Last week I started brain storming some different color combinations of the Union Jack design using the Annie Sloan colors I already had. I came up with 2 combinations using some of the most popular colors sold. I was SO excited to get started that I actually dreamt that I found 2 antique dressers the same size and shape on craigslist! haha Definitely not something most people dream about, I know!
So there is the Union Jack design painted on all types of furniture and all types of dressers. But I’m a little picky. I prefer the dresser fronts have have flat, flush drawer fronts, so there isn’t too much distraction from the design.
Imagine my joy when I found 2 nearly identical antique dressers sold by the same lady for the same great price! A DREAM COME TRUE!! I called immediately and arranged a time to come look (aka I knew I would buy them) the next morning. Thank goodness my boys are in school and my youngest went to a friend’s house that morning, because when I flattened all the seats in my Pilot, they both BARELY fit! Β They were both very dirty and had been in a barn, but the insides are in fantastic condition and they didn’t really even need any repairs! Oh my gosh, I was giddy with excitement on getting started!
I already had ANOTHER dresser that I bought the week previous, with plans to do another traditional Union Jack design (red, white, and blue), so here I was ready to do 3 Union Jacks, which sounds crazy but I felt it would go quicker. I went and bought some knobs, bought a new projector (more on that later) and got to work on Saturday, with Bruno’s help.
Yesterday I finished painting, today I finished distressing and waxing, attaching knobs, and staging/taking pictures.
Behold their beauty! (Sorry if this is picture overload! I had to be selective even, because I took a lot more!
Sharing at:
Coastal Charm
The Dedicated House
Shades of Amber
Two Yellow Birds Decor
Miss Mustard Seed
Life We Live 4
Silver Pennies
I love these! I’ve been obsessing over Union Jack lately, too. I did my first practice w/ ASCP on canvas and used dark wax.
http://reddoorfurnitureco.blogspot.com/2013/02/green-with-indie-preview.html
Jessi
Your favorite is nice, but my favorite is the first one, with the white stripe being at the center. Beautiful.
I love your union jacks, they are amazing! Just beautiful work!
Anne
A M A Z I N G!!! I tried Union Jack and am no where near yours!!
I will never get tired of painting the Union Jack – or seeing Painted – I love them – and you ACED this !!!
Beautiful job ( s ) on all of them!
Hugs,
Suzan
Those are gorgeous!! I really love the country gray one – love a Union Jack in neutral colors. I am dying to do another one, but around here they seem to take forever to sell. Great job!! π
I love that blue you used! beautiful. I’d love for you to share it over at our linky party http://www.lifewelive4.com/2013/03/love-it-list-it-linky-party.html
π Laura
Lol. Your living room sounds like mine! I had to spill over into the bedroom.
Love all 3! What method did you use for taping? The old tried and true method w/the measurements
from the real UJ flag?? I have done one prior, but it’s just so time consuming. I thought if you had some shortcuts,
I’d love to hear them! Also, did you find the red “stained” the white while you were distressing at all? Just curious.
Thanks again!
Beth, I used a Art Tracer Projector and projected the Union Jack onto the front of the dresser. Then I used chalk to draw the lines, then used Frog Tape to tape the different sections. The taping portion probably took the longest, but the whole process probably takes me about 2 hours total (not counting wait time for paint drying). I don’t do ANY exact measuring, that would drive me batty! lol π The Frog Tape also doesn’t pull off paint with freshly dried chalk paint. I’ve found regular blue painter’s tape DOES pull off bits. Also, I didn’t get the red “stained” issue on the white while distressing much, but more so when I wiped off all the dust with a wet rag. So I just was careful to wipe the red stripes down first, then the rest of it. Same thing with waxing. I just wax a drawer front, and if any of the red starts to bleed over into the white, then I just get a little fresh wax on a clean part of the cheesecloth rag and rub clean the white stripes. Hope that helps and you reconsider trying one again! π
Your combination of colors and precision distressing showing of the details of the piece is perfection! Thank you so much for Linking Up with us. Hope you have a lovely week!
I really love all three of these. Great job.
Jeannie
The British are definitely coming to your house. Very creative use of color. I love them all. Great styling for the photography – I could have looked at more!
Rachel, I absolutely love everything you do. It all looks so amazing. I hope you don’t mind. I nominated you for the Liebster award. I hope you’ll play along. I look forward to learning more about you.
http://www.colorsmixedtogether.com/2013/03/so-honored-liebster-award.html
Hi Miss Rachel! We are featuring you dresser tonight at our Love It & List It linky party! Thanks for coming to our little party last week, hope to see there again with your beuatiful creations!! It goes live at 9pm tonight
:Laura: http://www.lifewelive4.com
All are so beautiful! I LOVE Union Flags as my hubby is English. I did one for our son’s room and also did a coffee table with French Linen, Louis Blue and Old White! Would love you to share this at Silver Pennies Sundays tomorrow. x
Rachel! All three are spectacular! You will be one of the features at the Make it Pretty Monday party at The Dedicated House tomorrow! Pop on in and grab a feature button for your blog. Hope to see your prettiness again at the bash! Toodles, Kathryn @TheDedicatedHouse
These are all beautiful but I think my favorite is the dark gray and blue. Gorgeous job on all of them. Thanks for sharing with us at Transformed Tuesday.
Hugs,
Peggy
I love the last one…true colors of the UJ. My mother is from Scotland and I would be proud to paint on of these in honor of her country. Beautiful work!
Fantastic makeovers. Thanks for sharing them at Silver Pennies Sundays! x
i love all of them!!!! the glass knobs with the date on them are so cool too!
I love them all! I have not painted a union jack on furniture yet but I want to this spring! I’ve made some union jack pillows though!