Annie Sloan Chalk Paint Tutorial {Part 1}

Okay we are going to start off with the red one...:) The color is Annie Sloan's Emperor's Silk...I love this red with the dark wax or without...without the dark wax, it would be a brighter red...You would just wax it with clear wax...

The first tip that Michelle @ Wonderfaux Studios gave us may surprise you...The older your AS chalk paint the thicker it will be...the thicker it is...the more it will look like the red and the cream practice boards, the cream was very thick, look at the cream practice board here....It is okay to leave your lids loose, ladies (and gentlemen), because the air will thicken it up...If you don't like that look, by all means close them tight...But this is good for us lazy painters...Michelle said this is girl's paint...lol I loved that...Because there is no failing with this stuff!

And I can finally look at Mr. Screaming Meme and say ..."You are wrong! I know what I am doing here..." Yay! lol He is an expert at so much, especially when it has to do with painting and construction...but I am patiently waiting for him to say in a deep, concerned voice..."You need to close that paint can properly, Meme"...and I will just refer him to this post...As Charlie Sheen would say..."I'm winning!" lol Annie Sloan, you are a genius and I HEART you for making girly girl paint! ;)




I suggest that you paint the pieces you want perfect when you first get your can of paint and then you paint the pieces you want a little more rustic or layered (like the cream I showed you) later...Or if you only want the rustic look...open the can and loosely close it for a week or so and tada...you will be set! You can always add water to thin it out, as well...So, no worries...


Okay, here is the red practice board I did...You want to literally paint heavily and thickly with your brush...see how thick I painted here? {Tip the red has a lot more pigment and will need a longer drying time...}

Once it is dry you can add your wax...I suggest that you go over it with clear wax first and then brush the dark wax on...(remember little goes along way) To make sure to get the look I showed on Monday you need to use the dark wax with brush strokes across the piece...highlighting the raised molding and designs of your piece...and then adding the dark wax were you think it will look best...You are the artist here...One of my classmates took a tool and gouged the practice board...so I did it too...and once you go over it with the dark wax, it will darken that area...You can always let your piece dry, sand it down and start again...No failing, Just WINNING! ;) Yay!

Once you are done, you can buff it when the wax is not tacky anymore...And that is where the magic happens...



I will be posting more how to's that I learned...but I promise taking a class from Michelle or someone who knows the tips and tricks...is the way to go!

Xoxo, Meme

{Teen Rooms}

I am super busy with work, remodeling, and redecorating "Middle's" (my name is my middle son...lol) room...Here are a few pics of the process...It is so sad and a little abusive to leave Middle's room like this for...Oh, a little over a month!!!! I know, I know...You should call Child Protective Services on me...I am a bad Mama...;) lol I have been busy and I thought I would get to it...and then life happened...end of school, work and a little procrastination too boot! Hate me!




This room is usually more organized and tidy...Middle is actually one of my best cleaners/organizers I own...I mean have living here...lol...but I think when things are in limbo or out of place...it is never easy to keep tidy...You know what I mean? Maybe a little depressing or a little overwhelming is the word? Do you see that paint can? It sat there for a month...Well, it got moved around for vacuuming and a little horseplay...But it sat in that area...waiting for the "decorator" to get there...Haha! Someone needs to fire her, huh? Or pay her? I don't know which one? BTW, Middle put this shelf in the closet for organization...I was going to donate it...I love how he thinks...my little organizer!


Do you see the stripe under the primed wall? I painted that for him about 4 years ago...Okay, a little tip for you...remember when painting a kid's room, to think about them actually growing up...They do grow! Shocking, I know! lol So, I wish I had thought about it and realized I would have to repaint more sooner than later...


I finally walked passed his room on Sunday and thought you are a horrible mother/decorator if you don't get that paint out and JUST DO IT! So, the guilt trip I played on myself worked!!! Yay!!!! I love when that happens! LOL I just started painting and painting...and before I knew it I had painted two coats!

I was so proud of myself, I even decided to have a margarita towards the end of the process to celebrate...I headed to my "Old Saloon" in our gameroom and mixed one up! I am a pretty good bartender, if I do say so myself...It is convenient to have a Saloon at arm's reach, too...Though I only have a drink or two a month, I mean, week...To keep this girlish figure I got going on lol...I feel like it is Happy Hour whenever the mood hits...lol And I don't have to even get all dolled up! I'm brilliant for building a Saloon in my home...Just pure brilliance! Lol!!!


The paint color is Valspar 5006-1B Notre Dame....It is a gorgeous grey...with a hint of blue...I love how it looks...both morning and night...And it looks great with warm colors, too...


Okay, I am even more of a horrible Mama for shopping the "Eldest's" room for decor...lol I took this art off his walls, like thief in the night...I sure did! I decided to use it here because I loved how the art popped against the grey walls! I promised Eldest that I would get him an even better piece of art...So now I have that on my "Ever Screaming To Do" list...:) I think he didn't really mind...He wasn't attached to it...and he knows I always come through with my promises...especially in the decorating department...lol



See the warm colors pop! I love this art...I purchased it last year at Home Goods for $50 on sale...I am using some dark bamboo shades with some white curtains I got for free from Mama Law (my mother in law)...


Here is a peek at his new room...We purchased the sofa (futon) last year for $399 @ Walmart.com and picked it up at the store...I was not a fan of futons...But the Middle bugged me about it until I just gave in...I liked this one because looked decent and was comfortable...I think teen rooms should be more about them and their likes...You slowly have to start letting go of your pipe dream and let their taste evolve. It also is a way for them to express themselves more...Middle picked the color (he did fabulous, huh?) and the futon...agreed on the art and blinds...We are looking for a desk...preferably the armoire style...So we can close the mess and have peace...:) The lamp may stay in here, as well...I stole that from another room too...That table I dug out of my neighbor's trash...{Hi, Michella...I am the creepy neighbor who digs through your crap late at night!} We may be painting it...and adding hardware...More to come on middle's new room...

More photos of his room to come! So, what do you think so far?

Xo, Meme

Easy Ideas To Freshen Up Your Home!

I have a few simple ideas to make your house a home on a budget! They are quick and easy to do!

Lamps~ Change out your lamp shades with new ones! The drum shades can give any lamp a new look! If you don't have money to change out...think about a simple slip cover to change the look of your lamp...You can sew one or use no sew techniques...:)

In love with my lamp shades...I think they are so perfect...They will be staying! Collections~ What do you have lying around your home that you can make into a collection?That is the easiest way to add a WOW factor to your home! It could be plates, mirrors, children's wooden chairs, canes, books...The possibilities are endless... I am working on my layered plate collage...I am going to make a thick framed leaning chalk board to go under my collection of plates...:) A Place For YOU...We decorate for everyone else...Our family, our friends, our neighbors... What about us? Find a place, that makes YOU feel relaxed...and add something that will make you feel good when you are there...It could be your bedside, your porch or your bath... Add a beautiful piece of art, a mirror, some flowers, or anything that makes you feel alive and refreshed... Pillows... Change out your sofa pillows (you know the ones it came with...lol) and add new ones...get creative..Mix patterns and textures...Don't be afraid to shake it up a little... Think FUN! And let it evolve...you will be surprised how much more your sofa stands out with variety! Paint~Paint is the cheapest way to add character and personality to any space... Add a fresh coat inside of a piece of furniture to add instant charm! Paint a piece of furniture a bold, fun color and watch it come alive! It is inexpensive and easy to do! XoXo, Screaming Meme

Screaming Easy Design Ideas

This is a model home I designed... The antique desk I found was only $50.00...I painted it an olive green.... And added a large crystal knob... It is so much prettier in person...I got a lot of compliments on her... She even made the local newspaper...Not the headlines, of course ;) I added stripe curtains for a little whimsy~ The builders wanted a more masculine look... The dining table belonged to the builder...He wanted me use it in the model home...

• Glass is a great option when you are selling a home...It makes the room appear a lot bigger...

The chandy was only $160.00 at Home Depot...

• I added trim around the bottoms of the shades...Easy idea to do with any lampshade...You can go as fancy as you like!

• A great idea if you have an old chandy...Repaint it! Almost any color would look great...For a cottage look, you could wrap some greenery around it...Or add to the chandy, like an antique garland of spoons, crystals or anything that would make the chandy POP, If they don't have shades, you may want to add them...

I have made some really beautiful chandeliers...They are fun to redesign...The color I choose for this space is Earthy Ocher...You can find it @ Lowe's or Pittsburgh Paints...What I love about model homes, is that they are not over done....

Simple...Relaxing...Easy to maintain... Life is complicated enough, right? :)

What kind of home do you like? Are you simple girl?...Are you a knickknacker? Or in the closet hoarder? ;)






XoXo, Screaming Meme