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Shabby Chic... or the rustic look is still in!Shabby Chic... and rustic looks are still in!.. Although there are lots of modern, clean cut designs in the arts and crafts world, I am still seeing lots of very creative shabby chic!. Here is one way to make a picture frame "rustic" looking.. and therefore add to your shabby look! Either make or purchase a wooden picture frame, one with a good witdth of wood all around.. now if it is shiny wood or varathaned or polished, you could either take the time to sand it off or use paint stripper.. OR the easier way, is to give it a good clean first (gets rid of any oils from polish) then paint it with a really good primer, one that goes over EVERYTHING.. I like the ZINSSER brands.. and I dont' get paid to say that either!!... its just that in my experience with painting over old pieces, this zinsser sticks like glue, even to glass!..(its the answer to shabby chic!)..
Anyways, give it a couple coats of primer, then paint it charcoal, or black or a very rustic brown.. or a dark colour of your choice, even forest green is nice.. once that is dry, take a brush and dip it in some white paint, then rub most of it off on a paper towel.. I know this seems crazy, but you want just a dry hint of this paint on your brush.. quickly and lightly go over the frame with this almost dry brush.. and you will get very faint streaks of white, and it gives the painted frame an "aged" or rustic look.. maybe linger more on curves or indents and the edges with this brush.. don't dip it in any more white, keep going over the same areas with this almost dry brush.. there should be no blobs of white.. just a streaky haze.. after its dry, varathane it with a satin or non gloss varathane.. and VOILA!.. you have a rustic frame, for your shabby chic look! You can also antique the frame by painting it a light colour (instead of a dark colour as above) and then take a cloth and rub on some antiquing gel or medium, and then promptly wipe it off.. the darker antique gel will stick to rough areas, knots, and crevices.. this is also a cool and rustic look. This is a great way to frame old photographs, you may have found at sales, pieces of art, or your own works of art..maybe even decoupage old newspaper ads, or postcards to a frame, that is always a neat look also.. in which case, the picture in the frame should be simple .. as the frame is really the work of art. You can get great CHEAP frames at thrift stores, garage sales, and those relatives who think you are odd, but love getting rid of their junk to your house! Usually the glass is missing, but that is alright, you can get another cut cheaply, or leave the glass out, depending on what you are displaying.. get creative with some frames, and decorate your place or sell them at craft shows for that shabby chic look!
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