Bergere was the color of the month for January! We wanted to share simple ways to use MilkPaint to upcycle decor around your house or items found at the thrift store.

Supplies

• Bergere

• MilkGrip™

• MilkWax™ White

• MilkMix-EZ™

• Wax brush

• Paint brush

• 150 grit sandpaper

• Mixing container and whisk or another mixing tool

• Ironstone (for frame)

• Ink blue (for frame)

• Stamps or stencil

Prep

The most important step of any project is prep. Always clean your piece - we scrubbed the tray and pitcher with soap and water. The pitcher needed a deeper clean due to permanent marker that was used to change the pattern, so we used 50/50 denatured alcohol and water to remove it.  This mix can be used to remove almost any residue and is a good step before any paint application.

Next, we sanded the tray and frame with 150-grit sandpaper to give the surface tooth and help the MilkPaint™ adhere. Make sure to wipe down your project after sanding to remove any dust.

To complete our prep, we primed our pitcher with a coat of  MilkGrip™. Slick surfaces, like glass and metal, will need a layer of MilkGrip painted on as a primer layer. We decided to prime the tray over the center applique since we didn’t know how our MilkPaint™ would stick to the medium used. Let the primer layer dry for at least 2 hours before painting. 

Painting the Tray

Mix MilkPaint™ - we used 2 tbsp of water to 2 tbsp of paint powder. This created 4 tbsp of mixed paint. Then we added 1 tbsp of MilkGrip™ (4:1 ratio). We applied 2 coats of paint, making sure to let it fully dry between coats. MilkGrip™ only needs to be added to the first coat of paint, any consecutive coats do not need it, but it won’t hurt anything if you use the same mixture start to finish.

We wanted the tray to have a beachy, white-washed look, so we finished with our MilkWax™ white. We applied it heavily leaving streaks that replicate the look of a paint wash.  It takes longer to dry so be patient.  Remember wax should cure for 28 days prior to heavy use.

Creating a textured pitcher

Mix MilkPaint™ in a thick consistency, 2:1. Mix MilkGrip™ and already mixed MilkPaint™ 1:1. We dabbed thick layers creating peaks and applied multiple coats.

TIP: Don’t overbrush when using MilkGrip™. Paint mixed with MilkGrip™ does not store well because the MilkGrip™t will start to set up so keep your batches small. Make sure to wash the brush well between coats to prevent hardening. 

Due to the thickness of the paint application we had some cracks and flaking. We used MilkCoat™ to seal the milk-painted pitcher which also prevented any further flaking.

Updating the Frame

Paint 2-3 coats with Bergere MilkPaint™ (mixed 1:1).

We chose Ironstone for the frame insert.  We cut a piece of lauan plywood the same size as the cardboard backing.  

TIP:  Seal the plywood prior to applying paint to prevent bleed-through.  We recommend de-waxed shellac.

Ink blue was used for the frame trim and the stenciled quote. For stenciling, we recommend mixing MilkPaint in a 2 parts paint to 1 part water ratio. We sealed the entire project with Milkwax™ Clear.

We love how our projects turned out. Bergere was the perfect choice for adding a touch of color, while also giving them a soft beachy vibe. Look at the texture of the vase, it looks amazing. You would never guess how it started. Our MilkPaint™ is so versatile which is why we think it’s the best paint in the world.