Faux Malachite Tray

I love faux finishing with paint and I love the swirling patterns of malachite. Today I’m sharing how to make a faux malachite tray.

This technique is based on a faux malachite technique that Annie Sloan shared in her Bookazine, The Colourist (issue 3), which is available through your local Chalk Paint Stockist. I buy my supplies through Nancy Chace at Sea Rose Cottage who is doing telephone orders and shipping during the pandemic.

Ever since reading Annie’s tutorial in The Colourist I’ve wanted to try this faux finish. I decided it would be fun to try to make a faux malachite tray. Perfect for our bedroom, by the pool or in the living room! As everyone is stuck at home this is a fun tutorial to try. If you don’t have MDF, you can use a wooden board.

Read on to learn how to go from this:

to this:

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How to Make a Faux Malachite Tray

Materials

• MDF cut to size (or a wooden board)
• Chalk Paint® in Amsterdam Green, Florence, Old White
• Annie Sloan’s Gloss Lacquer
• Foam Roller
• Paint Trays
• Gedeo Gilding Wax
• Drill Press
• Modern Gold Hardware

Method

I’m not going to go to in depth with the painted finish as you can check out Annie’s tutorial.

Step 1 – Mix a custom Florence / Old White for the base coat and applied a layer gloss lacquer.

Special Tip – The gloss lacquer is important because it creates a barrier from the undercoat to the faux finish on top. If you make a mistake you can wipe off the faux finish layer with a wet paper towel.

Step 2 – Applying the second layer in sections and use cardboard to create swirling patterns. You want to make these haphazard and facing different ways for a more realistic effect.

Step 3 – Once dry apply two coats of gloss lacquer to add shine and added protection.

Step 4 – Along the side of the tray apply gilding wax. This adds a high end finish to the tray. It looks like the tray is edge in gold leaf.

I like to apply this with my finger as I think it gives more control. Make sure to thoroughly wash your hands after.

Step 5 – Attach the hardware. We used a drill press as that creates more straight holes but you can also use a drill if you don’t have a drill press. We measured onto the back of the tray and drilled from the back using a sacrificial board on the faux finish side.

I’m a visual learner so also made a step by step video.

I had so much fun creating the tray!

I know I took A LOT of photos but it was so much fun to style after it was finished.

Do you think it looks like the real thing?

I’d love to see your faux malachite trays if you decide to make one.

If you enjoy faux finishing you might like these posts:

Faux Verdigris Compass Rose | Faux Concrete | Faux Marble

Faux Soapstone | Faux Rust | Faux Coastal Texture

Faux Earthenware | Faux Galvanized | Faux Weathered Wood

I also wrote an ebook on painted furniture techniques that includes over 150 pages of tips, tricks and techniques.