We had a fantastic few days off with only one mishap. My daughter, Ella fell off a scooter at our neighborhood bbq and broke a bone along the side of her foot. It quickly ended our evening and I spent the rest of it at the urgent care center. Today we go to the orthopedic specialist and she likely will have some kind of cast. Right when the pool opens and summer begins. Poor girl! I hope you all had a less eventful weekend!
Today, I’ll share one of my favorite techniques, adding a paint wash or glaze over a base coat. I happen to think it is one of the easiest ways to create interest or change up the look of your project.
There are different ways to apply a chalk paint wash (see tutorial here). I tend to saturate my brush in water and dip it into the paint and apply all over. I then keep going over it with my brush to stop drips and create an all over effect. The more water, the more diluted the wash. Another trick is to allow the wash to almost dry and then take a soft cloth and wipe it down. You can create a streaky look by wiping in straight lines or buff it in a circular motion to get the wash deep into the base coat and grain of the wood underneath. Make sure the base coat is super dry before doing this or you’ll end up taking all the paint off.
Take Annie Sloan’s Provence and add a wash of Coco and, voila…
Versailles with Duck Egg…
Old Ochre with Old White…
Old Violet with Coco…
Paris Grey with Old White…
Old White over unfinished wood…
I even applied a wash of Old White on my stair treads. A great look that has held up well!
General Finishes have an array of wonderful glazes. However, glazes are totally different than chalk paint washes. Unlike washes, glazes don’t wipe off if you don’t like the look. As soon as they touch the paint, the glaze will be on there for good. They do, however, create a gorgeous finish.
General Finishes Basil with Winter White glaze…
Corinth Blue with Burnt Umber…
And last up is a combo. Chalk Paint as a base coat with a glaze on top. Lesson learned the hard way – if applying a glaze over chalk paint, first seal the paint with clear wax prior to the application of the glaze or it creates a stained look. 
There you go. Combine different colors and just have fun with it!
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Thanks for sharing your wash combo. I love doing washes too on pieces (it can really soften a piece).
Happy painting this week!
Love this post! Washes are something I struggle to master, but yours look great! I will have to try again.
Thanks for the information, very beautiful. I myself like a good glaze and have learned the hard way not to put a reg. glaze onto chalk without first sealing it with wax…too bad about your daughter (we used to belong to a neighborhood pool too when our kids were young) but she might be able to adhere some kind of baggie over the foot. ~ Nicole
This might be one of your best posts ever! Some of these combinations would have never occurred to me…but they are all gorgeous! I am trying to finish up a desk with GF Halcyon Blue with a wash of Duck Egg. Loving how the Duck Egg softened the brightness of the Halcyon.
On another note, I am so, so sorry to hear about your daughter’s mishap. Seems so unfortunate to happen on the first, unofficial day of summer. But somehow, I have a feeling, she’ll find a way to make some lemonade of these lemons! 🙂
Time to break out of the box and try some glazes!
Thank you for information, these are some of the BEST pieces I have seen; just Beautiful!! If I may ask, what ASCP is that in the last piece, it looks like Florence, but lighter and maybe a coat of Barcelona Orange underneath?
Mia
Hi Mia, it is Florence with General Finishes Van Dyke glaze on top of wax. The orange underneath is actually the wood peeking through. Thanks so much!
I bought a bed frame and had it painted with chalk paint. It was not sealed. My husband scratched the middle of the headboard and paint came off. Any suggestions on how to fix the “spot”? I do not have access to the paint.
Well, that is a shame because chalk paint should always be sealed. Since you do not have the paint, I suggest getting a rag or soft cloth slightly damp and rubbing in the spot or scratch and see if it smooths out. Good luck!