Anyhow, if you want to make some for your porch or house, head on over to The DIY Club for all the details and steps!
Now, about amonth ago, the kids were taking swim lessons at a particular YMCA which had my favorite Salvation Army somewhat close by. The kids knew this and really wanted to make a visit to the SA one day after swim. So we packed up their clothes to change into and got ready to head out the door when the phone rang, and the woman on the other end let me know that due to storms, lessons were cancelled. I told the kids they could just play or relax because swim was cancelled.... "What? Can we still go to the Salvation Army??? PLEASE!!!" Well, twist my arm! Let's go!
So off we went. We visited the toy section first where the kids each picked a 25 cent toy. Seriously. That is why they love to go. Then we checked out the furniture, and I found this dresser with a $50 price tag. One of the drawers needed some love, but other than that it was in good shape structurally. I didn't bring a tape measure, but I was hoping it would fit in my trunk if I tied the hatch down. As luck would have it, it just fit. We headed home, with Emmy peering over her shoulder the whole ride, for fear that the dresser was going to drop out the back....
And here is what the dresser looked like in its before state. Totally worth risking losing it out the back, right?
I sanded it lightly, used my Benjamin Moore tinted primer left from my own dresser, followed by Aura Surf Blue, just like my dresser. I only had to do one coat of each and had great coverage. I gave it a good distressing over all, and then I went over it with Annie Sloan dark wax. I have had a lot of trouble with this wax in the past, and I am sure it is a user error and not the wax! Anyhow, as with the orange dresser I recently did, the wax took beautifully to this non-chalk paint! It gave it a gorgeous glazed effect. And now, my friends, I can say that dark wax and I are friends.
Here is the after!
I brought this piece with me to the barn sale a couple weekends back, and am happy to report it found a new home.
So are you friends with dark wax yet? Did it take you as long as it took me to form a trusting relationship?
Sharing here:
Jennifer Rizzo
50 comments:
I would say it's a litttttle early for ghosts, but hey it's cool to be the crazy neighbor :) I adore this bright turquoise! I'm not surprised it found a new home so quickly.
That is a ridiculously gorgeous piece! Great find! I'm thinking you should wait a little while to hang the ghosts up ;) - Susan
WOW! That looks beautiful Cassie. I'm really loving colour at the moment, but just haven't found the right piece. WIll keep looking...
Great color. I too am still trying to master the wax finish. I keep trying!
I started unloading fall/halloween stuff last week. My husband said "it's still August". I guess he didn't know I needed to check I what I already had versus what I wanted to make. :)
That dresser is amazing, Cassie! The color is just stunning.
Megan
Lve the turquoise! I'm scared to death of the dark wax but now you have me wanting to give it a try. I have a can, I'm just scared to even open it LOL
Love that the kids love thriftily, love the new dresser and love your newish profile pic. You look lovely my dear. Hope ur enjoying yourself with the kids at school : )
Stuuuuunnning!!!
Sorry Friend, it's too early for ghosts! I'm still clinging to summer up here!
I have not tried dark wax but that dresser looks fantastic!
ghosts? It's not September yet!!! That stresses me out. I have WAY too much to do for my brother-in-law's wedding and for the nursery before Halloween.
ghosts? It's not September yet!!! That stresses me out. I have WAY too much to do for my brother-in-law's wedding and for the nursery before Halloween.
Great eye for the good bones of that piece. You worked your magic as usual, Cassie!
What a beautiful dresser! Sorry to say that dark wax is not my friend. When other people use it, it looks great. When I use it, everything looks dirty and streaky - yuk! Maybe I need a lesson!
Oh yes totally worth it - so beautiful! I LOVE that color and that picture of the kids with their toys - priceless!
I just saw you won Amber's giveaway! You have the best luck...Congrats!
I love dark wax :) I find that using a wax applicator that used on cars works best. Maybe some of your readers will give it a try! Love the color of your dresser I'm sure its happy in its new home.
Beee uuuu tttt fullll!
~Bliss~
GORGEOUS!
LOVE IT!
Stacey :o)
gorgeous dresser as usual! glad it found a home! :) I think you are safe hanging the ghosts middle of September! Any earlier might be pushing it!
Of course the dresser found a new home; you did a gorgeous job with it. You must be the queen of turquoise furniture cause the "formula" used on your dresser and this one is perfect. I've not used any of the Annie Sloan products yet (gasp!) but love how you describe this dark wax as having a glazed effect, which is something I'd like to add to some white furniture. Robin
Lovely, lovely dresser, so worth squeezing it in and battening it down! Love the aqua. I still have a love/hate relationship with dark wax. Sometimes it works beautifully, other times not so much. I have not given up though!!
Love this dresser. Dark wax? Still working to get that wonderful patina everyone is talking about. I used it recently on a piece painted in Emperor Silk (ASCP) and it looks awesome. But then tried it on a cream piece and it just looks streaky and dirty. Will have to try the car buffer technique or break down and buy a wax brush.
Oh my Cassie...this piece is to die for!! I wish my SA had awesome finds like this...never seem to hit it just right there...
Beautiful dresser, Cassie! With AS wax I follow 3 rules: buy a wax brush; wax/buff small area at the time and do not rush.
Love the ghost and your children are so cute! I love this color! It looks awesome and congrats on the sale. I use clear wax first and then the dark, very slight amount and sometimes mixed with clear :)
Beautiful color and love the hardware!
Hi Cassie: I didn't really like dark wax either until one day, my can of dark wax sat out in the sun. When I opened it, the consistency was much softer so I experimented with it by applying it to a red dresser without first applying the clear wax. It went on like butter! So easy to manipulate on the painted surface!!! Since then, I put my can of dark wax in a bath of hot water for a few minutes before using it. That extra step totally eliminates any sort of blotchiness or inconsistent application. You have a lovely dresser!!!
Your whole experience sounds like my life, about five years ago when my kids used to LOVE going to thrift stores. Only Travis likes it now, but the 25 cent toys don't hold his interest, needless to say, the $25 skates, video games, whatever don't usually make it home with us. I have had many things hanging out the back of my van, so glad you got it home! I love the color, and the waxing looks perfect. I have used dark wax for several years now, I like Liberon or Black Bison brand. Everybody has a different method for using dark wax, but I have found this method to work best for me. I apply a little in the areas where I want to darken, then before it dries, go over with a little clear wax, this helps "move" and blend the dark wax, then you don't get these big splotches of dark wax. This works great with any kind of chalkpaint, otherwise, the chalkpaint seems to "lock on" the dark wax and you can't spread it to look so natural. (you probably know this already, but since you asked.....)
Ghosties!!!!! So cool. Heading over to check them out.
& I love that turquoise dresser...and that your kids love top thrift! :) Grooming them early ;) xo
...Oh..and ghosts - Oct 1st....no earlier ;)
Love that dresser and happy it found a new home.
LOVE those ghosties :) Yep - I'm with Lisa, October 1st (although you should hang them in the playroom until then).
XO
Friends or lovers? That looks like a passionate affair to me...
gorgy gorg!!! Love it! I need to try my hand at waxing...furniture!!!
No wonder it sold so quickly...it is gorgeous Cassie!
Ghosts are super cute and I bet they're pretty spooky at night too!
the dresser looks amazing! Beautiful color! What a great find ;)
I am in LOVE with the dark wax. Seriously, it's like a secret weapon. LOL Totally transforms colors. :) That dresser is absolutely gorgeous!!
I've never met dark wax but I hear he's a riot and loves to party! I think we'd get along swimmingly!
Kelly
I am itching to decorate for Halloween already, too! Those ghosts are fun! The turquoise dresser is beautiful Cassie. Yes, definitely worth hanging out the end of your car for the ride home. I did OK with a couple dark waxes but I had trouble with Annie Sloan's for some reason. I put it on the shelf and haven't braved it again. I need to learn the proper way to use it. Cute photo of the kids and what fun that they love thrifting!
That is such a pretty piece. I need to find a place for turquoise blue in my house!
Love that piece, no wonder it sold. I haven't tried dark wax yet but use stain to wipe on and off for now. I would love to try it (and AS chalk and Milk Paint one day too.)
Love how this turned out - great details and great hardware for $50! I love the AS dark wax!
the dresser turned out beautiful, the color is perfect!
Love that dresser! And, I happen to know that Emmy picked Dora's video camera from the "backpack" as her 25 cent toy, my Emma has the same one!!! I go to that Salvation Army every once in a while, haven't had luck like that though! :)
I haven't tried wax yet, dark or otherwise, but I'd like to! I appreciate your tips for using it well. I love the turquoise blue for the dresser--a lovely shade.
That is color perfection! It is so beautiful!
Love the dresser re-do, what a beautiful piece! And i'd hang the ghosts now too - who cares :)
This is gorgeous. I have a similar dresser that I've thought of remaking like this. Right now, it has a rough, well-loved, well-abused patina that actually looks really cool, so I'm a little torn... remake into something awesome like this or embrace the natural wear of years of abuse?
Thanks for the inspiration, even if I don't end up using it!
Hi!
I recently started a dresser re-do project after all these bloggers inspiring me (I even started a blog!).. Anyway, I just love the way those knobs are missing and you decided to keep them off! Maintains an originality AND a personality!!
Love it! (..and your kids are adorable!!)
Dana from Three Teaspoons of Vintage
Hi Cassie, your dresser turned out awesome!! Love the color and the distressing. Yes I always had problems with Annie Sloan's dark wax too which caused me tons of stress and made me dangerously ill for months. Fortunately for me, I've since recovered and through the process discovered much better products to work with. Have a GREAT weekend and thanx for sharing!
Hello! Love the color & how gently you've distressed it :) I'm sorry i missed your linky party! Would love for you to share over at mine, carterscottage.net My Monday Muse :)
Hope to see you there!
Christie
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