How To Use Dixie Belle Mud

Dixie Belle Dixie Mud is a fun and useful product to fill holes or add unique accents to your furniture makeovers.

Here's how to use it, step by step.

This post is sponsored by Dixie Belle Paint

Did you ever have a project that took way longer to complete than you thought it would?

Something simple that took forever to get through?

Yeah.

I'm in the middle of a few of those right now and it's driving me crazy.

The family room situation is understandable, since I'm waiting for that sofa.

But the hallway flip was supposed to be quick.

Apparently, even with a pretty straightforward renovation there's no such thing.

Oh, the construction is all done. It's the details that are holding me up.

At first, I thought I would buy all new accessories for the space.

However, the mirrors were in perfect shape, just the wrong color.

Well, that's always a cheap and easy fix. I often paint mirror frames.

I just dove into my craft cabinet and painted them white.


I taped off the mirrors with my blue painters tape and got to work.


Two coats later, my old dark mirrors were light and bright.

There was one though, that even with its painted makeover, still felt way too modern.

And boring.


It needed some kind of cottage style embellishment, so I reached for my Dixie Belle Dixie Mud and took care of that.

Now, I'd never tried the Mud before, so it was kind of an experiment, but I have to say, I'm hooked.

It was easier than stenciling, done in a jiffy and totally transformed a boring mirror. I just know that in the future, I'll be using it on furniture regularly.

Want to try it yourself?

Fabulous.

Here's all you need to know about Dixie Belle Mud.

Dixie Mud comes in three colors, white, brown and black. I chose the white since I usually paint with light colors, but if you want to match your wood, I'd go for a darker choice.

You can use it to cover holes or imperfections on wood, like you'd use wood putty or wood filler. Or you can use it with a stencil to add a raised pattern on your furniture piece. 

It's a great way to create your own moulds or make your own appliques.

You want to apply it with a small spatula or a putty knife. I found plastic easier to work with than metal. 

And keep in mind that it takes about 3-5 hours for your Dixie Belle mud to dry completely. Drying time will depend on the thickness of your mud coat.

You can use it on painted or unpainted surfaces and is best stored in the refrigerator. 

Lastly, don't rinse it down the drain, it will dry and clog it up. Clean your Mud off stencils and spatulas with the garden hose or in a bucket.

How To Use Dixie Belle Mud

This is how I used Mud to transform a boring mirror.
Before I started I made sure I had all my supplies within reach.

Dixie Belle Dixie Mud
Sonoma Art Tile Stencil
Spatula or Putty Knife
Silk Mineral Paint in Whitecap
Clear Coat Sealer in Satin

Step 1: Choose A Stencil

I started with my painted mirror. I'd already used Dixie Belle Silk All In One Mineral Paint in Whitecap to lighten its look.

Once it way dry, I grabbed one of Dixie Belle's newest stencils, Sonoma Art Tile, as I thought it had the right vibe for my piece.


The tiles themselves were too large for my mirror, but the side piece was just right, so I cut it out to make it fit well.

Step 2: Tape The Stencil In Place

Next up, I needed to measure the sides of the mirror and the stencil to center the design properly.


Then I used my blue painters tape, once again, to secure my stencil to the mirror.

I used a very thick tape since I really didn't want my stencil to move and blur the wet Mud.

Step 3: Apply Dixie Mud

This was the fun part.

I dipped my spatula into the mud and then pulled it over the stencil. I allowed it to fill the stencil spaces completely before using the spatula again, to scrape away any excess.


If there were any spaces I felt needed more Mud, I repeated the process.

Step 4: Remove The Stencil and Sand 

Once it was filled to my liking, I let it sit for about 4 or 5 minutes to set. Then I grabbed the end of the tape and pulled the stencil straight up and away from the wood.

Then I repeated the process on the other side. I didn't need to wash or wipe the stencil off between applications.

I didn't have any rough edges on my pattern, but if you do, you can use a very light sandpaper to smooth out any you may find.

Step 5: Paint Or Seal The Mud

I was very happy with the white Mud pattern on my mirror, so I only sealed it with a clear satin.


If you wanted the pattern to stand out or if you use the Dixie Mud as a filler to repair spots, you can paint it.

Overall, the process was very fast and uncomplicated. 

And when I was done, I had a lovely brand new to me mirror to add to my newly renovated hallway.


In the meantime, let's look at that delicate detail.

I know they say when decorating with mirrors you need consider what they're going to reflect.

But honestly, with a mirror like this, I say, who's looking at the glass?

What do you think about my mirror makeover?

Would you play with Mud?