Blueprint

Ep18: How to Pick the Right Primer For Your Piece (A Simple Decision Formula)

How to Pick the Right Primer for Your Pieces A Simple Decision Formula Picking the right primer shouldn’t feel like a pop quiz — but for most beginners, it does. In Episode 18 of Flipping Furniture for Profit, I walk you through a simple decision formula that shows you exactly which primer to use and why. No more guessing, no more hoping, and no more standing in the paint aisle wondering if you’re about to make a very expensive mistake. You’ll learn how to size up your piece, spot red flags, and choose the primer that gives you the best adhesion, stain-blocking, and long-term results… all without overthinking it. And because you shouldn’t have to pause the episode every twelve seconds to write something down, the Primer Power Workbook pairs perfectly with this lesson. Grab it, print it, and pretend you always knew this stuff. Your secret’s safe with me. … Read more

Ep17: The 5 Types of Primer Every Furniture Artist Should Know

Which Primer Will Work Best for Your Project? The 5 Types of Primer Every Furniture Artist Should Know Primer shouldn’t feel like a trip through a chemistry lab — but sometimes the names alone can twist your tongue! In Episode 17 of Flipping Furniture for Profit, I break down the five primer types every flipper runs into and explain what each one actually does in real-life projects. You’ll finally understand which primer helps with adhesion, which one stops bleed-through, which one blocks stains, and which one is your best friend when nothing else seems to work. And yes… by the end you’ll be able to say “shellac-based stain-blocking primer” with confidence (maybe even twice in a row). I created a free workbook to go with the series — because teaching is my love language. Click the link to request the workbook >>> ValFrania.com/PrimerWorkbook Click below to listen to Episode 17 … Read more

Ep16: The Beginner’s Guide to Primer — When You Need It… and When You Don’t

If you’ve ever stood over a piece of furniture wondering, “Do I really need primer… or is this just one more thing people say I should do?” — this episode is your new best friend. Episode 16 of Flipping Furniture for Profit kicks off the Primer Power Series with a clear, beginner-friendly breakdown of when primer is essential — and when you can skip it without guilt (or fear… or a paint-peeling disaster). You’ll hear real stories from my early projects, simple guidelines you can use today, and a few “learned it the hard way so you don’t have to” moments that might make you laugh… or nod a little too hard. And because I know you don’t want to listen with a pen clenched in your hand, I put together a companion workbook for the whole 5-part series. It lets you relax and enjoy the episodes — then flip … Read more

The Hard Truth About Furniture Flipping Today — And How to Rise Above It

The Hard Truth About Furniture Flipping Today — And How to Rise Above It Over the past few years, the furniture flipping world has changed dramatically — and not always in a good way. Shortcut culture, quick-fix tutorials, and superficial advice have left many beginners feeling discouraged, confused, or unsure who to trust. And if you’ve ever felt stuck or overwhelmed, you’re not alone. In this week’s episode of the Flipping Furniture for Profit podcast, I’m teaching on this very topic — offering a truth-in-love conversation about what’s really holding people back and how YOU can rise above the noise. Inside the episode, I cover: Why so many flippers give up when things get hard How “paint slapping” and rushing leads to discouragement Why free Facebook groups often create more confusion than clarity What Scripture says about perseverance, excellence, and doing our work unto the Lord How to recognize trustworthy … Read more

Furniture Flipping Confidence: How to Step into Your Identity as a Furniture Artist | Val Frania

You’re Not Just a Flipper — You’re a Furniture Artist There’s a moment in every creative journey when you realize you’re no longer “just trying this out.” You’re doing it. You’re creating. You’re growing. You’re building something that matters. And if you’ve been flipping for a while — maybe quietly, between errands or after work — this is your reminder: You are a furniture artist. Owning Your Craft For years, I introduced myself as “someone who paints furniture.” But the more I poured my heart into each piece — sketching ideas, choosing color palettes, learning finishes, photographing my work — the more I realized: This wasn’t just a hobby. I was and entrepreneur with a solid business. Ownership didn’t happen overnight. It came in layers — much like a good paint job. Confidence, consistency, and community all played a part. Here’s what I’ve learned along the way: 5 Ways to … Read more

Furniture Flipping Transformation: How One Flipper Turned Her Hobby into a Thriving Business | Val Frania

From Hobbyist to Confident Artist — How Beverly Found Her Spark Every once in a while, I meet someone who reminds me why I do what I do. Her name is Beverly. When she joined the Furniture Flipping Blueprint, she wasn’t new to painting — but she was new to believing she could actually call herself an artist. She had talent, she had drive, and she had a deep love for creating beautiful things. But like so many of us, she also had doubts whispering, “Am I really good enough?” The Turning Point Instead of giving in to those doubts, Beverly decided to dig in. She studied. She practiced. She watched videos, tried new techniques, and shared her progress with our community. What happened next was more than just improvement — it was transformation. Her work began to shine with confidence. She started selling regularly, connecting with buyers who loved … Read more

From a Green Ceiling Fan to a Full-Time Business: How Furniture Flipping Blueprint Was Born

From a Green Ceiling Fan to a Full-Time Business: How the Furniture Flipping Blueprint Was Born By Val Frania The Spark That Started It All I never imagined that a green ceiling fan would change the course of my life. Years ago, my husband and I went to visit a former youth pastor at his new home in Kalamazoo. He proudly gave us a tour, and when we stepped into the kitchen, I stopped in my tracks. There it was — a grass-green ceiling fan. When I asked about it, he smiled and said, “Oh, I spray painted it to match the wallpaper.” Spray painted it. I’d never even considered doing something like that. Then he showed us a couple of end tables he’d repainted, and that was it — the wheels in my head started turning. I didn’t know it then, but that moment planted a seed that would … Read more

Why I Created the Flip Forward Series (and what it means to you)

For every furniture flipper who’s ever stared at a project and thought, “What if I mess it up?”  this one’s for you.  When Doubt Creeps In I still remember standing in my basement, staring at that old baby dresser with stenciled teddy bears. It had been relegated to the basement a few years back to hold my old patterns and stencils. I was too attached to get rid of it, but sad to see something we’d used for years in the nursery sit gathering dust. It was full of memories just like the pieces we flip, except this was personal. I had the desire, the vision… but absolutely no confidence. I bought lots of cans of spray paint – because that’s what someone told me they used to update their end tables. I had no idea where to start – but I had DH haul it upstairs anyway – I … Read more

When Silence Feels Heavy: Finding Encouragement in a Lonely Craft

How AI Spoke the Words Every Artist Needs to Hear There’s a kind of silence every artist knows — the one that lingers after you’ve poured your heart into something beautiful, only to wonder if anyone even sees it. You list your latest piece, refresh your messages, check your notifications… and still, nothing. That quiet can feel deafening. But silence isn’t just something we face in business. It’s something that weaves its way through every part of life — and for me, it’s shown up in the most unexpected seasons. Would You Prefer to Listen? The Early Ache of Quiet I was the youngest in a family of six. When all my older siblings left home, the laughter, the noise, the rhythm of family life — it all disappeared. I can still remember the feeling of walking through that quiet house. It wasn’t just the absence of sound — it … Read more

Bad Advice Alert #2: The Oil-based Over Water-based Debate

The Oil Over Water Debate AND…once again I came across some BAD advice given to a new flipper on FB that could derail her – all because the commenter couldn’t admit she needed to reconsider her facts. (I grayed out the names of those speaking or who was being tagged other than my own comment) Honestly, it’s not that hard. Just say, “Oh, OK, that’s news to me. Thanks.”  But no, that’s not possible, ESPECIALLY when the admin closes out comments before I could “bring the receipts.” That’s just a nice way of saying I couldn’t tell her she was wrong. So, here’s a break down about it all – oil-based over water-based products and water-based over oil-based products, focusing on primer. Enjoy. And btw, “I’m a furniture artist” doesn’t cut it. We all need to keep learning and can NEVER say we’ve arrived. We’re just regular people trying to … Read more

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