The writing is on the wall . . . and everywhere else these days. This hot decorating trend, which includes fabric, picture frames, dishes and furniture embellished with handwriting, can be pretty pricey too. Beverly DeJulio, host of HGTV's Homewise With Beverly DeJulio, demonstrates how to make your own budget version of the trend by decorating an unfinished table with a base coat and lettering it with a calligraphy paint marker. Materials:
Unfinished wood table
Sandpaper
Tack cloth
Primer
Latex paint in ivory
Acrylic accent paint -- gold and brown
Plate for palette
Sponge brush
Pencil
Calligraphy marker
Old toothbrush
- Sand the table smooth, and wipe away the dust with a tack cloth.
- Apply a coat of primer to the table and let dry; then brush on the ivory base coat and let dry.
- Squeeze a dollop of gold accent paint on a plate, and use a sponge brush to add gold trim to the table as desired. Beverly trimmed the edge of the tabletop in gold and added a line of gold along the table skirt and legs (figure A). Avoid painting the trim perfectly -- a more primitive hand-done appearance adds to the look of this type of piece.
- Use a pencil to hand-write chosen sayings across the top, sides and legs of the table (figure B).
- When the penciled words are arranged as you like, use a calligraphy marker to write the sayings on the table (figure C). As you write, hold the calligraphy marker in one position to vary the line width and create the look of calligraphy (practice on paper beforehand). Relax and let your writing flow for a smooth look.
- When the lettering is complete, "age" the piece by adding speckles of paint with a toothbrush. Squeeze a bit of brown paint on the plate, dip the toothbrush in the paint, dab off some of the excess, then use your thumb to flick on splatters of paint (figure D). "Fly-speck" the piece -- as Beverly calls it -- with as many colors as you like.
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