Shabby Chic Storage Cabinet Step by Step Tutorial - pressed wood

Shabby Chic Storage - Chippy & Distressed

Once upon a time there was an artist. She was surrounded by wonderful people in her life who believed in her, so much so that when she put her mind to it she could create just about anything! This is how I felt with this sweet and stunning shabby piece I am sharing with you today. I personally am not an extremely shabby person though I like a soft distressing now and then. So this one was a challenge for me.

Meet Cinderella, her name was chosen from the rags to riches story because I truly feel that was what this cabinet went through. She was a cleaning supply storage cabinet in a bathroom before I got her.

I feel like her fairy godmother and my paint brush is my magic wand. She is glistening in her Shabbiness now. Though the Shabby Paints Shimmer Paints and Glazes probably have something to do with that too.

Want to know how to create this Look? Keep reading for my step by step tutorial...

Step A: Clean... with Vinegar/Water (50/50 mix) and a splash of blue dawn, rinse with water and a clean microfiber cloth.

Step B: Sand... and scuff up the surface to help the paint have something to hold onto, since this is not real wood. Wipe it down with a damp microfiber cloth to collect all the dust.

Step C: Paint in layers... I painted the following layers:

1. Three layers of Brown Bronze Shimmer Glaze over the creamy laminate like surface. Let dry to touch.
2. One dry brush layer of Buffalo Brown. Let dry over night.
3. Rubbed a bar of soap all over the areas I wanted distressed.
4. One full coat of Vanilla Bear with whole rice mixed in (to scrape off later)  Let dry to touch.
5. One layer of Stunning Silver Shimmer Paint. Let dry to touch.
6. A watered down later of Hazelnut ReVax and scrape off while wet with a metal or hard plastic putty knife, exposing the darker brown & bronze layers underneath. Work quickly and in small sections!
7. Used more Hazelnut ReVax with a small artist's brush to shade and darken corners and under the tops of the shelves and overhangs.
8. Went back in with a smaller brush and added some Black ReVax to darken the corners and under the overhangs even more.

Shabby Chic Definition:

"Shabby chic (pronounced: "sheek") is a form of interior design where furniture and furnishings are either chosen for their appearance of age and signs of wear and tear or where new items are distressed to achieve the appearance of an antique" - Wikipedia

If only the world could now how much work it takes to make something this old, old enough that someone may want to refinish it. LOL! I hope you have a wonderful day and a blessed weekend. Thank  you all very much for stopping by!

This item was entered into the "The Fab Furniture Flipin' Contest" for the month of June, I was honored to be a part of this contest last month and thrilled to be in it now. This months theme is  "Shabby Chic Storage" and is sponsored by The Old Fashioned Milk Paint Company. Though I was not able to use their product for this project. Take a moment to go check them out.

Hosts this month did shabby projects also here are their blog links:

OFMP: The Marissa Dresser (by Carrie of 38th St)

SHABBY TO CHIC STORAGE WITH OLD FASHIONED MILK PAINT ( by Charlotte of Ciburbanity)

Interested bloggers should contact Stacy (info@anastasiavintage.com) or Evey (info@eveyscreations.com) if interested in participating in future contests.

Thanks Again!!!!

~ Grace

Find me on...
Facebook: Uniquely Grace
Twitter: Grace Lauer Artist @gracelauer
Instagram: @gracelauer_henna_artist
Pinterest: L. Grace Lauer

Jasper Cabinets Secretary Desk Furniture Flip with Chalk Paint and Shimmer

Hello my wonderful readers! I am very excited to show you my new pride and joy. I don't know if I can part with her but I also don't think the hubby will let me keep her. LOL! She is an entry to the "The Furniture Flippin' Contest"! So leave me some love in the comments below so the judges can tell you like her as much as I do!

Meet Anastasia

The theme for this contest is "Inspired by Mom". Though the name of this piece was totally inspired by a comment my hubby made one day while I was painting. This piece was truly planned out to reflect who my mother is to me.  She is quiet and reserved but once you get to know her she really "opens up". She was created with Shabby Paints Cali Taupe & Licorice Chalk Acrylic Paints with a couple of layers of Old Gold Shimmer. Sealed with a mix of 50/50 Hazelnut ReVax/Sheer Vax. It all is distressed and is more beautiful with age... just like my mom!

My mother is my rock, hence the shades of grey (yes I know... that too was the comment my hubby made... "Is that your 15 shades of grey cabinet?"). But really it was to represent the colors of greys in most stones.

This is a Jasper Cabinet secretary desk. What is my mother's profession? You guessed it... she was a secretary/receptionist most of her life. She was always so good at keeping the office in order and dealing with customers.

The damask stencil was chosen as a representation of her style... she always tried her best to find nice things for us but she, a single mother of one, always had a hard time affording them. She was a great teacher of all things frugal. She also inspired me to be an artist as a young child. I can remember seeing her work in arts and crafts and thinking "I wish I could be as good as her someday".

Now today I can honor her with this piece and how this furniture flip. Mom... look how far everything you taught me has come. I love you, thank you for all you have done for me and one day I can fully repay you a thousand times over. You deserve every last once of love and kindness.

I just love the piece! Anastasia has been entered in "The Fab Furniture Flippin Contest" with the theme of "Inspired by...
Posted by Uniquely Grace on Thursday, May 21, 2015

More information about the "The Furniture Flippin' Contest":

• If your interested in participating: Bloggers can contact Stacy Info@anastasiavintage.com or Evey info@eveyscreations.com

• This month's sponsor is Cece Caldwells Paint (Disclosure: I have not used these paints)

• Two of our Hosts this month are Evey and Stacy. (Click on their names for their featured contest posts.)

Thank you all once again! Please take a moment to leave a comment blow. Also check me out on social media also... many ways to keep up to date on this artsy gal. Thank you for your support.

Here is a quick Before & After image. Hope you enjoy this thread.

UPDATE: I am so excited to share with you all that I received a Judges Pick award for this piece in the May, Fab Furniture Flippin' Contest!

Thank you to these Judges for putting my piece in your top three!

Evey from Sweet Songbird
Carrie from Thirty Eighth St.
Lynn from Fern Avenue

Find me on...
Facebook: Uniquely Grace
Twitter: Grace Lauer Artist @gracelauer
Instagram: @gracelauer_henna_artist
Pinterest: L. Grace Lauer