After this post, I was asked by many people how I made this swan ,
from this ugly ducking.
It was like Butt-ah, or more exactly, buttering in. When you have a piece of furniture that is dated or has weird carvings, or even deep nicks, you can use a technique called “buttering in.” You can also use this for wood paneling or cabinetry.
The basic premise is to fill the spaces with paintable/stainable wood putty. I am using the tube because I feel like it creates less air spaces to squirt it into the carvings than to try to smooth-in large globs from a can ( I know, it’s a very technical term..).
After you’ve squirted in your putty, use your spackle/putty knife to butter in, or smooth in the putty. Once you’ve filled as much as you can, let it dry.
It is very important to do so, you’ll be repeating this step because it will shrink while it dries, and you’ll need to add more. Even if it says it won’t. Plan on repeating this step several times and always wear the right protective equipment. I do this outside because it creates a ton of dust.
Sand the excess and reapply the putty. You’ll do this until the space is filled and you can no longer feel any ridges. Add your appliques after the wood putty has been sanded for the last time.
It’s really important at this point to prime over those spots a few coats. This will help blend the puttied area in. Even after your project is painted, in certain angles, you may see “Ghost lines” or lines that show through a bit under the paint from the earlier pattern. By applying wood appliques, it can minimize the amount that show through. With some appliques you can cover them completely.
I love this technique because you no longer need to pass up those questionable pieces at at yard sale or thrift stores with good bones.
Jen
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Allison @ House of Hepworths says
September 14, 2010 at 1:32 pmOMG, this is beautiful!!!! Great job!
I just found your link from TDC.
~Allison @ House of Hepworths
2004TripletMom says
August 31, 2013 at 10:48 pmGood Evening Jennifer!
One of my little darlings decided to redesign my “New” dining room table by carving her name where she sits. I suppose she was marking her place since she fights for attention from her siblings. I am so upset and cannot stop crying. Is there anything I can do to minimize the appears without sanding it. If it was a few years old that might be so be. However, only a few days makes my heart break each time I pass by it.
I will post back for post. Please fell free to send me an email @ 2004tripletmom@bellsouth.net.
Thank You!
Janelle says
January 5, 2014 at 10:59 pmSo happy to find this! I now can envision doing this to our kitchen cabinets! I wanted to add trim on the edges of them, but you’d see the indents on the fronts. Worth a try before replacing them at least. Thanks!
Donna says
July 8, 2014 at 10:21 amI have an outdated bedroom set that has carvings, I have been wandering how to fill them in so I can paint the set, now I know…thank you