I’ve re-finished several pieces of furniture with the 4 most popular Homemade Chalk Paint Recipes. Through trial and error, I’ve discovered a few tips which make a BIG difference in DIY paint application and overall finish.
If your chalk paint recipes are not meeting your expectations, or you’re about to mix your own DIY version for the very first time, here are few easy steps which will provide you with brand name chalk paint results.
Let’s Start with Mixing Tips
1. When mixing your chalking ingredient with the paint of your choice, you can use eggshell, satin finish, or paint & primer all-in-one. I’ve tried them all and they all work. However, I achieved the flattest/chalky-est finish, with a FLAT latex paint.
2. **Important** The key to mixing a velvety smooth homemade chalk paint is getting your chalking ingredient as lump free as you can BEFORE mixing it into your water or paint. To achieve a lump free medium, you can vigorously mix it with a fork or whisk. You can also sift your ingredient through a sifter as you would flour or icing sugar. Another great method is to put it in a plastic bag and squish it between your fingers until you feel no lumps.
3. When measuring and mixing, I used the transparent container below. Using a clear plastic container makes measuring much easier.
4. After you’ve removed lumps from your chalking ingredient, start mixing your powder with water or directly into your paint depending on which recipe you’re using. To do this, I used an inexpensive $12 blender. An old mixer or a drill with a mixing attachment would also work great. If you don’t have any of the above, use some good ol’ elbow grease….but make sure it’s as smooth as you can get it BEFORE you start painting your furniture. The smoother you can get it, the better your painted furniture will look.
Painting Tips
1. Choose your brush or roller carefully. Depending on what type of finish you want, a cheaper brush can give you a dry brush or distressed look, while a good quality brush will give a smoother finish. Here I’ve used a cheap Dollar Store brush to achieve the distressed “country” look.
2. Homemade chalk paint adheres exactly as the brand name chalk paints. No sanding, stripping or priming is required. Give your furniture a good cleaning and then you’re ready to paint.
3. The chalking medium you choose does NOT determine the quality of coverage. The coverage is influenced by the brand of paint you use and how much water you add.
4. Keep a rag/paper towel close by in case you need to remove any grain or particles while painting. It’s so much easier to remove while the paint is still wet.
5. With any of the homemade chalk paint recipes, you can easily add water to thin your paint OR add more chalk ingredient to thicken your paint.
6. Mix as much paint as is required for your project at hand. It’s better to mix a fresh batch each time rather than leave the paint sitting for weeks.
Sanding & Finishing Tips
1. Sanding with a fine grit sandpaper (220 to 400) works just fine.
2. If you’d like to achieve a distressed look, a coarser sandpaper (120 to 180) is required. Homemade chalk paint does NOT distress as easily as store bought and will not distress with a damp rag.
3. Seal and finish your furniture with a wax or poly top coat. If you’ve painted your furniture a white or a very light colour, wax would be the preferred choice as polyurethane may yellow over time. I like CeCe Caldwell’s Clear Wax. It’s very easy to work with and 100% all natural.
Storing Your DIY Chalk Paint & Ingredients Tips
1. After opening your Plaster of Paris, Un-Sanded Grout, Calcium Carbonate or any other chalk paint medium, tightly secure the bag/container and store it in a cool dry place. This will ensure it doesn’t attract moisture and keep it in perfect condition for the next time you use it.
2. If you have any unused chalk paint, storing it in a glass container/jar rather than a plastic container will help keep your paint for future use. I did find making a new batch each time worked much better though.
3. When re-opening your chalk paint, hold your container on an angle. The dried chalk paint on the lid and container rim tends to crumble and fall into the fresh paint.
I hope these tips have been helpful.
If you have any tips & tricks you’ve discovered while painting with DIY chalk paint, please fill me in! If you have any questions about the Homemade Chalk Paint Recipes I’ve tried, don’t hesitate to ask below and I’ll get right back to you.
Have a fabulous day!
Denise
Lori says
Thank you for the great info. Just tackled my first piece and it came out super grainy and rough. After reading suggestions, I think I know how to fix it. My question is, should I strip off all the first two layers before moving on? The flat sides scrape off easily but the edges will be a lot of work. Will/should a clean coat go smoothly over those rough areas?
Denise says
Lori, you don’t need to totally strip the rough layers off however sanding them nice and smooth before you apply your fresh new coat is probably a good idea.
Lori says
Thank you Denise!
cathy says
Can I use semi-gloss paint?
Denise says
Yes Cathy. I’ve used semi-gloss and it works just fine however the finish will not be as matte/chalky.
Kelly Jones-Brome says
can i use emulsion paint for these recipes? thanks p.s very excited to get started 🙂
Denise says
Yes Kelly. I believe emulsion is the same as our latex. 🙂
D,ann Kohler says
New to my ipad ad and looking up info. Found your page. Ready to do the chalk painting but so far Lowes, Home Depot and Elliot’s Health food store does not carry calcium carbonate powder, so I will go with POP or Grout. I live in Sacramento, CA. Back to the store I go tomorrow. I’ll keep in touch. I never pay retail!!!!!
Lyn says
I tried this with an antique white Valspar Ultra Satin (at the suggestion of the girl in the paint dept in Lowes). When I mixed the paint in the POP it immediately formed an almost solid lump. I thinned it with more paint and a little water and used an immersion blender to smooth it out. It was still terrible. Very gritty and would not spread with a brush.
On a positive note, I had some pink store bought chalk paint that was too bright. I mixed it 1 part to 3 parts of the Valspar and he color and texture was perfect.
joyce says
Thank you so much for all the info! Is there anything you can add to the chalk paint to preserve it? Also what happens to it if it stored for any length of time? Any help will be appreciated.
Denise says
Joyce, I don’t add anything to these DIY versions to preserve the paint because I usually only mix as much as I need for each project. I prefer working with “fresh” chalk/mineral paint. If sealed in an air tight container the paint will keep for a good few months but it will require re-mixing and usually some water to smooth it out.
Heather Johnson says
Hi, I just purchased paint to make my own chalk paint with calcium carbonate. The paint I got is a flat latex that is durable, I’m wondering if I should still put on a clear wax? I am painting a bookshelf. Thanks!
Denise says
I would strongly recommend sealing chalk/mineral paint because once your HMCP ingredient is added (or when using brandname CP) the finish is very porous and can attract dirt/oils easily. Using a wax or poly will eliminate this Heather.
cris says
Do you know if you can use Carnauba wax as the wax layer? Looking to save money and I have a bottle of soft carnauba wax. Also do you know if anyone has tried diatomaceous earth. I think I shall try it today. Why not, right?
Denise says
Yes, Carnauba Wax can be used on DIY Chalky Painted Furniture. I’m unsure of the diatomaceous. If you give it a try Cris, I’d love to hear your results. 🙂
[email protected] says
I just painted my first piece with home made chalk paint and have had a weird thing happen. The paint went on wonderfully. I am painting a metal coffee table for out doors. I decided to sand it lightly to smooth it out and it really looks nice. The only problem I have is it has a yellow hue to it now???? The more I sand the yellower it gets! It’s a eggshell, taupe Valspar paint. Anyone ever experience this???
Starry Mastaw says
I’ve been having love/hate feelings about my homemade chalk paint, and went searching for answers. Your blog, experiences, preferences, the comments and the answers have been fabulous! I’ve learned what I’d been doing wrong and decided on a different recipe.
Just wanted to shout out a THANK YOU for all of your insights and ideas!
Isabel says
Can anyone tell me that they have painted rooms with chalk paint? Keen to try big spaces.
I suppose the waxing might be tricky.
I have lots of beeswax, does it have to be canuba oil or are there other recipes for sealing it.
Painting Tips says
Great post! Been reading around for tips on this style of painting. Thanks for the info!
Julia says
Hi! Thanks so much for your tutorial. I used the Calcium Carbonate method and all went fine until the sanding part. I’m using a deep plum color and when I go to wax (very fine grit, 400) little white spots show from the calcium carbonate. Should I wax BEFORE sanding? Is it something else I’m doing wrong? Thanks so much!
Denise says
Oh no! My guess would be the Calcium Carbonate may not be the “Finest Powder Grade CC” you can purchase OR it was not mixed into the paint 100%. I buy the Food Grade CC which is like baby powder..NO grit to it. Although not necessary, I also use an inexpensive hand blender to thoroughly mix the CC into the paint. Waxing before sanding is a great way to keep the dust to a minimum, but if you’re experiencing grittiness in the paint, I’m not sure it would make much of a difference. If these suggestions don’t work, feel free to email me Julia.
Elaine says
I recently was in Tempe, AZ at the Green Table and saw for the first time chalk paint projects. I loved them, but don’t want to spend $40/qt of AS paint plus the wax. I was just about to order on line a chalk additive and then saw your info and have thoroughly enjoyed reading it and all the comments. I have not painted very much furniture and when I have it was outdoor furniture with outdoor paint so this is a first for me. I was given an entertainment center that looks like an oak/light finish. Other than washing it with vinegar/water is there anything else I need to do? I am going to paint it white so would I use a light wax? How do I apply the wax and how many coats would I need. For the entertainment center that is about 5’w x 5’h x 18″ deep would one quart cover it? Again, thanks for ALL the great info and the great info from your readers.
Denise says
If your entertainment center does not have a high gloss finish, wiping it down should be sufficient as HMCP adheres wonderfully. If you’re unsure (seeing it’s such a large piece) paint a small “test” area before painting the entire piece. A ‘good’ quality quart of paint should be plenty to cover a 5×5 piece with 2 coats. Natural wax works nicely over white. If you apply 2 coats of wax, wait at least 24hrs in-between. Note- wax does require re-applying after some time unlike a poly finish. Have fun Elaine… I hope it turns out gorgeous!
Fiona Sidwell says
Glad to be of assistance! Lol.
However I’m still confused, as others seem to be using HMCP with dark colours which I assume have deep or ultra deep bases.
So is this a problem when making HMCP with plaster of paris and grout as chalking agents, while calcium carbonate mixes are OK?
Maybe it is just certain paint brands?
And I need to try other deep bases to try and work out if this is the problem. While I also assume it may be a problem with ultra deep base paint I still need to test this. Has anyone else made a link between deep or ultra deep base paint and the curdling/clumping issue? To be continued…
Fiona Sidwell says
Thank you, thank you, thank you! I had bought some AS chalk paint to refinish my bedroom set and was feeling apprehensive about doing it. After reading your articles I felt inspired and encouraged and made up some HMCP to attack several other projects. It worked beautifully and the desk and chair I did first look great.
I had some trouble with my second project though. I decided to do Ombre drawers in my son’s bedroom. I bought several testpots of water based acrylic/latex for the purpose. When mixing the first testpot I made 4 attempts and each time as I added the mixed plaster of paris and water and began stirring it into the paint, the paint became lumpy and ended up looking like clumped coloured coarse sand. The other two test pots I tried mixed fine but repeated attempts with this one colour all ended up with the same mess. The paint shop staff suggested it might be a chemical reaction due to that particular colour having a deep base. The ones which mixed fine both had mid bases. I see others using really dark colours so this doesn’t seem a great explanation to me. Any thoughts?
Denise says
My thoughts are: You may have just solved a mystery Fiona…lol! I’ve never experienced this with Plaster of Paris but I have had this exact same experience with the unsanded grout HMCP Recipe. Sometimes it’s smooth and other times turns out lumpy. I thought it may be the resin/epoxy ratio in the grout, but never considered it may ALSO be the base concentration of the paint!
aimee says
I have a quick question for you in regards to your chalk recipe when it comes to unsanded grout! I was so excited to try it, but when I did it came out very clumpy. The first time I mixed the grout directly with the paint which resulted in gross dry clumpy paint. The second time I tried I mixed the grout with water first, and then paint and at first it was okay, but as it started to dry (very very quickly) it was almost a paste it was so thick. I only used 1tbs of grout! Any ideas? (Ps. I used rustolum painters touch in a dark red, something like this: homedepot.com/p/Rust-Oleum-Painter-s-Touch-32-oz-Gloss-Colonial-Red-General-Purpose-Paint-2-Pack-1964502/202058545)
Denise says
I had the same issues with the grout Aimee! The trick for this recipe is to mix the grout with water to make a super-smooth paste. When you add it to the paint, the paint will thicken but it shouldn’t look lumpy. Having said that, I believe the polymer or epoxy in the grout (I think some brands have more than others) does tend to thicken in the paint quite quickly so you’ll want to work fast. I found this recipe provided me with a great end result, however I did need to keep adding a little water and mixing while working with it. Oh.. I noticed you used a gloss paint. A matte or eggshell low sheen works the very best to achieve a chalky finish. 🙂
Denise says
Thanks for the great info- I made and painted some pieces with the baking soda method months ago. I was very pleased with the way they looked but have had an awful time with them getting white spots and rings even hhough I used several layers of F&S wax. Some of it can be removed using a damp cloth but they look pretty terrible. Any thoughts or suggestions on what might have home wrong?
Denise says
When using wax, less is more! 2 or 3 THIN well rubbed in layers with 24hr dry time in between should be sufficient. To remove your watermarks/stains, many times they are easily fixed by rubbing a small amount of wax into the stained area with a soft rag. Hope this helps Denise.
Mitzi says
Hi Denise, the furniture I want to chalk paint is the old French Provincial style dresser and night-stands that have that yellowish cream color with gold painted accents. I am looking to HMCP these pieces in an antique tannish white color (similar to your Cozy Cottage (740C-2). Since the furniture and wood underneath is already light to begin with, what would be the best way to achieve the really dark distressed marks?
By the way, out of all the DIY tips on HMCP, yours has given me the most valuable insight on where to begin! This will be my first HMCP project that I am going to try, but have been researching it for several years and have just now gotten up the courage to dive in! 🙂 Thank you so much!
Denise says
I’m so happy your going to dive in and give it a try Mitzi! There are a variety of ways to achieve dark distressing. After the piece is painted, you can gently sand the areas you would like distressed (down to the raw wood) and then take a Q-tip dipped in dark stain and stain the exposed wood. You can also use a dark tinted wax on areas you would like distressed after the piece has been painted. Another option is using a dark paint in the areas you will be distressing before you paint it your antique white, and then gently sand down to the dark under paint. I’m cheering you on and I hope it turns out gorgeous!
Paula Anglemyer says
Can you use calcium carbonate that is use as a fiberglass filler, limestone?
Denise says
Paula, I’m not sure because I’ve never tried and I don’t know if there are any different components to make up this product. You may want to try mixing a small batch and use it on a “test” piece of wood before painting an entire piece.
Tess S. says
Denise- I am so excited to have found you!!!! This site is wonderful!!!! I want to try the HMCP but I do have a question. Can you add acrylic craft paint to tint a lighter regular paint to darken it when mixing your HMCP? Have you heard of this or, even better, tried it yourself? Thank you so much!!!!
Denise says
Hi Tess! You should have no problems tinting with acrylic and then using a HMCP recipe. Good luck and have fun! 🙂
LoraMarie says
Hey Denise, you have no idea how much help this post has been! There are hundreds of good tutorials out there, but you get down to the nitty gritty of the DIY chalk paint (pun intended)! And I think it’s really great how you have taken the time to answer each question in the comment section. I have given you the title ‘Vigalante HMCP Guru’.
Hope you have a good day! We appreciate your help
Denise says
I’ve never been referred to as a “Guru” of any sort but I’ll wear my new given title proudly…LOL! All kidding aside, thanks for the HUUUGE compliment LoraMarie… you’re making me blush!
Laurey says
Hi,
Your blog is really great! I’m gathering supplies to attempt the chalk paint adventure, but I’m not quite sure about the 2 parts/1 part of paint to calcium carb – one being a liquid the other powder. No doubt I’m over thinking this! 2 cups of paint 1 cup of calcium carb? Yes?
Laurey
Denise says
Yes Laurey…exactly correct! Act as if they are both the same medium even though they’re not. Best of luck with your first chalk paint adventure! 🙂
Debbi says
I am looking to update my kitchen cabinets and a friend suggested chalk paint. My only “painting” experience is with regular paint on flat walls-LOL. Is chalk paint easy for beginners like me and has anyone ever attempted a large project like this?
Denise says
Yes, chalk paint IS easy for beginners however taking on a kitchen is a large job… even for experienced painters! Many bloggers and readers have updated their kitchen cabinets in a chalk paint finish and it looks fabulous, but possibly starting with a small piece for your very 1st chalk paint project may be helpful. If you have any questions, feel free to email me Debbie.
Noel says
Hi Denise! Thank you so much for this wonderful post. I wanted to share my experience in the hope that it will save others from wasting money and time! A couple of weeks ago I mixed my first HMCP using the POP method. I used Behr paint and it mixed beautifully and covered my 1980s oak bathroom vanity with two coats. This was my trial project before tackling the kitchen. With new confidence to tackle the kitchen, I bought a gallon of paint from Kelly Moore (Acry-Plex) today and the mixing was a disaster! The paint turned into a big solid glob. I tried it again with cooler water and the same thing happened. I strained it and kept adding water and finally got it thin enough to apply, but it continued to thicken as I attempted to paint. As an experiment, I pulled out the leftover Behr paint from my past project and mixed a batch to see if the problem was me or the paint. Well, it turns out that paint does matter, at least in my experience. I will be heading down to Home Depot tomorrow to pick up the Behr brand for SW Pale Bloom and get painting. Hope this helps those in this strand having mixing problems.
Denise says
Thank you for sharing this Noel! I’m sure it will definitely help others. Although I’ve never personally tried, I’ve heard others having a similar issue with HMCP Recipes and Lowe’s Valspar paints.
Joy Maynard says
What exactly I unsanded grout? I can’t seem to find it here in the UK. Would EVO STICK wall tile grout do
Joy
Denise says
Yes Joy, I believe it would. Another brand I that’s similar is Wilko White Tile Grout which cost around £1.40. Good luck and have fun!!
Lisa says
I just painted a piece with diy chalk paint. After I sand it, I want to use antique glaze. Do I need to wax after the glaze? Thank you
Denise says
Hi Lisa, no you do not need to wax after a glaze is applied. Glaze will protect your piece.
urszula says
hello ,can you please tell me if is good idea paint my fabrics sofas ? If yes what the best recipe is for it,my sofas are ivory and want them light color too.Urszula.
Denise says
I have NEVER tried painting fabric w DIY or Brand name chalk paint Urszula. It’s on my 2-do-list and on my FB page, I received some great tips from many others who HAVE tried it. Feel free to take a peek here. https://www.facebook.com/pages/Salvaged-Inspirations/220496124757511
urszula says
Thank you.I will wait then when you try it,Urszula
Jen says
Hi,
Love your tips! I am planning on trying chalk paint to revamp a make up table and want to try the calcium carbonate recipe. When I follow your link for your online source, it takes me to Amazon.com and says I cannot ship to my location (Toronto) — what’s your tip for getting it online in Canada????
Thanks!
Jen
Denise says
Jen, try Amazon.ca (although sometimes they don’t have it…grrr) or your local pharmacist. A pharmacist can order the highest grade/finest powder Calcium Carbonate for you and it usually only takes 1 or 2 days…and it doesn’t cost any more than buying it on-line!
Cory Ahern says
Well I had hunted thru so many sites, looking for advice, and after I shopped, I found yours – go figure! Have you heard of Howard Premium paste wax, Citrus Shield? – I bought it today, my store only had a couple of choices, and this one says can be used on painted surfaces – and thoughts? Should I try it? Or take it back and look for the minwax?
Thanks for all the work you put into this topic – I appreciate it!
Denise says
I haven’t tried it yet, but I’ve heard Howard’s is a great wax w Beeswax and Carnauba. If you purchased the neutral, it will be perfect to use ‘as-is’ on any project OR you can switch it up by doing a DIY dark tint! Great choice and I’m sure you’ll be happy with your results!
Mary Ellen says
Love the POP recipe. I’ve used Valspar paint with success and have finished with SC Johnson Paste Wax. Curious about the DIY dark tint for the wax…how do you do that?? I would love trying a darker wax finish.
Mary Ellen
Denise says
Thanks for reporting your results with the Valspar Mary Ellen! Here is a link to DIY wax tinting http://goo.gl/MmLbB . If you have any more questions feel free to PM me. 🙂
Stacey says
Hi and thank you for your post! So helpful 🙂 I have tried wet distressing with moderate success and you noted that it doesn’t work with “non branded” chalk paint. Any idea why or how to be able to wet distress (I like the look and have an amazing piece I don’t want to mess up). If buying the real deal is the answer, then I guess I will?!? Thanks
Denise says
Hi Stacey. Yes, with HMCP you will only get ‘moderate success’ with wet distressing.You can achieve the same ‘soft’ distressed look with HMCP by gently sanding over the same area using a fine finishing sand paper 220-400 grit.
Vicki says
Ok, you`ve given me the kick in da butt i needed to start lol I`ve read many DIY chalk paint articles but yours is by far the best.
I have my dining table and hutch to do as well as my living room end tables, it`s a little intimidating but with your info, i may just attack them soon lol
Thanks for all the great info!
Denise says
Yaaay!! If I can do it YOU can do it… believe me!;) I’m cheering you on Vicki!
Amy says
In response to those posting that their chalk paint is coming off of shiny surfaces – I might try some liquid sandpaper. It’s very noxious stuff, but I’ve had really good luck using it to quickly and easily prep finished surfaces before painting. It’s pretty widely available, for example at Home Depot.
alt_244 says
Thanks for the recipes. I’m going to try one this summer. Have you tried diatomaceous earth?
Denise says
You’re very welcome and no, I have not tried this product. Good luck with your summer project! 🙂
Sherry says
What type of brush is best for painting with DIY chalk paint. I want to avoid brush strokes. I have a bedroom suit in our garage waiting for me to fix strokes!
Denise says
Sherry, a good quality Purdy brush works fantastic. If you’re trying to avoid brush strokes, sanding in between coats will also be helpful. Good luck!
Karen Van Heest says
Would like to know if anyone has used the Valspar satin finish paint to make chalk paint? I bought all my supplies in Lowes to do my first project and fell in love with their colors and not knowing anything about all of this is new to me that I bought the satin finish. Hope I won’t have any problems with it. I am going with the POP version. They really have some pretty shades and I was drawn to them and hope my first project doesn’t turn out to be a disaster. Any comments on this I would really appreciate it. Maybe more POP, or more water, or whatever might help me. It is a childs headboard with spindles very small piece so if I screw it up is there anyway of redoing the piece over again using a diffferent paint? Boy I am really lost and confused right now this isn’t like me to jump into something I’ve never done before but have seen so many nice things I said to myself I can do this instead of paying some of the prices the people are asking for. Thank you so much and wish me luck I think I’m going to need it. Karen
Denise says
Karen, if I can do it YOU can do it!!! Good for you for “jumping” into a project you’ve never tried before. That’s the VERY BEST way to learn. 🙂 I have used satin paint (although not the Valspar brand) with the Plater of Paris recipe and it’s my projects have turned out beautifully. The finish will not be as matte/chalky, but it definitely works! Good luck and feel free to keep me posted.
Christine says
Hi there! Just spent the evening peeling latex paint off the bookcases I painted this afternoon. You can imagine my interest in chalk paint has heightened considerably!! My latex is satin finished Behr paint. The bookcase material I endeavoured to paint feels like a waxed pressboard. (Specifically, I was trying to paint the front side of the back piece of billy bookcases from ikea. My paint is the colour I am hoping for. If I apply it to one of the recipes, how much do you think the colour would change? Also, do you think chalk paint would stick to this odd material? Latex itself certainly doesn’t. Thanks for any help you can offer.
Denise says
Hi Christine! If you were to use any of the above recipes, your paint colour will NOT change and adhesion should be better. If it’s a shiny surface, a light sanding would be beneficial. Hope this helps. 🙂
Adrienne says
I just used Valspar’s cheapest brand paint to do a dark navy chalk paint bench and it worked out fantastic. Thanks for your tips. Time to distress and attempt waxing!
Busy mama says
What a fabulous post! Thank you for giving so much information. I will be sifting and using vinegar next time. Can you advise please about peeling? If the paint peels then does that mean I need to use the wax to seal it? Or that the surface is just not suitable? A chair chipped after a couple of hours, and the table top was an IKEA MDF painted finish and ALL the paint peeled it was so soft… Appreciate any help for my next project and to rectify the table 😉
Denise says
I always seal regardless of what “original” surface I have covered. However, your hmcp should not be peeling prior to the “sealing” process. It could be as simple as you require more “chalk” ingredient mixed into your paint or the surface would benefit from a light sanding before applying the paint.
Cheyenna says
What brand of paint do you use? I’ve read where a lot of people have problems with Valspar from Lowe’s and getting it to work as a chalk paint.
Denise says
Interesting. I have not tried mixing Valspar with one of my HMCP recipes yet. I’ve used Behr, CIL, LOOP Recycled Paint, Sherwin Williams, Ralph Lauren and different brands of paint & primer in one. The homemade chalk paint has worked with all of them.
Stephanie Howard says
Would you happen to know if I can mix Cece Caldwell paints with Annie Sloan Paints. The guy selling the AS said no, that they would separate, but I have to wonder if he was biased and if I might, since I have purchased both products and would like to blend some of the colors. Any help that you can be would be appreciated. And thanks so much for your recipes! Stephanie
Denise says
Stephanie what an interesting question! I have never tried mixing CeCe w ASCP, however I think it’s highly unlikely they would separate if you did so. I’ve mixed many brand name paints together and have never had a problem. Maybe try mixing a small amount 1/4 cup with 1/4 cup and see what happens before you try an entire quart. I’d love to hear back from you to see how it works. And if any of my other readers have ever tried this…feel free to chime in! 🙂
Lianna says
Hi Denise,
I’ve have used the Plaster of Paris method with an eggshell finish white paint and it worked great. Although I did sand and prime an antique hutch, the finish with the DIY chalk paint is spectacular. I finished it with Minwax paste.
One year later, it is still holding up wonderfully. I usually mix the POP with tepid tap water first to get out any lumps and then add it to my paint. It worked just fine.
Anyway, I wanted to shout out a big thanks for this post. I’ve pinned it for future reference as well as shared it with my aunt who is going to try out DIY chalk paint.
Thanks again!
Denise says
My pleasure Lianna and I’m so pleased you commented on how well it holds up after 1 year of use because I’ve been asked that question many times. Thanks for sharing with your aunt…I hope she enjoys her HMCP experience too!
Shawna says
Dear Denise and Lianna,
I tried my first DIY HMCP tonight! But, I’m not sure I did it correctly. I mixed the POP with water (maybe too much) and got a very soupy mixture. Then I added too much paint (the pail slipped in my hands). I’m not sure if the final product is chalk paint or not. What should be the consistency of the mixed POP before and after mixing with paint?
BTW, I’m trying to cover IKEA frames that are foil-covered fibreboard. If the HMCP doesn’t completely cover the black, I’m hoping the HMCP will act as a primer for regular latex paint.
Any advice would be glorious!
Thank you,
Shawna
Denise says
The consistency of the POP w water should be a thick batter consistency. I add just enough water to ensure my POP mixes thoroughly with my blender. When you mix the mixed POP w the paint, the paint may thicken slightly. There shouldn’t be that much difference in the paint consistency when first mixed in. (It may thicken while painting or sitting for a while and then additional water can be added to thin it out again.) Best of luck Shawna!
Lisa franzese says
I want to know if the chalk paint project has to be distressed. I would like to paint a piece of furniture without a distressed finish just a nice color and then wax it. Will it looked smooth painted?
Thank you
Denise says
Lisa, DIY HMCP does not require distressing to provide a lovely finish. To get a great “smooth” look, a light sanding with a fine “finishing” sandpaper (280 grit+) in between coats and your wax buffed to a sheen of your choice will look fabulous!
rob krauzig says
Can you use actual side walk chalk?
Denise says
Mmmm…personally I wouldn’t. Even if the side-walk chalk was composed of the proper “ingredients”, it would be a hassle to grind it down to the fine powder required for smooth HMCP. I also believe some brands have slight traces of wax.
Christine says
I am going to attempt to chalk paint a bedroom set that we purchased from an estate sale for our cottage. What should I use to clean it first? There is an antique white gold gloss finish on the wood now?? Some type of mineral spirits or something like that??
Denise says
My first choice is warm water/vinegar. Vinegar is a great “all-natural-eco-friendly” cleaner that cuts through grease and dirt beautifully. If a piece is REALLY filthy/grimy/greasy/dirty, I use T.S.P. T.S.P can be purchased at Lowes, HomeDepot or any hardware store. It cuts through dirt/grease/wax and prepares surfaces for painting but is NOT eco-friendly. Regardless of what you clean it with, just ensure to wipe it down thoroughly with clean water afterwards so NO residue is left behind. Hope this helps and good luck with your bedroom set Christine!
Kevin Eccleston says
I wanted to know if I can spray the Plaster of Paris Chalk Paint in my Spray Gun?
Denise says
Kevin, the direct answer is YES. Many bloggers are spraying AS & CeCe Chalk Paint through spray guns with fabulous results. eg – http://www.lindauerdesigns.com/paint-sprayers-annie-sloan-chalk-paint/ If properly mixed, I don’t see why HMCP would have any different results. However, I have not tried ANY chalk paint (homemade or otherwise) with my hvlp spray gun yet… but it is on my “2-try-list” 🙂 My suggestion would be to make sure to clean the gun IMMEDIATELY after use so the paint/plaster mix has NO time to dry.
Billie says
love this blog you are great
Do you know of any other brands of clear wax that are good im about to do a large table and want a good sealer
Thanks keep your info coming love following you 🙂
Denise says
SC Johnson Paste Wax, Fiddes & Sons, Briwax or Minwax Paste would all work nicely Billie. CeCe & AS are specifically made for the chalk paint products and work beautifully also, but cost a fair amount more. If it’s a table which will be getting a fair amount of use, re-application will periodically be necessary.
Penny Wheeler says
I mixed my first THREE batches of chalk paint, using the Plaster method of 3/1 with some water to thin and before I could use it I had a great LUMP of plaster! Many at the local shows are spraying with chalk paint – I finally by batch three did 3 parts paint to 1/2 part plaster and 1/2 part water. Still horrible. I mix with hot water first to get the smoothness but still a mess! Any suggestions? Do you have any idea how so many are actually using a sprayer?
I’m totally stumped and frustrated. 🙁
Denise says
Penny, sorry to hear that. Unfortunately, there is no EXACT recipe for HMCP. Different brands of paint and chalk compounds have different consistencies which will lead to slightly different results. Don’t give up though…maybe try the grout or calcium carbonate. Also, room temperature water rather than hot. I haven’t tried using my spray gun with chalk paint but I’m assuming spraying may be easier with ASCP or CeCe’s and just water it down a bit.
Viviana says
This happened to me too! I googled it and a blogger mentioned this would happen with some paints that have primer, which was my case. I am yet to try again with plain latex paint.
Jayme says
I made some DIY paint last night & did everything you suggested. I used latex flat with no sanded grout, and I mixed water & grout first, when I added in the paint it curdelled like spoiled milk. Any thoughts?
Denise says
Jayme, I have experienced lumping/thickening but not immediately after mixing? Homemade Chalk Paint Could it possibly have been an old paint… or does your grout have a lot of polymer in it? I’m not a polymer expert, but I do recall using a brand of grout which had a fair amount of this binder… that’s when I had most of my “lumping/thickening” occur in a short time span.
Rae says
Hi, thanks for the detailed post. I have been using DIY chalkpaint using nonsanded grout for a long time now. I have probably painted almost two dozen or so pieces of furniture. Despite the no prep buzz, I still always sand with my orbital to take the sheen off the furniture – just in case. I have also used Annie Sloans chalk paint as well. Both pure white, and florence.
My problem is this – I find that my DIY version almost ALWAYS scratches off (regardless of what type of paint I mix it with). I seal with wax (I use minwax and annies), but still I can scratch it off with a fingernail, sometimes even a month after it was painted. I find I cant do this nearly as much with the Annie Sloan paint. You mention in your post that you get the same adhesion with the DIYs as you do with Annies. Are YOU able to scratch your paint off?
I love using chalk paint for furniture over other paints because I love the finish and the fast dry/recoat time. I like the freedom for colour choices that I get from my DIY version, but the scratching issue is an ongoing problem.
Any suggestions, or further insights?
Thanks
Denise says
How interesting Rae… no I’ve never had my DIY version scratch off. My suggestion would be to add more grout to your recipe and/or try sealing it with a satin/matte polyurethane. Minwax Wipe-On Satin or Rustoleums Soft Touch works well. I’d be interested in hearing how that works for you.
Linda Brown says
Thank you for such clear and concise information. I pin a lot, but I’ll keep this one.
Denise says
Hi Linda! So glad you dropped by and found the information useful.