Today I am introducing the paint line I am now carrying in my shop. Due to some issues that arose with the line I had been carrying I had to drop it. Fortunately I was able to bring an even better paint line on board and I’m having so much fun with this stuff. I’ve honestly never been so excited about a paint line and all the stuff that goes along with the paint. There are glazes, lacquer, gilding wax, metallics. So many great products and also a wonderful company to work with. I’m blessed to have been handed this opportunity.
I’m also sharing this cute little rocking horse makeover. I found him at a consignment shop. It is a heavy paper mache and the lines are great, but the color just wasn’t getting it for me. My husband was with me when I bought it and I could tell from the look on his face he couldn’t understand AT ALL why I was buying it. But I had a vision and I knew I could make it great.
Here is the before. I’ve never been a huge fan of maroon – especially an orange-y maroon. Bleck. (sorry if you love the orange-y maroon color)
First I painted it with Paint Couture paint in Arctic White.
Paint Couture is a 100% Acrylic Resin paint. It goes on smooth and easily, self levels as it dries and dries to a very matte finish. It can be lightly rubbed down with a very fine sandpaper (I use 400 grit) to bring it to a satin smooth finish. It can then be finished with whatever finish you prefer. If you love a wax finish, wax can be used. I dislike having to buff the wax, therefore I am over-the-moon thrilled with the glazes and lacquers that are in the Couture Line. I’ll be back soon with some more details on the glazes and lacquers. Just know that they are AH-MaZiNg!
And putting on lacquer is so easy and wonderful it’s not like you are even adding a finishing top coat. Nothing to dread at all about it!
Over the white paint I added a glaze – I think I used some weathered wood and zinc glaze but honestly I can’t remember for sure which colors – I was working on several small projects at one time and I lost track of what I used where!
After applying the glaze I thought it still needed a bit of texture and color so I added some dry-brushed gold metallic. The Paint Couture metallic paints are so much fun to play with 🙂
The metallic gold is subtle but if you look close you can see the bits of gold color here and there. I just added it wherever I felt like it needed a bit of bling.
I’m quite pleased with the way this turned out. I added a ribbon to his neck and he’s all ready to be added to someone’s decor. He’s at the shop and if he doesn’t sell first I will be taking him along to the HobNob Market – it’s coming up in just a few weeks!
See the bits of gold showing up here and there?
I almost kept him. It’s funny how I can fall in love with the things I create as I put my time and effort into making them beautiful!
Stay tuned – I have more projects using Paint Couture coming up!
Love papier mache.
My Grandmother told me that in the Depression, parents would make toys for their children from papier mache for Christmas,
I`ve seen some amazing Folk Art pieces from that period.
You did a great job on your piece.
Thank you Jody – making things with papier mache would be kinda fun!
Please post more info on paint couture. I’ve been looking online and haven’t found much. Only one store in California (2hrs away)carries your product.
I will Sharon! I have a couple more posts coming up soon that are about furniture makeovers using Paint Couture. It’s pretty amazing stuff. I could ship to you but the shipping from OH to CA is gonna be high so it would probably be better for you to get it shipped from the place in CA if you can.
Nice job on the horse, Jill. When I was in elementary school we were taught in art class how to paper mache, many a moon ago. It’s amazing what you can create. I remember we (me & the kids in the classroom) blew up a large balloon & covered it with paper mache. after it dried we bust the balloon & then painted it as a globe of the world. The creation sat in the corner of the classroom for the rest of the year.
Thanks Tricia – We used to make pinatas for our last day of school. They weren’t super sturdy – after all they were supposed to break 🙂 but I think the idea was probably similar just not as hard and durable as papier mache