Check out Frugal Friday here! http://shabbynest.blogspot.com/2011/02/frugal-friday.html
As some of you might know, I’ve been re-doing my studio (again). I am trying to do it on a tight budget, so it’s taken some very painful and creative thinking! I have been using an old door as my work table and of course it’s been thru a few make overs. I was shown a picture of someone’s craft room that was re done with built in cabinets and granite counter tops and was reminded of a faux finish I could actually afford! While it is a bit time consuming, it is not hard to do.
Here are the supplies you will need:
a table top, (paint with latex paint)
a sample of the granite you want to copy – very helpful!
acrylic paints (any color you want to replicate)
a sea sponge, (very course) tear it if you have to
high gloss acrylic finish
wax (optional)
Start by painting the top, either darkest color or light, depending on the granite you are going for. Now start dabbing the paint on with a lite hand, the sea sponge will give it instant spots. You will turn your sponge often, so it doesn’t look too even. Keep in mind that a granite slab has a bit of a grain in it, so make sure you keep it moving in the same directions through out the process.
Keep adding colors, you don’t have to clean the sponge in-between use.
When you get the effect you want, let it dry for a least 1 hour (acrylics dry very fast). Then coat with a high gloss finish. You can still make adjustments at anytime. Just dry and recoat with gloss. It is quite surprising how much this will look like real granite! When you are done, you can coat it with paste wax for an added sheen. Voila! The coolest part of using a door is, when you want a different look, just turn it over and paint something on the other side, or repaint!
As some of you might know, I’ve been re-doing my studio (again). I am trying to do it on a tight budget, so it’s taken some very painful and creative thinking! I have been using an old door as my work table and of course it’s been thru a few make overs. I was shown a picture of someone’s craft room that was re done with built in cabinets and granite counter tops and was reminded of a faux finish I could actually afford! While it is a bit time consuming, it is not hard to do.
Here are the supplies you will need:
a table top, (paint with latex paint)
a sample of the granite you want to copy – very helpful!
acrylic paints (any color you want to replicate)
a sea sponge, (very course) tear it if you have to
high gloss acrylic finish
wax (optional)
Start by painting the top, either darkest color or light, depending on the granite you are going for. Now start dabbing the paint on with a lite hand, the sea sponge will give it instant spots. You will turn your sponge often, so it doesn’t look too even. Keep in mind that a granite slab has a bit of a grain in it, so make sure you keep it moving in the same directions through out the process.
Keep adding colors, you don’t have to clean the sponge in-between use.
When you get the effect you want, let it dry for a least 1 hour (acrylics dry very fast). Then coat with a high gloss finish. You can still make adjustments at anytime. Just dry and recoat with gloss. It is quite surprising how much this will look like real granite! When you are done, you can coat it with paste wax for an added sheen. Voila! The coolest part of using a door is, when you want a different look, just turn it over and paint something on the other side, or repaint!
