The Big Dipper

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I LOVE DIPPED LEGS!

First of all, it’s so easy even I can pull it off.  Second, it can dress up a rather drab piece.  It’s great for pulling out a second color that may be in your fabric or adding an additional color to your space. 

So I thought I would give it a try on this tired, little chair:

So here’s the steps I took…and I’m pleased with the results!

Rather than measuring from the floor up to get a level line for painting, I found an object that was about the height I was going for.  I sat that object on the floor and drew the pencil line using the top edge of the template as my guide.  Repeat the process on all four sides of each leg.

I used ScotchBlue Painter’s Tape Delicate Surface to tape off the legs.  I put the tape slightly above the pencil line so the the line would be painted over in step 3.  NOTE: I found it easier to use one short length of tape for each side of the leg.  If one long piece is wrapped around the leg, the tape starts to go either up or down hill.  So to keep the line as level as possible, use four short pieces. 

Just be sure that when you wrap the tape around the corner, and then place a piece on the next side, the bottom edges stay perfectly matched.  This will give you a crisp, straight paint line. (Picture illustrates how tape goes uphill when wrapped around the leg. The next piece of tape will overlap this piece, staying right above pencil line.)

 

Paint time!  First be sure to rub your finger or maybe a plastic putty knife on the bottom edge of tape to be sure it is securely adhered.  I paint from the top dragging the brush down over the tape.  This keeps you from forcing paint under the tape.  I give the legs a fairly thick coat (in hopes of just needing one coat). 

As soon as all four legs have been painted, and the paint is still wet, carefully pull the tape off.  If you can see a few streaks and prefer a second coat, you can either retape the legs again after first coat is dry, or I just free hand the second coat…being very careful to paint to the edge of the paint line without going over!! (But don’t worry…you can always touch up any boo boos).

AND HERE YOU HAVE IT!

Now that’s a cute little chair…thanks to paint and adorable IKEA fabric!  I love the dipped leg process so much that I tried it on this table too…

In an upcoming post, I’ll show the desk I paired with the grey chair, and also a set of red chairs that I have paired with the striped table.

Thanks for clicking me…

Laurie