Craigslist Side Table Makeover Video Tutorial for Beginners

So, my new obsession is watching makeup tutorials on YouTube. I know, it sounds weird for a late 30's stay-at-home mom of three, but they have opened me up to a whole new world of makeup tricks, tips and products. And for me, they are so much more entertaining than watching Netflix or shows. Lately, they have inspired me to start filming more and ramping up my YouTube Channel.

My latest video is all about using beginner's techniques to update a Craigslist piece of furniture. This is a smooth finish with no distressing or wax. Play the video by clicking the picture below.

It's always best to start small when trying out refinishing for the first time. You don't want to ruin grandma's dining table or your bedroom set. Finding inexpensive items from Goodwill or Craigslist is always a great idea. I got this table for free from a neighbor who had bought a set off of Craigslist and only needed one table. My friends and family know they can always offer me free furniture!

For this project, I used General Finishes Gel Stain in Java for the table top and Annie Sloan Chalk Paint in Old White for the body. I sealed the entire piece with General Finishes High Performance Top Coat in Flat. Don't let the staining portion scare you. It's a lot like painting. There is no need to completely strip the existing finish. There is a little cleaning and sanding involved, but it's a lot less messy and time consuming than stripping the entire top. I really love General Finishes products. They have become some of my favs lately.

Goodwill Dresser Video Tutorial - Part 3 (Dark Wax)

Thanks for coming back to see the last installment of my Goodwill Dresser video tutorial series. Today, I am covering the topic that seems to give most furniture refinishers the highest anxiety- dark wax. But let me put your fears to rest, it isn't really that tricky to master.  Annie Sloan Dark Wax is amazing stuff. It gives your piece an instant antique look that would normally take about a hundred years to occur naturally.

In case you don't know anything about my Goodwill Dresser, here she is.

I created this series, so you can get this same look right in your home. I think this will always be one of my favorite pieces, and once you create your own, you might just feel the same.

Here are some links to products used in this tutorial:

Dark wax brush

Steel wool

Annie Sloan Clear Wax

Annie Sloan Dark Wax

Make sure you check out the other videos in this series, Part 1 and Part 2. I would love to see your creations, so send me your before and after shots if you decided to try this technique out on your own. 

Goodwill Dresser Video Tutorial Part 2

The second part of my Goodwill dresser video tutorial is here. Last time, I covered painting the piece and hardware. Today, I will show you how to distress and clear wax the piece using sandpaper and Annie Sloan Clear Wax.

Annie Sloan Chalk Paint Tutorial - Heavy Distressing (Part 2)

If you need a little more help on either distressing or clear waxing check out my other video tutorials. I have one for distressing and one for clear waxing.

Here are links to all the products used in this tutorial:

Wax brush

Tack Cloth 

Sand Paper 

Sanding Block

Purdy Clearcut Glide brush

Annie Sloan Clear Wax

Originally, I thought I could break this tutorial into two parts, but I wanted to make sure they are thorough enough for the novice to average painter. Part three will come next week and will cover the most daunting part in my opinion- dark wax. But seriously, it isn't that scary. Make sure you subscribe to my YouTube channel to be one of the first to see the final video once it goes live.

Goodwill Dresser Video Tutorial - Part 1

This link contains affiliate links. I will receive a small commission from products purchased through these links.

I am still as in love with my Goodwill Dresser as the day I painted it. Above any other piece, this is the one I get the most questions about, so I decided to divulge my secret on how I created it using Annie Sloan Chalk Paint® in Old White. Get your painting clothes on, roll up your sleeves and get ready to dive in to create your own heavily distressed beauty.

This tutorial will be broken up into three parts and will show you how to create a very heavily distressed piece just like my Goodwil Dresser. Think heavy brush strokes, lots of distressing with sandpaper and lots of dark wax. 

In part one, I show you how to prep and paint the piece and hardware. Make sure you check out the description on YouTube for links to the products I used in this tutorial.

Part two is in the works and should be up on the blog next week. Check back to learn how to distress and clear wax your piece, or you can subscribe to my YouTube channel and you will be able to view part two as soon as it goes live. Happy painting!

Applying Annie Sloan® Soft Wax with a Lint Free Cloth

I have been busy working on some client pieces this past week and was inspired to share another video tutorial with you. People always ask me if you need to get a wax brush to wax your furniture, and the answer is "no." In fact, I think most newbies out there will find it a little easier to apply wax for the first time with a lint free cloth versus a wax brush.

Chalk Paint® Quick Tip - Painting a Decorative Leg

I have had a very busy weekend. After a long break from painting, I now have three client pieces sitting in my workshop, aka my garage. So, I will have lots of reveals coming down the pike soon, and it feels so good to be painting again!

One of these pieces is an antique table with some great detailed carving on the apron and legs that I am painting in Coco. I was inspired to pick up the camera and show all of you how I paint a piece with beautiful detail like this when I am using Chalk Paint®. This stuff is so amazing with detail, but there is a little trick for making the it really stand out.

If you are new to painting, I have some more in depth tutorial videos for working with Chalk Paint decorative paint by Annie Sloan. I am hoping to do some more of these "quick tips" as I get inspired. If there is anything you would like me to cover, leave a comment below or shoot me a note. Happy Painting!

Annie Sloan Chalk Paint® Video Tutorial #5 - Dark Wax

Today is the final installment of my Chalk Paint vlog series, and we are talking about dark wax. For those of you who haven't worked with it before, this stuff is amazing. It gives your piece a antique look in no time. If you love that lived in, shabby look, you will love dark wax.

Annie Sloan Chalk Paint® Video Tutorial #4 - Clear Wax

Here is the next installment in my Chalk Paint video tutorial series, clear wax. This is the trickiest step in my opinion. There is a learning curve with the waxing process, but I love the finish it creates. It is a lot prettier than a poly which can make your furniture look plastic coated.

Annie Sloan Chalk Paint® Video Tutorial #3 - Distressing

In today's video, I am talking all about distressing. This step is one of my favorites, so much so I named my blog after it. Distressing really brings out the character of a piece. Instead of looking like something that was sprayed or dipped with some paint, it gives it depth and texture. Check out my tips on how to make your piece pretty distressed. 

Annie Sloan Chalk Paint® Video Tutorial #2 - 2nd Coat of Paint

In today's video, I am showing you how to paint your second coat of paint when refinishing a piece with Annie Sloan Chalk Paint®. It was a really windy day, so I hope you can hear me.

Annie Sloan Chalk Paint® Video Tutorial #1 - Prepping and 1st Coat

Over the next couple of weeks, I am going to share several videos that will document the refinishing process I use for furniture from start to finish. Today, I will cover prepping a piece along with painting the first coat.