Food Coloring Paint

For those of you that missed it--last week I did a blog swap with Kim from Bugaboo, Mini, Mr. and Me. Our swaps have been kind of fun--each one has involved a "special" ingredient. The first week we had to make a project using either fabric or paper and this last project we needed to use food coloring.

Yes, I said food coloring.

I am going to let you in on a secret--I have been planning on doing a project with food coloring for awhile and this blog swap was the perfect time to get my butt in gear and do a tutorial using it.

So here's the skinny.

I have a Punk is a terror, a fact that we have already solidified. So taking him shopping is out of the question.

Many of my projects require paint and because I am not able to get to the store that often I have to improvise.

I have found that by taking paint and tinting it with food coloring I am able to get the color of my choice without risking a mental breakdown or child beating in public.

Yes, I spank him...and he laughs.

Bad kid.

See for yourself....

Isn't this lamp a beauty? hmmm?

The  ingredients of choice for this project include:

Paint (that you don't mind tinting)

food coloring

brushes

mixing bowl

This lamp, which I love, became the test subject for my little project.

For those of you that have ever visited my blog you may know that I have a strict policy when it comes to painting--I always use primer. Primer will not only become your best friend, but it will save you time, money, and lots of heart ache.

When it comes to primer I only use one brand, Kilz. It goes on thick, it doesn't bleed, and it makes any paint color stand out!

While the primer dried I  began to mix up my paint and food coloring.

I wanted a more subdued blue color so I only added six drops of food coloring. 

Once I added the food coloring I mixed my "color concotion together." Once I mixed it together I added a few additional drops to get the color I was desiring.

This number of "drops" will vary on how much paint your are tinting and the desired color you are wanting--so play around and have fun!

Once I had my desired color I then painted my lamp.

My camera battery died so I am short a few pictures (hate when that happens), as you can see in the photo  my lamp has a white glazed looked to it.

When the blue finished drying I took white acrylic paint (which you can get at any craft store) and I painted over the blue color. I then took a rag and gently wiped off the white paint which left a white glazed look in the cracks.

I thought it gave the lamp spunk.

Now go whip out the food coloring and get a crack-a-lackin'.