We did a short Q&A with Sherrie where she shares tips and tricks with us.
I look for inspiration from almost anything. For instance, I may see a large structure with an unusual shape and think of ways that I can create a piece of furniture that has the same feel. I see things that speak to me and then I put my own twist on it.
Tips or advice to give anyone wanting to get into crafting and DIYing?
Don’t ever get discouraged. Not everything I do is a homerun. I’ve had lots of projects that didn’t meet my own expectations but I always learn from the mistakes. Don’t let anyone tell you, you can’t do something. There is always a way to figure things out. There are books, magazines, and the internet to help and walk you through pretty much anything.
How do you find hidden treasures at the thrift store?
I take my time and really look at every inch of every shelf. I’m drawn mostly to things made from wood. Solid wood is always easy to transform. All you need is a little wood putty and sandpaper. I also look for things that can be combined. Maybe one piece of furniture has amazing legs and another piece has a great top. I can put these two different designs together and make a new and trendy up to date piece of furniture.
Depending on the project, taking us through your thought process of creating a piece?
I think the first thing I take into consideration when I’m looking at a new project is how much time it will take. I look at the shape of things. I like basic shapes. I like quick transformations. That’s one reason why I love using Folkart Home Décor Chalk Paint. There is zero prep. I can just dive into my project with no waiting. Not to say that I shy away from difficult things. A lot of times I have something in my head that I can only build from scratch. That takes time and patience. These are the things that I’m most proud of when they are complete.
Sherrie and her expertise are here to guide you step by step on upcycling a cabinet with a pop of color.
Supplies
- 34161 FolkArt ® Home Decor™ Chalk - Nautical, 8 oz.
- 50557 Folkart ® Brush Sets - Basecoating Set, 2 pc.
- 5535 FolkArt ® Treasure Gold™ - Gold, 4 oz.
- Thrift Store Cabinet
- Wood Block
- Paper Plate
Instructions:
1. Remove hardware. Remove all removable shelving. Basecoat furniture with Nautical from the top down to a diagonal on the front and along the sides as shown in photo.
2. Paint from the bottom to the Nautical with Treasure Gold.
3. Pour Nautical on to the plate. Use a large flat piece of a wood block into the paint and dab on to the plate to remove excess. Glide the Nautical paint into the Treasure Gold as shown in the video clip.
4. Paint the back of bookshelf with Treasure Gold. Paint the inside sides and shelves with Nautical.
And that's it! Check out the finished piece below!
We are so thrilled to introduce this new blog series, and we hope you can take something away from the tips you have learned today. What kind of DIY projects do you like to tackle? Share with us! Share your DIY project photos with us by using #PlaidCrafts. You could be featured on our social media account.
Need more DIY help? Check out Sherrie's article on 5 Ways to Distress Wood. Click the photo below to learn more!
Happy Crafting!!