Helpful Tips and Suggestions:

Wood Preparation: Choose a quality piece of wood. Sand all pieces completely to ensure there are no burs or rough edges.. After painting, lightly sand all surfaces with a brown lunch bag or very fine grit sandpaper to remove the fuzz raised by acrylic paints.

Transferring Patterns: Place carbon or graphite paper on bare prepared wood beneath pattern and trace carefully. Allow room between pieces for easier cutting. Don't rub the wood too much or it'll smudge!

Antiquing: There are several antiquing mediums available - look for a waterbased formula in the color tones you like and follow the instructions carefully. Leave a little more medium in cracks and along edges for a more authentic look. Apply sparingly or generously, depending on the look you wish to achieve.

Finishing: A waterbased clear varnish is recommended, in either a matte or semi-gloss finish. Follow the instructions carefully, apply it uniformly, and allow sufficient drying time between coats.

Making a Stamp: Cut a square shape from a sheet of foam used for children's crafts. A makeup sponge also works well. Glue a small piece of dowel or a wooden spool to the back. Dip the stamp into the paint, dabbing lightly on a paper towel or newspaper to remove excess paint, and stamp the surface carefully. Practice first to find the right pressure. Country Accents are extremely forgiving, so if it doesn't turn out quite the way you wanted, just sand it well to even it out!