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As promised here is the tutorial for my red desk. I love how it came out. Here is what I started with:
I got this desk at the thrift store for $20. Score!! But I didn’t love the yellowy wood. So I started with a black base coat.
I didn’t worry too much about getting a very solid coat because I knew it was just the base coat. But I wanted to be able to sand and have the black show through. I wanted it chippy and worn looking. I have used candle wax before but this time I tried soap. I just got a regular bar of soap. I rubbed it all over the edges and everywhere I thought I would want to sand and have the black show through.
You can see I rubbed it on pretty thick. I wanted a very distressed look. You can go lighter depending on what you want the finished look to be. I liked the soap so much better than using wax. The wax left little wax particles and it made the finish bumpy and not smooth. The soap was also easier to sand. And the look was better too. I will use soap again and not wax.
I spray painted my top coat in Burgundy by Krylon.
Ok so that is cute enough, but I didn’t do the black and soap steps for nothing. Just get out your sandpaper and sand down all the spots where you put the soap. It comes off easily. If you see a powdery substance, that is the dried soap. Just keep sanding past it to the black. And then you get this:
And here’s a close-up so you can see the awesome chippiness:
See how using the soap distresses differently than regular sanding? I LOVE it. I will be using this method again!!
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Welcome to Measured by the Heart. I'm glad you stopped by. My name is Connie. I am wife to an AMAZING hubby and mother to 3 FABULOUS girls!! I love reading, cooking, graphic design and all things DIY. 
Oh thanks so much for the tip on the soap! It looks fabulous, Connie!
This is amazing. Thank you for such a great tip on getting the distressed look that I love.
Jessica Stoker recently posted..Too much sugar!
that is brilliant. I have used the wax method and was never happy and have been using petroleum jelly, but you get a very solid distress that way. Love the desk!
Wow! Your desk looks awesome! What a great find. Thanks for the tip about the soap. I will have to try this!
Kathleen recently posted..My Bucket List…
I LOVE the look of the black coming through! Definitely better than the before. Thanks for the tutorial!
I LOVE IT! You did a great job!
Thank you! That is great to know the soap works better. It sounds easier.
I really want to give this technique a try.
thank-you, thank-you, thank-you….love these very clear instructions! I have an unfinished china cabinet and buffet that I am finishing and you just told me how to do it!! I am soooo excited…………