Okay, so I finally got around to trying out that Marcelle Provencial thing I mentioned seeing a while back. It looked interesting, kinda rustic, you know? So, I figured, why not give it a go myself.
Getting Started
First things first, I had to gather my stuff. Didn’t need anything too fancy, which was nice. I rummaged around the shed and found an old wooden tray I wasn’t using. Perfect. Then grabbed some paints – mostly chalky whites, creams, maybe a touch of pale blue. Found some sandpaper, different grits, and my trusty old brushes. Nothing special, just the regular gear I have lying around.
The Actual Process
I started by cleaning up that old tray. It was dusty, had some grime on it. Gave it a good wipe down. Once it was dry, I just slapped on a base coat. Didn’t really measure anything, just dipped the brush in and went for it. Let that dry for a bit. Impatient, me? Always.
Then came the part that seemed specific to this Marcelle Provencial style, at least from what I remembered. Layering the paint. I put on a second coat, a slightly different shade, maybe white over the cream. While it was still a bit tacky – not fully dry – I started distressing it.
This is where the sandpaper came in.
I went at the edges mostly, corners too. Anywhere it might naturally get worn over time. Started gentle, then got a bit rougher where I thought it needed it. The idea was to let the base color peek through. It’s a bit messy, paint dust everywhere, but that’s part of the fun, right?
- Sanded the edges
- Focused on raised areas
- Tried not to overdo it (almost did!)
I layered another thin coat of a different color, I think it was the pale blue, very watered down, almost like a wash. Let it sit for a minute, then wiped most of it off with a rag. Just wanted a hint of color, nothing too strong. More sanding, very light this time, just to blend it all together.
Finishing Up
After all the paint and sanding, I let it dry completely. Like, really dry. Took a few hours. Then I needed to seal it. Used a clear matte wax I had. Rubbed it on with a soft cloth, let it sit, then buffed it a little. Gave it a nice smooth feel, not too shiny, which fits that rustic vibe.
And that was pretty much it. Stood back and looked at the tray. Yeah, looked alright. Got that worn, lived-in look I was going for. Looks like something you might find in an old farmhouse down south, I guess. Pretty happy with how it turned out, considering I was just winging it based on a picture I vaguely remembered.
It wasn’t complicated, mostly just layering paint and sanding it back. A bit time-consuming with the drying times, but straightforward. Definitely something I’d do again on another piece, maybe a small picture frame or a box. Simple stuff, but satisfying.
