Creating a stylish sign-in station for your wedding guest book is a snap with FolkArt® Home Decor™ Chalk! This no prep acrylic paint and wax dries quickly, and can be layered and sanded for a lovely distressed look and feel.
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The paint is available in 16 vibrant colors, and the line also includes clear and antiquing wax.
To transform this trio of battered vintage suitcases, I chose FolkArt® Home Decor™ Chalk in Rich Black and Parisian Grey. To seal and protect the finish, I added a coat of Clear Wax. The paint can be purchased at select Jo-Ann Fabric & Craft stores or online.
Painting the suitcases proved to very quick and easy to do! I even painted the fabric inside the case shown above with Parisian Grey, and it covered the cloth beautifully. The only preparation needed was wiping down the exterior and interior surfaces with some spray cleaner and paper towels. A few simple supplies are all you need to finish the job:
- FolkArt® Home Decor™ Chalk in your choice of colors
- Clear or Antiquing Wax
- Inexpensive foam or bristle brushes – both worked equally well for me.
- Soft Cloth to Buff the Wax
- Masking Tape – if you wish to preserve the finish of the hardware
Since these suitcases had very tarnished and scratched hardware, I didn’t tape any of it off, but simply painted right over it. The instructions on the jars recommended allowing each coat to dry for a couple hours before adding another. Two coats were plenty to thoroughly cover the suitcase exteriors and the fabric inside. Apply one coat of wax, allow it to dry for an hour and then buff it with a soft cloth to add a subtle sheen and a layer of protection for the paint.
I painted the smallest suitcase with two coats of Rich Black, but didn’t add the wax. To create signage for the guest book station, I simply added some self-adhesive letters. It’s possible to actually write on the surface of the paint with chalk sticks if you prefer.
The finished suitcases were perfect for setting up a guest book sign-in station! An instant camera, extra film, the guestbook, permanent markers, and some Washi tape, allow guests to take a photo, stick it in the guest book, and write a message for the happy couple. Pretty yellow roses add a pop of color to the otherwise neutral palette. When the wedding is over, the suitcases can be repurposed for storage at home. Use them to corral wedding cards and other mementos, or for magazines, craft supplies, out-of-season clothing, and more.
I hope you’ve enjoyed this fun transformation with FolkArt® Home Decor™ Chalk! I found the paint very easy to use, and I can’t wait to try it on some other projects. If you’re inspired by the idea of restoring your decor you may wish to enter the “Restore Your Decor” Pinterest Contest hosted on Plaid’s Facebook Page through 6/3/2014. For more information and ideas, follow Plaid on The Plaid Palette Blog, Pinterest, Instagram, Twitter, or Google+. You can also watch Plaid on YouTube, or sign up for the Plaid newsletter.
This post was sponsored by Plaid and FolkArt® Home Decor™ Chalk. All opinions expressed are my own.
