Staining and Distressing a Table and Chairs

I want to MAKE my own farmhouse table....
But until I have the time to do that project...
I decided to stain the table and chairs I have.......AND
What a difference a few coats of stain make! 

 I am so pleased with the AFTER~!

Let me just say I usually HATE sanding!!! 
But using an Orbital Sander and Detail Sander sure 
does make the job fast and easy:-)

 I used the sander on the side of the table and each of the legs for a distressed look

The detail sander worked perfect around the spinals of the chair. 
But of coarse I gave my little helper some manual labor! 

I used an American Walnut water-base stain. I Love a water based stain.....
EASY clean up for a girl that hates to wear gloves!

This is NOT the proper way to stain!!!!!
Reading the directions on the back of the can......
I thought 'Wet Edge' meant to keep my brush wet....when the hubby came out and seen me doing this he about died in laughter:-) LOL 

The proper way is to glade the brush all the way across the table keeping it all wet before wiping it down...

OK so no biggie.....
After about 5 or 6 coats you don't even see that I messed up the first coat.

 I distressed the table a little with a chain and hammer.

In between each coat you need to sand...I just did a quick wipe with this sanding sponge and wiped off the dust...so the next coat of stain sticks..

SEE the proper way to stain????
Wipe the whole table and edges with stain...then wipe off with a clean rag.
I did about 5 or 6 coats until I got the desired darkness..

And now for the chairs.....I started at the back of the chair then wiped sections across the front of the chair then around the edge....after that I wiped it all off with a clean rag. NO worries about the stain on the spindles, it wipes right off with a clean rag...so I didn't feel the need to waste time taping.

 

Awwwww! Look what I found in between drying time.

And this from a man who is NOT a fan of the distressed look..

LOVE you too, honey!!

Here you can also see how I sanded the chair,

wiped with stain and then a clean rag.

After the table and chairs were stained, I applied a couple of coats of water based Polycrylic Protective Finish in Clear Satin

 Perfect!!! Oh don't you just LOVE 'em??!

 I really LOVE the distressed look.....

 My 'NEW' table needed a table runner.....
so I just cut a stripe of green burlap and hot glued a few rosettes on each end.

I'm so pleased with the outcome of my table...I think it looks EXPENSIVE! 
It only cost $15 for a can of stain.
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