Paint It Wild

This fun table is easy to create by painting animal-like spots in brown and black on top of a base coat of cream paint. Then give the top a crackle finish for contrast. For a slightly aged look, add a coat of varnish tinted with raw umber. Acrylic paint can be used for this project. An oil-based varnish is needed to seal the crackle finish.

A small table like the one shown here is available at an unfinished-furniture store for less than $50. The rest of the materials will cost under $20. You will need more of the base coat, so we recommend purchasing a quart-size can at a paint-supply store. The other paints can be small bottles of craft acrylic paint found at crafts stores, which also carry crackle medium.

While this table provides a playful accent to a family room, it would also make a great bedside table or whimsical stand in a kitchen. For a different look, you could try another design by going to the fabric store and purchasing a small amount of a favorite print. You would then copy a fabric design with paints onto the piece of furniture. You may want to use a pencil to lightly trace the design once the base coat has been applied and dried.

Step 1: SAND the unpainted table to smooth any rough edges. Wipe table free of dust, and give it two coats of cream-colored flat latex paint on the entire table. Sand lightly between coats.

Step 2: PAINT oval spots in varying sizes with brown acrylic. After the paint has dried, outline the dots in black. Use loose brushstrokes. The animal design should be irregular.

Step 3: APPLY the crackle medium according to manufacturer's instructions using black acrylic paint as the top coat. Once the table is completely dry, apply two coats of varnish tinted with raw umber to the entire table. Sandra Allen Lynn

Copyright Southern Progress Corporation Jun 1998
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