A new tabletop

It's taken me a week to stain my kitchen tabletop.  

I quickly found out that I had a lot to learn about staining furniture!

I posted here about painting our kitchen table/chairs a cream color.  I've been happy with it, 

but decided I'd like to break up all the cream by staining just the tabletop with a color that 

would go with our kitchen cabinets.  Easy, right?  Just a little sanding and add the stain.

 This is the product that I used, Minwax Stain & Polyurethane in 1 Step.

 I painted the stain on using a foam brush (1st mistake) - DO NOT USE A FOAM BRUSH.

The stain was darker than I wanted and really thick, so I thought I would take some off by wiping/blotting it with a rag (2nd mistake) - DO NOT TRY TO WIPE IT OFF.  

I ended up with this.  Ugh!

 I had to wait a good 6 hours for it to dry thoroughly, before I could sand the table again.  

I began staining again with a 'foam brush' (when will I learn?).  I went back and forth with

good spots and bad spots.  The stain was too thick in some areas, so I'd try to wipe it off 

with mineral spirits.  I could never get a clean look.  FINALLY, after doing a little research

and talking to friends I realized that I needed to be using a regular paint brush, duh?!  

(This is the table in the middle of my crisis!)

I sanded again, but was never able to get every spot of stain off.  

I decided I would accept a distressed stained look?!  

I even sanded the edges to complete my now distressed look.

Here's how it turned out.

 I like the stain color with the bottom of my curatins.

 See the darker areas where I gave up on sanding.  

I think it gives it a bit of an aged look (that's what I'm telling myself)

I actually have another staining project in mind now that 

I know have a better idea of how to do it!

I'm joining the following parties:

Wow Us Wednesdays at Savvy Southern Style

Show Off Your Stuff Party at Fireflies and Jellybeans

Transformation Thursday at The Shabby Chic Cottage