If you are searching for shabby chic or vintage style switch plates for your little girl’s room, then try making you own. Any real wood or cheap plain fake wood Switch Plates are perfect for this Shabby Chic Paint Technique. You can save a tons of money making your own vintage switch plates and even make them with your daughter.
This article will deal with making a diamond pattern on the switch plate, but you can make any pattern you want.
Here is a list of supplies you will need to start making these Shabby Chic Switch Plates:
Primer
Milk Paint (2 colors)
Clear Acrylic spray paint
Roller paint brushes
a variety of 2″, 3″, or 4″ paintbrushes
Sandpaper
Drop clothes
Switch Plates
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Now, you need to start sanding the surface of your plain Switch Plates.
When you have the surface lightly sanded, you should wipe off the dust with a clean dry clothe.
Put a coat of primer. Use a spray primer form Kilz for ease.
Allow your primer to dry completely.
Choose milk paint in two colors that match your shabby chic décor. Put on a coat of your base milk paint.
Now, let this dry. I really recommend letting this dry about 24 hours. You will be taping blue painter’s tape on the ilk paint, so if it is not really dry it will peel off.
Once your base shabby chic Switch Plate color has dried you are ready to start adding the diamond pattern.
Simply use your painter’s tape to mark of rows of diamonds on the switch plate. If you are using a textures switch plate you will need to really press the tape down.
Now, mix your second color of milk paint really thick. This will be to use like stencil paint and needs to be thick so it down not leak under the tape.
Now, use a stencil brush to add into the thick paint. Dab it onto the diamond stencil you made. Cover each diamond with as much paint, as you want.
Now, remove the tape and let this dry over night.
To save time try painting a large number of switch plates at one time. This paint process will also work well for electrical outlet covers as well.
If you wan to you can rub some wood gel stain on the final product to darken and antique the milk paint. This darkening will mimic years of dirt and the aging process. If you use a antique milk paint colors you do not have to do this.
Use a white rag or another old t-shirt to rub the stain onto the Switch Plates.
You can do this process until you achieve the vintage Shabby Chic Switch Plate look you want.
Now, you need to finish off with a coat of clear acrylic spray paint to protect your handy work. This will allow you to clean the switch plates when they get dirty!
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