I started my Xmas Hutch a couple of weeks ago as I couldn't wait to get started. It has however been an unexpectedly strange journey!
Building the hutch itself was fine - no problems there.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYIAhrevMMCJShsilx4v7WxEJPL3tbUdQMdMXih_pkTbMu1DrH4kmOKjaKNdY8JN7bYvJvW7vQcwu2aZ5mcx6ehHJGyawrgUM4MJiUltKiGUIhfU2pi7p5j6cmI-Dd1VfDNWwulR81PNMF/s320/bare+hutch.jpg)
Then the instructions tell you to do a coat of white acrylics in varying thicknesses and then wallpaper the back of the hutch. Again no problems!
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLP_b-AtuTyztb-mzXgPN1BRH_a8ed_JhM6hpMLDphlri2qOaU9pt8HpwwPRoNZwoMSW0UJ_sB_ULMQI2BYdtZFMWXqcVE0fgRq77BGJu8t1WpMVKcbMAg_k4MLYjf5RHIIurQpjznYY_x/s320/white.jpg)
Then the instructions say to coat it with Tom Holtz Distress Crackle paint in Antique linen. The paint looked cream on the internet so all seemed well........ that is until I used it!
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiw__-pdbPzmfyTepoEJLarww2rewBeGRoe2yiqHLU_jF9xs60tJij7Jd4rSCQ0q_OwnIhcDUYAPGSELs2Uf-iaJdWjLuvU_sIiQX0NtlWkIZlpS1WI0ezODqCuvzNxq6o8iCAWvuLT9PcI/s320/yellow.jpg)
I was then left with a mustard yellow hutch! Hmmm not the look I was hoping for!
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiC0eUo10AYRg3Gx_1-cGVu6xpbzq_ZKe_sjeQNtwyHDSvO3G3nM3kB7Qp7fuXxqhurIR3V4DM3qzCZIUcdw0ApJvglbX0nxOCsiNQU4M-2W_EDbeouXdn6bL0feStiWE4c92k_p-2WabjU/s320/yellow+crackle.jpg)
I thought that maybe when I added the 'dirty varnish' that is suggested to 'age' the piece it would turn out ok..... but that was not to be the case.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8Rz7BoZ1ZqHjL4nMHK2T_w6-eLVJeA3-Tv2SG9KmfHsYdD5v37YysWx-nXbS8P4Hhbbqd8WfI2_pCoIE0h9w5sQniIzwd3N5FcA4nmuKiZGy0IJhkckdl0tqxNsfpOlNNN5T1r38QTKcA/s320/hutch+counter.jpg)
So, unhappy with the finish I went back to the Internet and picked what looked like a light cream paint in the same make. It arrived a few days later it even looked cream in the pot. Was it cream???? NO it was green!
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikRLWw9QXo_ftZbF0j3jWtzqYQnjEzdoVCNc9aVR4oQKIyaG6B5R34vS_saK29FnsSkLgSEHfSG-F791xCliBnZGyZVKPHiMoG8uAbmtYm1JlxN1hGQURItACk4YlrB8ntWq10xqHJtK0v/s320/green.jpg)
Here is a close up just to prove it!
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXc717flG3UKnNYVXtoJVgLlpU-P1K28qUADij_T_J8e2N2G_2kX7AcT-gQngyrCSu9-qzVfT0wsFYXkw7d09ANbLk945HtiodaARp6p2K_vNPYKMzwP6hjEj3FdMeLoiUTfI4IMNp7x5K/s320/green!!!.jpg)
This was no good at all. I wanted white - yes an old worn out dirty looking white - but WHITE non the less! So it was back to drawing board, and a lot of sand paper later and yet another pot of paint........
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7ekGirqH2XsNcVts3oZV6pI_V-Njt0cBq22X3dr2gNdS39jtDhwAMXr2HJNvM7RmKh2dvNrFoepoON1sYydSbiXf3-Uf1lVGuIEhs05wtnDhmaAGF50v_f0yj38Hkk7QT4DO0u1dAdmO0/s320/white+at+last.jpg)
HOORAY it's WHITE!
This is exactly the look that was called for! I am so glad that I persevered, it was well worth it. Now for the xmas decorations and of course a little bit of sparkle!
4 comments:
Claire
What a pain to have to go through all that to get what you really wanted. Well worth all the effort though. So glad I just used what I had on hand. Now you can start the fun part. Can't wait to see your results.
Tantie/gsolfot
How frustrating - I definately think you should take/send copies of these pics to the website where you bought the paint - they should want to 'make good' because this post of yours is bad publicity they won't want.
Does Tim Holtz have their own website - if so I'd send to them as well, along with the batch number if there is one on the paint label - it's always possible that it's a faulty batch.
Although the green colour is a disaster I'm really impressed with the way it's crackled!
It's good that you've shared your 'disaster' (that's a bit OTT but you know what I mean) so other folks are forewarned. It was worth redoing as it looks fab now, I love the crackled effect! Hey can you do that on paper and card? I'm getting little ideas popping into my head! :D
hugs
Joey xx
Tantie - I know I should have just followed your instructions instead of buying the suggested paint! And yes the next bit is most definitely the fun part!
Norma - The crackling worked a treat it was just the colour taht I had issue with! I wasn't going to post photos of the 'wrong paints' but decided that maybe it would help others out who were doing the same kit.
Joey - I decided that I should ne honest about the process instead of just doing 'ta daa' here is the finished hutch! I bet you could come up with some wonderful things with this crackled paint - maybe some props for next weeks craft fair table???
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