Metallic Gel Stains add the glamour and gleam of precious metal to furniture projects!
It’s a simple and satisfying process, and one that I’m sure you’ll enjoy.
This post contains affiliate links, and was sponsored by Heirloom Traditions Paint
Hey, Graphics Fairy Friends! It’s Heather from Thicketworks. Today, we’ll be exploring one of the many ways that Aurora Staining Gels by Heirloom Traditions can enrich your furniture projects!
With a few simple supplies, we’ll take this little table from beyond drab to exquisite. Seriously.
To get this look you’ll need a few things….
Supplies:
- Any piece of furniture that needs a touch of glamour!
- Heirloom Traditions Chalk Type Paint: Black Bean
- Aurora Staining Gel: Copper Mine
- Aurora Staining Gel: Goldilocks
- Aurora Staining Gel: Silver Bullet
- Heirloom Traditions Wax: Dark Umber
- FolkArt Home Decor Stencil Ornate Damask
- Your favorite paint brushes, including a small flat artists brush
- Foam Makeup Sponges
- A small surface on which to mix the Gels
- A damp cloth
- Optional: sandpaper
How to use Metallic Gel Stains on Furniture
So, you’ve probably guessed already….
I couldn’t pass this sweet table up, and it’s the fault of those tiny little appliques.
Well, yes, the style of the piece is slightly Neo-Classical, and I love that too.
So I didn’t stand a chance.
But, oh my. She was in wretched condition.
The top after a quick sanding:
Two coats of Heirloom Traditions Chalk Type Paint: Black Bean later, and it’s easier to appreciate her good lines:
Once the paint has dried completely, carefully position your stencil atop the table. (I promise the table really is under there!)
Don’t worry if the motif spills over the edges – it will look fantastic.
Just make certain that the motif is positioned in a way that pleases you.
You can add a dab of low-tack tape if you’d like. I didn’t bother.
Now for the glamour! Metallic Staining Gels are an amazing product that can be used in countless ways.
This is just one of the many possibilities…because they are formulated to bond with unsealed Chalk Type Paint, they are the perfect companion to a Chalky Base Coat.
Shake the bottles very thoroughly, then squeeze a dollop of each color onto your mixing surface.
Dampen, then squeeze out a makeup sponge.
Pick up a touch of each color on the sponge.
Pat the sponge down on the surface to blend and smooth the colors together.
The goal is to have a mix of colors on the sponge, without ‘blobs’.
With a dabbing motion, tap the color through the stencil, onto the unsealed Chalk Type Paint:
Continue this process until the entire motif has been completed.
Go over some areas to create strong tints of Copper, Gold or Silver.
Peel the stencil away carefully, while the Metallic Staining Gels are still wet:
Ahhh…such richness of metallic goodness.
Use the sponge to dab touches of metallic to the edges and high points of the piece:
Use a fine, flat brush to accent wherever you choose:
The design is harmonized by repeating areas of each color individually, as well as repeating the three color blend on the main body of the legs:
Once the Metallic Staining Gels have dried, (about half-an-hour on a warm, dry day) add depth to the finish with Heirloom Traditions Wax: Dark Umber.
A sloppy coat of this magic potion will seal, protect and deepen the finish.
I suggest having a damp, lint-free cloth on hand to dab away drips, and to smooth the finish very gently.
Add Dark Umber over the entire piece, and gently wipe back.
Allow the Spray Wax to dry.
Enjoy the fruits of your labor!
The richness of the metallic pigments create an understated but gloriously high-end finish:
Blending the colors creates a subtle complexity that pleases the eye:
The variations in tone give a real sense of life to the piece…
The Dark Umber Spray Wax unifies and mellows the various pigments, creating a gently aged aura.
For more information on Heirloom Traditions Products, please visit www.heirloomtraditionspaint.com
Full Disclosure: Heirloom Traditions supplied their products to be used in this project, and they sponsored this post – however, I supplied the elbow grease, rescued furniture, design concept, and experimental insanity! All of which reflect my own point of view, regardless of affiliation…
Experimenting with these wonderful Metallic Staining Gels is always rewarding. They lend richness and depth to the most humble of projects.
Thank you so much for visiting The Graphics Fairy today! I hope you’re inspired to indulge in some glamorous creative play on your next furniture piece…
Stop by Thicketworks, where there’s always some mischief brewing – I’d love to see you there!
Until next time,
Heather
You might enjoy this recent project:
“Intuition” Talisman
Kim says
Gorgeous! How did you paint the legs? I know you used a mix of the colors but did you rub them down the legs or tap them on like you did the stencil? Found a table I want to try them on and this will be the first time I’ve ever used them so didn’t want to mess up right from the start.
Heather Tracy says
Hi Kim! Yes, ma’am…the legs were tinted with the sponge, dipped in the color blend, then ‘patted’ onto the surface! And don’t worry – the Metallic Staining Gels are a joy to work with – you’ll have FUN! xox
Monica says
This turned out so beautifully, it’s hard to believe it’s the same table. Thanks for the ideas to rehab an old table in such a different way.
Heather Tracy says
Hi Monica! Thank you so much – it’s so fun to share techniques we can all use to rehab those things that others just pass by…
JMyers says
Where can I get that stencil?
Heather Tracy says
Hi Jeanette – the stencil can be located by clicking the link in the product list that reads: FolkArt Home Decor Stencil Ornate Damask
shari says
Beautiful! Thanks for sharing! : )
Heather Tracy says
Hi Shari – thank YOU!
raylee says
Heather you are such an inspiration……you make me want to paint my old pieces of furniture!
Heather Tracy says
It’s Raylee! Hello, sweetie…Oh, I hope you DO paint your furniture. It makes you feel spectacular to take something a bit tired and give it new life. You are such a wonderful artist, I’d love to see what you would create! Thank you for leaving such an encouraging and lovely comment – to be inspiring is the highest of honors.
JaneEllen says
Now we’ll all be looking for table with small appliques or could apply ourselves. Seems appliques on furniture are becoming popular/sought after again. Appliques on this table sure enriched table with beautiful metallic applied, wow. Richness of appliques and metallic made this table pop, how gorgeous. You did incredible job applying metallic, how did you know what to do or how? Love how you made legs important feature of table.
This has sure inspired me, now to see if can afford all supplies needed to attempt to emulate what you did. Might have to buy one a month. All these paints bloggers, artists like yourself must have feeling as to how best apply specialty paints, etc.
I have couple of tables out in shed want/need to redo, would love to use these metallic and spray wax. The tables are vintage style so want to give them special look, hopefully sell them. Just remembered have another table similar in style/shape of yours I could add appliques to and carefully follow your instructions. My table is bit bigger than yours and use it often so that one would be strictly for me Also have great trestle table would like to redo. See what you’ve started? Any suggestions how to paint I? my style is cottage. Have great weekend Love stencil you used but think it’s too formal for cottage.
Heather Tracy says
Hi Jane Ellen! I’m so familiar with that feeling – you see something and it sparks a hundred ideas at once. Sounds like you have the furniture painting bug, just like I do. I wish you well with all your projects. They sound fun! I agree – a less formal design would be a good choice for a cottage feel, and probably a lighter paint color, as well. Thanks for stopping by and leaving such a fun comment!
Cynthia White says
OH, my, my! That is simply fabulous. . .gorgeous finish!
graphicsfairy says
Thanks Cynthia!!
Barbara Keyes says
Simply beautiful!
Heather Tracy says
Thanks, Barbara!
Rupa says
This piece is simple and elegant with that greyish (black bean they say) color! I usually read your posts holding my breath and scrolling like crazy like the post will disappear if I don’t read it quickly! I had to do a double take to see that the appliques this time around were not part of your doing but it’s so….your style! Just love the mixing of metallic gels…..who but you would’ve thought of that? I would’ve plunked only one color and wonder why it looks flat lol!
Heather Tracy says
Hi Rupa! This was so fun. Mixing the metallics just seemed so right…love the multi-colored look they give. You are so sweet to leave such an encouraging comment, dear girl. Those little tiny appliques just stole my heart!