A Happy Accident - Story of a little table that would not behave.

Have you ever done a project with a certain  look or finish in mind but the piece will not cooperate?

That is how this story begins. I have had this little table for a bit now and wanted to do something really fun with it. Finally, I had the vision and decided to start working on it.

The vision was to sand down the top of the table  - then to use my new stencil and use stain to stencil the top and paint the bottom in a nice neutral.

So I sanded down the top of the table - not realizing that the top actually had a veneer on it. To make a long story short - there were a couple of places that got a little more sanded than some others, leaving light spots.....darned sander...I am sure it is defective.

Anyway, I thought no big deal - I will go ahead and do my stencil technique. I used a brand new script stencil that has just come out and a foam brush and gently sponged stain onto the stencil. 

I thought this will cover the light spots or disquise them....not so much.  I did not take pics of this ugliness because at the time I thought I would have to paint over the top to hide them. 

Them I had the bright idea that I would dark wax over the light spots and that would blend in the lighter spots. So I waxed and wiped and waxed and waxed and waited.....nothing...not a bit darker. So I thought I will leave the dark wax on over night...brilliant.....I know. So I did. The next morning, I can into hardened dark wax in globs on the light spots...what was I thinking....I buffed my butt off and finally had to sand off the dark wax.... yeeks. 

 Can you see the ugly dark marks? Yup, dark wax blobs. I didn't take pics of that either because again, I thought I am going to have to paint the top....but I loved the stained script and really did not want to cover it up....sigh.

So....today, I was resigned to the fact that I was going to have to paint over the stained script and decided that I would use Virginia Chestnut. So I painted over the top of my gorgeous stained stencil.

I just couldn't leave it be....all covered up...that pretty stained stencil...so, I decided to just try and wipe some of the Virginia Chestnut off to reveal the script here and there. One of the things that I love about CeCe Caldwells All Natural Chalk and Clay Paints is that you can distress the paint simply by using a damp cloth. I wetted a cloth and went to it. I figured if worse came to worse, I could always paint over it again.

So I wiped and looked ....wiped and looked....I liked what I saw. It looked like the paint was worn away exposing the pretty stained stencil...yay. I wiped it back a bit until basically the ugly dark and light spots were left covered and the rest revealed......A Happy Accident!!!! 

I love it and am soooo pleased with myself.

I added some clear wax and a good buffing had it looking great. It actually looks better and more subtle in person but I don't have great lighting for pics...but you get the idea. The customers in the store all loved it as I was finishing it up.

I love how the top turned out. I decided I would paint a coat of Virginia on the bottom followed by a coat of Myrtle Beach Sand - some light distressing and clear wax...and voila... she is ready for a new home.

She is so cute in person. If you are close come by and take a look. I already am thinking about the next project that I am going to use this technique on...a nice drop leaf table...I think. I love this stencil and will have it available in just a couple of days. 

You can see our other great stencils HERE. We are happy to ship and shipping  on stencils are FREE!!

This girl is ready for adoption. What do you think? Happy Accident?