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General Finishes 2016 Design Challenge Categories and Prizes

text: ready your brushes GF design challenge july 2016
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This years contest features thousands of dollars of prizes! 

This year's contest entries will be accepted between Monday, July 4-25. GF will post a link to the entry page on July 4th. Voting begins Tuesday, July 26 and winners will be announced the first week in August.

*Why or When Should I Use a Dye Stain?*

Dye Stains (Water Based)

There are several reasons to choose Dye Stain. Here are a few.

Dresser by Oliver and Rust Finished with General Finishes Somerset Gold Milk Paint and Van Dyke Brown Glaze Effects

Milk Paint Somerset Gold Dresser - Oliver and Rust
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Check out this gorgeous grainy dijon mustard dresser makeover finished by Meg Gizuk at Oliver and Rust!

Creating custom glaze colors, pastel color washes and varnishing techniques

General Finishes Clear Base
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A glaze is a small amount of colorant carried in a clear base (such as Clear Glaze Effects or

Can I adjust the color of my Dye Stain?

Dye Stains (Water Based) Color correction (toning)

Yes, there are a couple of ways. Dye Stain Reducer is the clear base that we use when manufacturing General Finishes Dye Stains. The Reducer is made first, then the dye color is added.

It is easy to make your own custom color Dye Stain by adding in 10% increments of Dye Stain color to Reducer until you achieve the color you want. It is not possible to mix too much of our Dye Stain and Reducer together.

New General Finishes Milk Paint Color Contest Winners Available for Order

general finishes milk paint swashes
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Our newest Milk Paint

Does adding Dye Stain Reducer to Dye Stain lighten the color?

Dye Stains (Water Based) Technique Tips

Yes, one of its uses is to dilute dye stain colors. Dye Stain reducer is the clear base the we use when manufacturing our dye stains. We make the reducer first, then add the dye color.

It is easy to make your own custom color Dye Stain by adding in 10% increments until you achieve the color you want. It is not possible to mix too much of our dye stain or reducer together.

Additionally, General Finishes Water Based Stains can be mixed into the reducer, which will lighten the color and thin the viscosity so it will penetrate deeper into the wood.

Distressed Paint Color Combinations: 100s of Examples

In the following faux finish examples, several layers of GF Milk Paints, GF Glaze Effects, GF Wood Stains and GF Top Coats are combined in the tradition of old world craftsmen to create unique, distressed looks in any color palette.

Can Milk Paint be applied to raw MDF or masonite?

Milk Paint

Yes.

MDF

  1. Apply Kilz or Bin 123 Primer first. 
  2. MDF is not as absorbent as natural wood, so wait 2 days in between coats and before applying top coat.
  3. MDF also tends to cast a brown color. If you are using a white paint, apply a coat of SeaGull Grey first to counter the brown, and then apply a couple of coats of white over it, allowing all coats to dry 2 days.

Learn more about how to prep MDF before applying GF Milk Paint.

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