Quite Simply...Beautiful Things

Is everyone having a lovely week?  There are lot's of exciting things in the works at Shades of Amber.

We have a very special celebrity guest coming to visit us in Colorado next month!  

Lots of fun workshops and seminars planned, we can't wait!

We will be posting the details very soon.

Thank you so much for your feedback on our Link Party.  We have expanded and incorporated so many wonderful and lovely products, ideas, and projects and are so inspired by all the wonderful things you create!  We agree 100% with the comments and have now opened up our link party to anything that fits with our new tag line 

Quite Simply...Beautiful Things

Obviously, our graphic will need to be redone...but until then, we will keep it : )

 Andie from Divine Theater worked her magic on this gorgeous mirror using Paris Grey and some gold leaf.  Beautiful as always, Andie!

 Next, check out this darling little table that Rachel from Shades of Blue transformed with Emperor's Silk.  I love the look of Emperor's Silk toned down with the Dark Wax, it is fabulous!

Weekly Link Party

Quite Simply...Beautiful Things

Please share in our Link Party, here are the details:

1. Feel free to share all your beautiful things!  

2. Please post a permalink to your post only, not your entire blog.

3. Please help spread the word about our weekly Linky Party - Grab our button on the sidebar

4. Party closes on Friday, November 15 at 11:59pm MST. We will pick more people to feature.

Chalk Paint™ Link Party

Hope everyone is having a lovely day!  Things are busy around here as we get ready to get kids back to school.  What fun projects everyone linked up, I can't wait to see what you create this week!  

Deny from A Girl and a Brush is in love with Chalk Paint™ and it shows!  She chose Emperor's Silk to showcase this beautiful dresser.  Great pop of color and what a beautiful job distressing!

 Suzy of Simply Vintageous stole my heart with her color combination of Versailles and Pure White.  I just love the simple farmhouse look.  Another great job of light, natural distressing and what a change from the dark and heavy piece it was before.  Lovely!

Do you have something you painted with Annie Sloan Chalk Paint™?

Please share in our Link Party, here are the details:

1. Our blog is dedicated to Chalk Paint™ Please only share pieces using Chalk Paint decorative paints by Annie Sloan. It can be anything you want, as long as you used Chalk Paint!

2. Please post a permalink to your post only, not your entire blog.

3. Please help spread the word about our weekly Chalk Paint Linky Party - Grab our button on the sidebar

4. Party closes on Thursday, August 9 at 11:59pm MST. We will pick more people to feature for next week.

Chalk Paint Link Party

Loving all the projects you linked up last week.  Here are two that really caught our attention.

First up is Anne from White Lace Cottage with her kitchen makeover using Chalk Paint™ Anne chose to use Pure White to have a little bit of contrast between the walls and her cabinets.  Kitchens are work, but such an amazing transformation and Anne did an excellent job!

Next is Mrs. V (Susie) from The Humble Nest.  Check out her updated nesting tables with vintage labels as her inspiration.  Be sure to take a peak at how she achieved the look using Primer Red, Country Grey, Emperor's Silk, and Aubusson Blue. Love the vintage look!

Do you have something you painted with Annie Sloan Chalk Paint™?

Please share in our Link Party, here are the details:

1. Our blog is exclusive to Chalk Paint™ Please only share pieces using Chalk Paint decorative paints by Annie Sloan. It can be anything you want, as long as you used Chalk Paint!

2. Please post a permalink to your post only, not your entire blog.

3. Please help spread the word about our weekly Chalk Paint Linky Party - Grab our button on the sidebar

4. Party closes on Thursday, June 14 at 11:59pm MST. We will pick more people to feature for next week.

Annie Sloan Chalk Paint Linky Party!

Our weather here in Colorado has just been gorgeous! I love spring, can't wait to get our garden planted and start enjoy fresh tomatoes again. Thank you for all the beautiful projects you linked up last week, it was hard to make a decision.

Love Town and Country Living's decoupage desk! After 15 years and never fully being satisfied with this desk, Jennifer took some Old Ochre and some script paper and created this stunning masterpiece! Simply beautiful, I will definitely be keeping this idea in mind for a future project.

Michele at Knot too Shabby caught my eye with her twin dressers. The one on the left is painted with Old Violet and Old White and the twin on the right is painted with Emperor's Silk and Pure White. Great idea to show the versatility of looks you can create with Chalk Paint™! Michele is also a fellow Chalk Paint™ retailer, be sure to stop by and visit her if you are in the Glendora, CA area.

Do you have something you painted with Annie Sloan Chalk Paint?

Please share in our Link Party, here are the details:

1. Our blog is exclusive to Annie Sloan Chalk Paint. Please only share pieces using Annie Sloan Chalk Paint. It can be anything you want, as long as you used Chalk Paint!

2. Please post a permalink to your post only, not your entire blog.

3. Please help spread the word about our weekly Chalk Paint Linky Party - Grab our button on the sidebar

4. Party closes on Thursday, April 12 at 11:59pm MST. We will pick more people to feature for next week.

Annie Sloan Chalk Paint Linky Party!

Congratulations to Sondra and Denise for winning the two tickets to Annie's tour in Denver!

It will be fabulous, can't wait to see you both there!

Color is what caught our eye this week. Erin from How to Nest for Less finished this corner table in Barcelona Orange for a POP of color. She is currently working on her dining room makeover, where this gorgeous piece will call home! Stunning!

Anne from Vintage Goods took a complete cast-off and turned into something useful and fun. I really liked the color combination with Emperor's Silk and Louis Blue. Boy, did she really transform this piece, great job Anne!

Do you have something you painted with Annie Sloan Chalk Paint?

Please share in our Link Party, here are the details:

1. Our blog is exclusive to Annie Sloan Chalk Paint. Please only share pieces using Annie Sloan Chalk Paint. It can be anything you want, as long as you used Chalk Paint!

2. Please post a permalink to your post only, not your entire blog.

3. Please help spread the word about our weekly Chalk Paint Linky Party - Grab our button on the sidebar

4. Party closes on Thursday, March 22 at 11:59pm MST. We will pick more people to feature for next week.

Annie Sloan Chalk Paint Link Party

We are currently doing some advanced training with none other than Annie Sloan herself! We have learned so much already and can't wait to finish up and share with all of you.

Theresa, Momma T, did a fantastic job on this Union Jack dresser she just completed for her son's new bedroom. Napoleonic Blue, Emperor's Silk, and Pure White make a great combination. And I must say, Theresa you are an inspiration! You do have many irons in the fire and our prayers are with you and your husband; thanks for sharing your creativity with us, we are honored.

Sky Blu Pink really took this one up a notch or two! This was a very dated 70's dresser turned sophisticated with Graphite and Old White. Is it any wonder that Francine sold it in one day's time? Gorgeous!

Do you have something you painted with Annie Sloan Chalk Paint?

Please share in our Link Party, here are the details:

1. Our blog is exclusive to Annie Sloan Chalk Paint. Please only share pieces using Annie Sloan Chalk Paint. It can be anything you want, as long as you used Chalk Paint!

2. Please post a permalink to your post only, not your entire blog.

3. Please help spread the word about our weekly Chalk Paint Linky Party - Grab our button on the sidebar

4. Party closes on Thursday, March 15 at 11:59pm MST. We will pick more people to feature for next week.

Chalk Paint Color Theory - Emperor's Silk

Welcome to our NEW WEEKLY SERIES: Chalk Paint Color Theory. Every Monday, we will be featuring a different Annie Sloan Chalk Paint color. We want to give you the background of how the color was developed, show you what you can do with it, and give examples of different pieces painted with the color.

Also, as a special treat, the color will be on sale for the entire week!

Yup, can't beat that, a SALE on Annie Sloan Chalk Paint!

First up, Emperor's Silk.

Emperor's Silk is a vibrant, rich red. It is stunning with a great deal of impact. This bright, clear, rich red is the color of China. It signifies reunion, health, happiness, harmony, peace and prosperity. Try painting one piece in a room with this stunning color. It can also be used as an interior of a cabinet or drawer, like the red silk lining of a jacket.

You can adjust the color by adding Old White to make a bright, strong, exotic flowery pink or the pinks from Indonesia.

The vibrant color on the inside of this piece below was Annie's inspiration for the color

Shizzle Design

Reckless Glamour
Y by 5
Hueology
The Salvage Collection
Remodelaholic
Queen of Chairs
Stone Bentley Creations
Are you ready to give Emperor's Silk a try?

Annie Sloan Chalk Paint Linky Party

Exciting details coming soon about a new giveaway...

But for now, let's get to this week's linky party.

We are featuring Karen from Never Enough Thyme Creations. She did an amazing job transforming this hutch into a gorgeous custom painted piece! She used Emperor's Silk, Old Ochre and Olive to create this beauty. Excellent work Karen!

Do you have something you painted with Annie Sloan Chalk Paint?

Please share in our Link Party, here are the details:

1. Our blog is exclusive to Annie Sloan Chalk Paint. Please only share pieces using Annie Sloan Chalk Paint. It can be anything you want, as long as you used Chalk Paint!

2. Please post a permalink to your post only, not your entire blog.

3. Please help spread the word about our weekly Chalk Paint Linky Party - Grab our button on the sidebar

4. Party closes on Thursday, January 19 at 11:59pm MST. We will pick more people to feature for next week.

Annie Sloan Chalk Paint Linky Party!

Check out this updated octagon table from Katie at Wildwood Creek. Nice and refreshed, clean and crisp with Pure White. You absolutely must check out her before photo to see how dark and drab it was to begin with. Great job Katie.

Oooh, La La....Michele at Stiltskin Studios says "Let them eat Cake!" She created a custom mix using Country Grey, Paris Grey, Emperor's Silk, and Old White.

Love it!

Do you have something you painted with Annie Sloan Chalk Paint?

Please share in our Link Party, here are the details:

1. Our blog is exclusive to Annie Sloan Chalk Paint. Please only share pieces using Annie Sloan Chalk Paint. It can be anything you want, as long as you used Chalk Paint!

2. Please post a permalink to your post only, not your entire blog.

3. Please help spread the word about our Chalk Paint Linky Party

4. Party closes on Wednesday, October 5 at 11:59pm MST. We will pick more people to feature for next week.

How to mix Chalk Paint to Create New Colors

Remember that Annie's paints do not contain black pigment (with the exception of Graphite). This allows for unlimited possibilities with mixing your own custom colors. Here is an example from Annie herself. This is a progression sheet created using Emperor's Silk and Old White.

You can see that even though there is not a true pink available in the 24 colors in the Chalk Paint line, you can easily create your own, and in varying shades. The top left corner is pure Emperor's Silk. Then, progressively mixed with one part Old White, then two parts, three parts and four parts....you get the idea.

We recommend that you use some sort of measuring device to keep your ratios consistent and of course write them down in order to repeat and recreate the color.

What about you?

What colors have you tried mixing or what colors would you like to see mixed?

Rainbow of Chalk Paint

With the beautiful weather we are enjoying here, I thought you might enjoy a rainbow of

Annie Sloan Chalk Paint colors

Photo's courtesy of Miss Mustard Seed

Table painted using Emporer's Silk followed by Clear Wax and Dark Wax

Dresser painted with a mix of Old Ochre and Arles

Cabinet painted with Provence and detailed with Old White

Dresser painted with Aubusson Blue

Nightstand painted with Graphite and detailed with Old White

Have a beautiful weekend!