Home Projects Archives - Page 17 of 26 - Ashley Hackshaw / Lil Blue Boo

Glazed, Distressed Paintings (A Tutorial)

April 25, 2011 by Ashley Hackshaw

I was so excited when Kirstin and Jordan of Kojo Designs asked me to be a part of their “the sincerest form of flattery” series! I love a good challenge so I’ve been keeping my eye out for something on my “wish list” that would be fun to do!

I love these prints of glazed paintings from Ballard Designs and decided to make a miniature version of the beach themed one:

With a few simple steps (and an eager toddler), I was able to mimic a similar glazed effect to create my own beach painting! I use a paper mache layer underneath the paint so that I can get a peeling-paint-aged-look.

My family spent most of the summer at Debordieu beach (near Georgetown, S.C.) when I was growing up. It was so secluded and natural and peaceful…..just like the painting. Once distinct memory is my mother always warning us of large waves by yelling “WHOA NELLY!!!” I decided to add those words as my own personal touch to the painting instead of the “Beach” text:

Here’s how to make your own!

You’ll need:
Acrylic craft paints (I use the 99 cent bottle ones)
Art canvas
Newspaper or phone book pages
Matte Medium
Gloss Varnish

Step 1: I started with a plain gallery wrapped canvas….

….and covered sections with a generous amount of matte medium using small sections of old phone book pages and adhered them using the excess medium. You may have to add more medium as you go. It is similar to making a paper-mache layer (you can use newsprint as well, I just prefer the way the small font looks from the phone book pages).

I use my fingers to smooth air bubbles and wrinkles….Boo loves to help with this part:

The prepared canvas looks like this:

Step 2: I painted the first paint layer using basic acrylic craft paints:

I painted the small white strip for the sandy beach:

And I painted the blue for the sea/sky:

I dragged a dry brush loaded with white paint along the line where the two colors met to blend them:

Step 3: Using a simple stencil and some willow charcoal (it is easily painted over), I sketched out the letters:

Step 4: I painted the letters with white paint:

Step 5: Using an electric sander (you can also use a sanding block), I distressed areas of the canvas:

Step 6: I mixed up a glaze using darker acrylic colors (I prefer the liquid acrylics by golden for glazes)

Starting at one end of the canvas I began layering perpendicular lines of glaze…letting layers dry in between.

Building and building…

…..so that the top end turned darker and darker.

I used a damp paper towel to dab areas that got too dark and to blot color into the bottom white portion of the canvas to age it:

After several layers of painting, dabbing and removing I ended up with this:

I’m really happy with how it turned out! Rich layers of glaze and texture:

Now you can make your own original instead of buying a print! Here’s a comparison of the original and the inspired version:

Thank you Kristin and Jordan for letting me play along! This was so much fun!

A Handmade Sign

January 12, 2011 by Ashley Hackshaw

…literally. Here’s a small distressed Lil Blue Boo sign I made using a small canvas and spray paint. So easy to do….and endless possibilities: an old sign for your kitchen, a large piece of artwork, a sign for a booth at a boutique, or even a personalized “shabby chic” name plate for a kids room.

I used the same technique as I used for this sign (click on the image to see the full tutorial):

I use just a basic collage layering process of newspaper or old phone books (a good way to recycle too!) so you have something to flake and distress on top of the canvas. This layer I painted white once it was dry:

I use a razor blade, Cricut or Silhouette cutter you can cut ordinary Contac paper or adhesive shelf paper to make a stencil. First, I spray painted the “Lil Blue Boo”:

Next, I spray painted the “handmade”:

Here is the sign in use at our Christmas boutique!

A Chalkboard Pig

December 20, 2010 by Ashley Hackshaw

Remember the piggy bank that Boo picked out a few nights ago for Daddy’s Christmas present?

I convinced her to paint it with chalkboard paint! To paint a ceramic piece like this I recommend using chalkboard spray paint because you will get a smoother finish, but with a toddler that isn’t so easy. We used a small roller and this can of chalkboard paint:

I let Boo do most of the rolling herself:

Every once in a while I could ask her if I could “try painting” and she would let me smooth out some of the large areas for her:

We used a small paint brush to paint in the hard to reach areas and then smoothed them out with a roller:

You will need to do several coats of the chalkboard paint, letting it dry in between.

A little trick I use for rollers so they don’t dry out? Wrap the paint-covered roller in a plastic bag and stick it in the freezer! You can even leave it overnight and just take it out and continue painting when you need to:

Here is the finished chalkboard piggy bank…..it’s a little bumpy but I think Boo did a pretty good job!