Chalk Paint Cra-Cra

Chalk paint is all the rage these days. Everything from Annie Sloan Chalk Paint(ASCP) to CeCe Caldwell and everything in-between. The major benefit of chalk paint is that it is self priming and has an adhesion property that sticks to just about any finish. I definitely perked up when I read that. Nothing sounded better to me than just picking up a paint brush and going to town on a beloved piece of furniture. Chalk paint basically claimed to cut out the middle man...the dreaded...Mr.'Sand' Man. Anyone that has ever used a sanding block or hand sander knows what a toll it takes physically on our hands, arms, and other 2000 parts. More times than not I feel like a contortionist during a proper sanding. It's a workout to say the least, and quite frankly, I'm not particularly fond of working out. So of course, I went online to order some samples of ASCP and soon after I went into 'sticker shock.' Whoa...is she fond of her paint. My initial order was roughly $50. That was for 3 - 4oz samples with shipping & handling. 12 ounces of paint for 50 bucks??? I literally had a moment of buyers remorse when I hit the submit payment key...but I decided "nothing ventured, nothing gained" and waited patiently for my miracle paint to arrive.
Fast forward 3 weeks, I am in my home-studio armed with my ASCP samples and ready to tackle a $15 side table I found at a yard sale. It was extremely hard for me to just wipe her down and start painting, but I pressed on. I was impressed with the way the paint glided off the brush and how easy it was to work with. The coverage was incredible, yet I did find that it thickened fairly quickly. A teaspoon of water was a quick fix for that. All-in-all, I have to say the after the paint dried, a bit of hand distressing and a dark glaze...she was as pretty as ever. Total investment $35. I sold her for $80. $45 profit wasn't too bad for a few hours of work....or was it???
I decided then that as much as I loved ASCP and the fact that I didn't have to sand my pieces, the affordability wasn't practical. So I started searching online for chalk paint recipes. Everything from grout to baking soda to Plaster of Paris...there were so many DIY Chalk Paints. Each with their own pro's and con's. I'm a hands-on girl so into the studio I went for a little 'Chem Lab' experimenting. Trial and error will always be my best friend, but I will say one thing, "Never...I repeat NEVER mix baking soda into Plaster of Paris." That's all I'm going to say about that.
After a little mixing I came up with a great recipe that I find to be the best yet. I have used it on several pieces of furniture and have many happy clients, not to mention a happy wallet. I am able to make my own chalk paint at a fraction of the cost of brand name chalk paints. Here's my DIY recipe:

1 quart of any brand latex paint (Opp's paint is perfect for test runs)
2 oz of Floetrol (found at any home improvement center)
1 wire whisk (I use a large metal one)
**Mix these two together thoroughly in a clean bucket or container that has a lid**
**In a separate container (no lid necessary)
1 cup of Plaster of Paris
1 cup of hot water
**Put the Plaster of Paris in the container and slowly pour in the hot water (not all at one time) whisk thoroughly until you have a mixture with the consistency of pancake batter. It may take a little more water or less water...I pretty much eyeball this process.
Combine the two mixtures together (using the container with the lid) and whisk until blended completely. And Voila...DIY Chalk Paint. Store paint covered tightly in a cool, dry place.

I must make one suggestion, make sure you clean your piece thoroughly before painting. I prefer to use TSP (Trisodium Phosphate) that can be found at your local home improvement store. You can purchase it in a pre-made spray bottle or a mix your own. I prefer to mix my own (of course) but please make sure you follow the directions on the label.
Here are two pieces I recently painted. Both were painted with chalk paint. One was a name brand chalk paint and the other was my DIY concoction. If you can't tell which is which...why would I?

To me, the creative process is all about choices. There are so many wonderful products out there and so many different painting techniques. I love them all and will continue to use them all. Which one totally depends on the mood I'm in and how much money I want to spend. At the end of the day, it's all about finding what works and taking a chance. Pretty sure that's what we do when we bring home those lost treasures anyway.

Happy Painting,

Angelia