Hello!

I’m finally back on my blog. Sorry I’ve been MIA since Christmas, I have literally been so busy posting content on my new YouTube account – I’d love if you subscribed here ❤️ The YouTube game is a tough one to crack, not many people are seeing the videos that I’ve been spending hours creating! Sad times, but I am just going to keep putting my content out there as I do!

Not only am I now on YouTube, I’ve actually started setting up my own freelance business so I’m currently developing the website for that too! Time has flew by but I did have one spare day this month where I just switched off from work and put some of my energy into fixing up my house. I can’t believe its been a year already! Remember my post about buying a house back in April!!

Anyway, the lovely PR team over at Annie Sloan sent me some products to try ageeeessss ago and this is me just finding the time to get down and dirty! This was my big major DIY project in the house so obv I’m not going to nail it the first time. So if you think it looks bad, please don’t hurt my feelings. I tried my best haha.

To be honest, the finished look wasn’t exactly the look I was aiming to achieve – it was a Pinterest fail guys. But I think that they turned out pretty good tbh and they have grown on me! I am actually really proud of them when I walk into my bedroom now, i’m like I DONE THAT! This creative genius over here (just joking!)… my fiancé calls them the camo drawers ?.

                                                                                                     BEFORE

AFTER

What you need

x1 sanding block

x1 an old tshirt

x1 flat paint brush

x1 Annie Sloan chalk paint in French Linen

x1 Annie Sloan chalk paint in Graphite

x1 Annie Sloan clear wax

x1 Annie Sloan dark wax

How To Do  

SAND DOWN

Gently sand down your chosen piece of furniture that you want to paint. If you are using raw wood like the IKEA rast set, then this isn’t required. As mine was an older RAST set I had some minor marks and stains that I sanded down so that they aren’t visible after applying the paint. Once you’ve sanded it down, make sure there is no dust and you have a clean surface to paint on.

MIX & PAINT

To create the mixture to create a distressed look. Take 1/4 liter of French Linen paint, and add about 1/8 a liter or less of water. Brush on the paint/water mix with a flat brush, and wipe off excess as you are painting. Let dry.

PAINT NEXT LAYER

Then, do the same type of mixture with graphite paint and water. Only now you are only going to brush of the graphite is certain places. You can keep layering both the graphite and French Linen washes, till it has the look you want. To apply the wash, just a brush stroke in the direction of the grain of the wood.

(after painting with both mixtures)

TIME TO WAX!

After it is dry, cut up a rag from an old t-shirt and wax the whole piece with clear wax. Let completely dry (this is important).

Then after that you mix some mineral spirits with water about half and half. The mineral spirits helps to thin oil paint so it will soften the wax. Use this mixture on a few places to add a little depth or you can use all over.

(after applying clear and dark wax)

GET TO SANDING

This is the last step to truly give it a rustic feel. Use your sanding paper in certain places to really bring out the grain of the wood. You need to rub quite hard to achieve this effect. I did one stroke in the direction of the grain to really bring the drawers to life!

Finished Look

I had so much fun doing this DIY ? Let me know what you think in the comments!