Wood & Branches Wall Art By Erin of Lemon Tree Creations

I had an incredibly lucky moment a few months ago, when some friends asked me to make a few signs for their house. They wanted to pull apart a beautiful old chest that was in their home and use that wood for the project, and offered me the rest of the wood to use as I wished. They added, "the chest is made from some old barn wood from our farm." I couldn't get my yes out fast enough!! The wood is beautiful, rich, warm and weathered, and I was thrilled.

I knew I had to come up with something special for this wood, no typical sign would do, so I turned to Keri at Cutting Edge Wall Stencils and got this incredible stencil.

I lined up the boards and enlisted a few cute handymen to secure them to one another on the back with metal braces. Then, with a flat base I started on my stencil.

I wanted some depth to the design, so I picked out light, medium and dark shades of acrylic paint to stencil with.

I started off with a shimmery bronze paint that was a very similar shade as the wood. I lightly sprayed the stencil with a tacky stencil adhesive, and placed it a bit off-center on top of the wood. I then grabbed a stiff stencil brush and started to layer on the bronze.

I let the bronze paint dry, repositioned the stencil, and painted a shimmery gold color on the corners of the board, overlapping a bit of the bronze branches.

When this was dry I centered the stencil, and started in on my lightest color, a creamy white. I pulled away the stencil and was done!! I attached wire hanging gear across the back and put it right up on the wall.

One of my favorite things about this piece is how different it looks depending on where you're standing in the room. When the light is hitting it just right, all of the shimmery colors just pop out.

If the light is not directly on the picture, the creamy colored branch stands out the most,

but if you're looking at it face-on, there is a nice blend of the three colors. I wanted this painting to have the sense of depth that you'd have if you were standing under a tree looking up at the branches.

I also was so happy with the contrast between the old and battered wood, and the elegance of the branches in the shimmery tones. I love it!

I practiced the design on two smaller sections of the same wood, and these are available in my etsy shop here. I included this sweet little bird, who didn't make it onto the big piece, but I think is a fun element.

I am so pleased with this project! It has really given me a new appreciation for wall stencils, something I had previously shied away from since I am such a commitment phobe with decor. But being able to stencil onto something that could then be moved around is fabulous!!

Erin and the other girls of Lemon Tree Creations are busy creating amazing inspiration! Check 'em out and get inspired!

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Show and Tell with Sunglass Warehouse

Talk about the perfect time of year to get your hands on a new pair of sunglasses! Sunglass Warehouse is an online Mecca when it comes to finding the right pair of affordable sunglasses! That's my big problem with Sunglasses! I either lose, break or warp my sunglasses in my hot car so I never want to fork over the big bucks for expensive designer glasses!

Sunglass Warehouse is the perfect solution! The inventory is incredible and the price is just right!

Here are a few of my favorite picks! Click on their photos to be taken directly to their page where you can find more info!

SW Celebrity Style # 511

SW Kid's Style #521

SW Oversized Style #167

And here's the style I got! I've been looking for some Aviator glasses for ever and these I love! They are Polarized so they make everything crisp and sharp and my eyes are so relaxed! They were the perfect glasses to enjoy Yellowstone with! Super lightweight! Thank you Sunglass Warehouse!

SW Aviator Style #242

Sunglass Warehouse has it all! They carry
women's sunglasses
men's sunglasses
kids' sunglasses!

And if you are worried about how you are going to chose a pair of glasses without trying them on they've even developed a way to help and have recently launched some great content on choosing the right sunglasses - they have pages on choosing sunglasses based on your skin tones and on choosing sunglasses for your face shape.

So lets get shopping!!!!

One Lucky Blue Cricket Design reader can enter to win a $20 Gift Credit to be spent at
Sunglass Warehouse! Pretty Fun huh!!!!


Simply leave a comment and you'll automatically be entered!

For additional ways to enter please leave a comment for each of the following...

• Follow Sunglass Warehouse on Twitter
• Become a fan of their Facebook Page!
• Find them over on their blog!
• Become a follower of Blue Cricket Design or tell me you already are!
• Help spread the word by blogging, tweeting or facebooking about this giveaway with a link back to this post!

This giveaway is open to U.S. and Canada residence only!

The winner will be announced next Wednesday and it will appear at just above the daily post! Thanks Sunglass Warehouse!

Get your mouse ready! It's time to link away! I've been blown away by all the amazing talent out there! I'm always looking for amazing projects to feature so by linking you give me permission to feature you, your blog, photos and projects! I always give full credit so start the fun!

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My #1 most commonly asked question answered! Bookmark this post!

My in box has been filled with request on a "how to" refinish furniture!!! I better get on it already and just share it here for all to enjoy!!!

So let's get started!!!

My rule of thumb when it comes to deciding if something is worth refinishing...

• it has to be a solid piece to begin with!
  
• made of real wood
• not a veneer!
• take a before picture because you will hardly believe what it looked like once you are done!

(I have heard of using a product called Liquid sand, or a special primer for veneer on veneer pieces to make it paintable! Ask your paint expert at Home depot what to use. Check it out and read the directions to see if you want to go that route! I haven't used it though so if you do use it let me know how it goes!!)

Primer

The most asked question I get is "Do you have to completely sand off a finish first before you paint?"

and the answer is NO!!!!! Thank goodness right!!! As long as you use an OIL BASED primer you don't have to sand!!! I recommend KILZ brand from Home Depot.
I buy it in a gallon size because I do so many projects and will use it all. I have also bought a KILZ spray can of oil based primer for a quick job. The spray can works great too.

I will say this...light sanding will be needed if you have areas on your project that may have splintering, or large peeling or chipped paint. Just sand the are to make it more uniform and smooth.

The only time you will need to sand off a finish completely before refinishing is if you are planing on staining a piece as opposed to painting. I'll talk more about staining at the end of this post!

Because you will be using oil based primer just prepare to toss the paint brush you will be using. Oil based paint is a BEAST to wash so I recommend using gloves too if you are a messy painter.

Prime your piece once and let it dry completely before moving onto the next step!

Painting

You will want to use a Latex paint. I LOVE BEHR brand from Home Depot the best! ( Side bar: we painted all our rooms in our house with Behr paint and only had to paint one coat!!! Good stuff!!!)

I always do two coats for furniture. ALWAYS allow each coat to fully dry before you paint the next coat.

Brushes

I buy my brushed from the dollar store. I like the synthetic fibers. For projects that have a lot of flat surface areas I'll also buy and use a small foam roller. I'll roll the flat surfaces and use my brush for the "cutting" meaning the corners and seams and detail work.

You can easily wash out and reuse your brushed when you use a latex paint!

Sealer

Once the paint is completely dry you will want to add a Polyurethane Sealer. MINWAX is my favorite! It comes in Matte, Semi gloss and High gloss so be sure to pick the finish you want. I always do at least two coats and again it's important to allow it to dry before adding the next coat!!! I use a foam brush to apply poly. NEVER shake a can of Poly! It makes small bubbles that may dry in your finish. ALWAYS use a stir stick and stir your poly well. It tends to settle.
They do sell poly in a spray can but I avoid it becasue I want a very even finish that only a paint brush can achieve.

Faux Finishing

I love me a good Faux finish! If you plan on adding a faux finish or rub you would do this step before your poly step. I usually do a glaze on all my projects but that's just my style! My favorite technique is adding a brown glaze that settles in the details and seams of furniture...


I use Raulph Lauren Glaze in "Tabacco." This technique requires you to paint a thick coat on and then quickly wipe it off with a rag and leaving behind the glaze to get the aged look you want. It takes a little getting used to but it's by far my fav!!

I have also used a crackle finish effect. If you want to try to do a crackle the only thing you have to remember is that you have to use a FLAT finish in your base coat paint! It will not crackle correctly if it's a egg shell, semi, high gloss or satin finish.

READ all the instructions on faux finishing products! Ask your local expert for tips and just have fun!

Tips

• You can find "Oops Paint" or "Mistints" paint at a discount for $1-$5 a gallon. Ask your paint departments where they keep it!It's not always out in front! I have found some great colors and have saved a ton of money!!!
• Check your loacl Dollar Store and see what painting tools they sell. I was spending full price on brushed for almost a year before I discovered that the dollar store sold a three pack of brushes!!
• Prime multiple pieces at the same time!Priming is my least favorite step but the most important!!! I just like to get as many things primed at once if I can.
• If you are planning on painting anything RED you MUST tint your primer gray! Home Depot will do this for you by adding black paint. Gray primer is the only way to get a true to color sample result. If you buy a gallon of primer and only have one project to paint red, just buy a plastic container in the paint section, pour a good amount to cover your project into the container and they will add black to that. That way you don't have to tint the entire gallon.
• I can't stress enough how important it is to allow proper time for drying in between each coat!!!!!
  
• You can sand in between each step...primer, two coats of colored paint and poly if you want a very smooth feel in the end. I rarely do this because I like how it looks adn feels enough when I don't and I am all about saving the effort if I don't care! If you do sand use a very fine grit and wipe it down well before painting again.
• Allow more time then you would think for the piece to dry before you bring it in the house. I have made the mistake of thinking it was dry before it was and got paint on my carpet!!! NOt fun!!! I wait over night before I move it in.
  

Be sure to check out This POST with all my before and afters when it comes to refinishing!

Staining

You must have raw wood to stain so you do have to sand. Once it is sanded wipe the piece of furniture clean. You can use tack cloth to insure that you get all the dust off.

I use MINWAX stain and seal.

There are two ways you can apply stain.

• dipping a cloth in the stain and rubbing it on or
• using a brush and applying it thick and then wiping it off with a rag.

Apply your stain, going with the grain of the wood, 'till it is the desires color! I usually do two coats. When it comes to staining you do not have to wait for it to dry before you add your second coat of stain.

Be sure to apply two coats of Poly even though it says it's a "Stain and Seal!" Poly will protect it the best!

Follow the poly steps I listed above!!!


I hope this helps!!!! I'd love to see your projects!!!!! Email me before and afters and I'd be happy to feature you on my blog! Email me with any questions!!!!

bluecricketdesign@gmail.com

Happy refinishing folks!!!!

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