5 Ways to Distress Wood

Are you new to crafting? Today, our expert crafter, Sherrie Ragsdale, is sharing her DIY knowledge with all of us. Learn 5 different ways to distress wood below. Use these tips and tricks on everything from furniture to home decor and more!

Distressing with Sandpaper

Supplies:

• 6440 FolkArt ® Home Decor™ Chalk - Cascade, 2 oz.
• 50603E FolkArt ® Brush Sets - Soft Grip - Wash Brush Set
• Sandpaper

Instructions:

1. Basecoat surface with Cascade. Allow to dry.
 

2. Sand off paint in areas that would wear off over time.




 

Distressing with a Crackle Medium

Supplies:

• 901 FolkArt ® Acrylic Colors - Wicker White, 2 oz.
• 403 FolkArt ® Acrylic Colors - Navy Blue, 2 oz.
• 695 FolkArt ® Mediums - Crackle Medium, 4 oz.
• 50603E FolkArt ® Brush Sets - Soft Grip - Wash Brush Set

Instructions:

1. Basecoat surface with Wicker White.


2. Apply Crackle Medium to surface over Wicker White.


3. Once Crackle is dry apply Navy blue over Crackle but do not go over any previous brush strokes. The heavier the paint the bigger the cracks. The thinner the paint is applied the smaller the cracks.




 

Distressing with Candle Wax

Supplies:

• 6440 FolkArt ® Home Decor™ Chalk - Cascade, 2 oz.
• 6439 FolkArt ® Home Decor™ Chalk - Grotto, 2 oz.
• 50603E FolkArt ® Brush Sets - Soft Grip - Wash Brush Set
• Candle
• Sandpaper

Instructions:

1. Basecoat surface with Grotto. Allow to dry completely.


2. Rub the candle on the surface where normal wear would occur.


3. Paint over Grotto with Cascade. Allow to dry.


4. Sand over where the wax was applied to remove topcoat of paint.




 

Distressing with a Block

Supplies:

• 6359 FolkArt ® Home Decor™ Chalk - Maui Sand, 2 oz.
• 6358 FolkArt ® Home Decor™ Chalk - Parisian Gray, 2 oz.
• 50603E FolkArt ® Brush Sets - Soft Grip - Wash Brush Set
• Small block of wood

Instructions:

1. Basecoat Parisian Gray. Allow to dry completely.


2. Apply Maui Sand to a plate. Dip the block into the paint and then remove excess.
 

 




3. Glide the block along the edges and across the surface.
 



 

Barn Wood Technique

Supplies:

• 34854 FolkArt ® Home Decor™ Wood Tint - Walnut, 8 oz.
• 6341 FolkArt ® Home Decor™ Chalk - Sheepskin, 2 oz.
• 50603E FolkArt ® Brush Sets - Soft Grip - Wash Brush Set
• Sand paper

Instructions:

1. Apply Walnut stain to wood.




2. Apply Sheepskin as a wash by dipping the brush into the water as you go.
  



3. Once dry begin to sand off Sheepskin until you see the stain underneath. Continue sanding until desired amount of stain is showing.







Which technique do you prefer when DIYing?

Happy Crafting!