years ago, before I finally started using a digital camera I took lots of pictures of my work and had the "film developed".  I bet there are some people who don't know what that means.  Looking through those pictures I'm finding work I want to share with you.

In her living room, my client had very high walls and a big empty space above her doors that went out to her patio.  She asked me to come by and suggest something to go on that wall.  She asked what I thought about some design with scrolling.  But, seeing the outside I immediately saw a window with a sky and trees. 

 I suggested that to her and she loved the idea.

It was very easy to draw and paint.  I think you could do it, too.

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TUTORIAL

First I drew the frame that would frame the sky.  I made it 4" or 5" wide.  You can decide how wide you want your frame to be and paint it any color you want.  I painted it the same white as her doors and woodwork/trim.  Use craft paints raw umber or some darker browny gray for shadowing around the edges.  In your color tray water down the paint just a little bit so it will flow more easily as you paint.  Painting that thin shadow will make it look more 3 dimensional.  For shadow reference, look around the room at the shadows on other trim.  Next, with my brush I smudged and swiped blue and white (like faux painting) and made it look like a sky with clouds.  Draw you some birds.  You can make copies or draw them on paper and trace the birds on the wall, then paint them.  Decoupage would be ok, too, for the birds.  For the trees I like to draw the branches first with a pencil.  I draw lines where I want them to be.  Paint over them with raw umber or whatever shade of brown or gray brown that you want.  Then, draw leaves or use a small paint brush and dot, dot, dot with green.  You can also draw any size or shape of leaves you want.  At first you might not be happy with your artwork, but wait a while and let your family and friends see it.  After a while I bet you will be very happy with yourself.  

Have fun!!

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PAINTING SKY & CLOUDS ARTWORK IN A NICHE ABOVE THE LINEN CABINET

While I was doing other work at Carolina's home she asked me to look at her guest bath.  She wanted me to paint the cabinets black and metallic gold.  There was an open space above her linen cabinet and she asked if I could paint a sky inside of it.  

She added a bird nest.  

That completed the scene and looked just beautiful to me.

There is a light at the bottom, shining up at the sky.

Here you can see it from the guest bedroom.

Before she added the bird nest.

~

TUTORIAL

In a small space like this you can paint the blue first and add swirly white or you can paint the white first and paint some swirly blue.  Then, work on the area to get your clouds and sky just the way you want them.  I used brushes, but you can use a rag or a sponge.  If you want to add some branches, use a small brush.  Use the paint colors of green for leaves and brown for branches.  Draw your branches then draw tiny leaves or the size you want them to be for your sky.
I used craft paints.

HERE IS A LINK TO 

PAINTED BLACK & METALLIC GOLD CRACKLED CABINETS

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SHUTTERS

PAINTING METALLIC GOLD/LEOPARD SPOTS SHUTTERS FOR A WINDOW

(LINK TO)

PAINTING SHUTTERS METALLIC GOLD & LEOPARD SPOTS

& TUTORIAL

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