A Tale of Two Vax Image Transfer Projects

I recently teased on my Facebook page that I was working on two Shabby Paints Vax image transfer projects.

I had followed this video that Shabby Paints owner Shannon had posted showing how to transfer an image using Vax as the transfer medium.  ANOTHER amazing thing about Vax!  Find more here
and here and here.

Seems easy enough!  The hardest part is waiting the 24 hours after applying to rub off the paper! Or so I thought...

I'm not really sure where I went wrong...on BOTH projects!  I think maybe I either didn't apply enough Vax or I didn't rub the paper down well enough when I placed it down.  I have done this transfer before successfully.  SORT OF.

See???  Perfect transfer...just slightly off center.  <SIGH>

So I painted over it and tried again...

Centered this time...just didn't quite get the transfer done perfectly.  A bunch of it rubbed off.

Here was my other project that I was attempting at the same time.

Excuse the scratches - I had started sanding before remembering that I needed to take pictures of my failed attempt.  Admittedly, this one was a whole lot better than the other one.  This will help...

Again, I think that maybe when I laid the paper with the Vax down on the furniture, I just didn't rub it on enough?  That's the only thing I can think of since most of the image transferred and it was just bits and pieces that rubbed off easily.

So, how did I fix these problems?

Well...with the jewelry box, I essentially gave up on the idea of the transfer!  I will blog about this jewelry box at some point  - if I EVER FINISH IT.  I've been working on this stinking thing for EVER.  I think it's cursed - for reals.  I can't get it done.  But, for the sake of this post, all you need to know is that it will remain image-less. 

The orange table is a different story.  I felt like the image was still overall in tact and that the furniture was just trying to tell me that it wanted a more distressed look to it!  So I went with it!  I got out the sanding paper and distressed it all around the edges.  Then I got the Hazelnut ReVax and went to town!!  None of this Vaxing first stuff.  Just straight up Hazelnut ReVax!  All over...and lots of it. 

This table turned out NOTHING like I originally thought it would.  I don't have a before  - just imagine your average mid century mod split level table brown.  I painted it with Volunteer Orange - gorgeous color but it just felt boring to me to leave it alone.

So I added Brown Bronze Shimmer Glaze to the edges and detailed areas.

It still didn't look right to me.  So I decided on the image transfer...which you know about.  And that brings us to the finished product!

I'm pretty happy with it!  I used to get really upset and down on myself when a project like these didn't go right.  But I finally figured out that sometimes the look I want and the look the furniture wants...not always the same!  In furniture painting, you sometimes have to abandon yourself to the piece and go with the flow!!

Both of my images were found at the Graphics Fairy blog.  She has THE BEST stuff!!

That's my tale of two Vax image transfer projects. I'd love to hear about a time you had to go with the flow!! 

Hoping For Boring

What a crazy few days it's been around here!! The kind of crazy that leaves you hoping for some boring in your life!

First we have the very first Ebola patient housed at the hospital 4 miles from my house! It's our go to ER location!  YIKES!  That freaked me out!   I KNOW we aren't in danger at this point...it's just SO CLOSE! Then we get a call that a few kids may have been exposed at a school right down the street!!  Where my neighbor works and her son goes!  It just seemed like I couldn't tear myself away from the news last week because you just never knew what might happen next!

Then we had a crazy storm that lasted about 5 minutes but 80mph straight line winds took out the electricity all over the city!  We were without power for about 18 hours. The kids couldn't even go to school on Friday because the school had no power. Yikes!!

Oh yea, in between all of that, I had one kid sick withe a fever and congestion and one with a stomach virus!

Needless to say, I haven't gotten a lot of work done lately.  I've just been trying to keep up!

I did want to share the newly redone Shabby Paints website!  I looks awesome!  I love the big paint splash when you first open it up.  There is SO much great information on that page!  Check it out!

Hoping for a bit calmer week this week.  Actually...I really just want BORING!  Hoping for boring in your life too!

FAQ Friday: What is Vax / ReVax?

I think one of the most frequently asked questions I run into pertain to Vax and ReVax.  These products are unique to the Shabby Paints line.  In fact, the first time I ever heard of Shabby Paints was when a stylist was describing Vax and I knew immediately that I HAD to try it!  I started looking into Shabby Paints and the rest, as they say, is history.

From the Shabby Paints website:

Shabby Paints Zero VOC VAX Top Coat is not a wax. It’s a combination of high quality Varnish and Acrylic resin that applies easily with a damp brush or damp applicator sponge for a durable matte finish. VAX dries to a wax like matte finish with all the depth and beauty you are looking for minus the buffing, toxic fumes, need to reapply and damage to our environment.  It protects your piece against heat, scratches, ultraviolet rays and harmful pollutants.

Vax is a sheer - or clear - finish while ReVax comes in different colors...hazelnut, black, pearl, white and glitter.  Often people think it is less able to protect the furniture and that they need a topcoat of Vax but this is not the case.  ReVax is just as good a finish as Vax. 

Vanity with Sheer Vax

Both can be applied with a regular paintbrush OR a Vax / ReVax applicator sponge.  The applicator sponges are sold by your local stylist. 

There is a learning curve to using both.  I suggest practicing on a sample board first.  Although, I'll admit I never did that - too impatient!  Haha! 

Here are some tips:

*Whether you use the Vax applicator or a brush, make sure it is damp.  Not soaking wet - dip it water and then squeeze out or dry on a towel.  As you apply and you feel it start to drag a bit, re-wet.

*Work quickly if you're working on a large surface. 

*If your first coat of Vax is streaky, don't panic!  Let it dry completely to the touch and then reapply and it should fill in the spots where it looks like it didn't reach.

Side tables with Hazelnut ReVax

*ReVax - especially black - can be trickier.  There are two different things you can do for this.  One is to apply a coat of Vax (or our Varnish which is a shinier finish), and then apply your ReVax.  This way, if it goes on too dark, you can use a Magic Eraser to take some off without messing up the paint.  The second way is to mix Vax and ReVax together - about 3 parts Vax to one part ReVax - to cut down on how dark it is and give you a little more control.

*Use very thin coats

*Only do 2 coats in a 24 hour period

Last...watch some videos about application first before trying it yourself.  My website has a ton of great videos made by several different talented stylists that you can watch!

Hope this helps clear up a little of the mystery of Vax / ReVax!  It is a wonderful product to use!