Hey ya’ll!
If you follow me on the regular, you probably recognize that I am absolutely in LOVE with Dixie Belle Chalk Paint and I use it almost exclusively on all my furniture projects. I am not a brand ambassador, nor do I sell DB; I’m just a very enthusiastic customer. However, with all the gorgeous colors they have available – there are times when I have a particular color I want to paint with because one of my clients has requested it, or it matches something else in my home, etc.
I discovered an easy method to making my own Chalk paint years ago and as I sit today ready to dive into a new project, I thought I’d share it with you also! I will teach you in this short post how to make your own chalk paint inexpensively and quickly. I will tell you, it’s not perfect, and it’s not better than the stuff you can buy ready to go, and the shelf life isn’t long – you want to use this paint within a few weeks of making it, or it could start to harden. But in a bind, or if you are doing a project and want to use some paint you have on hand, this is the way to go.
The Ingredients that you need to make your DIY Chalk Paint are:
- Latex Paint, or Acrylic Paint (any including flat, satin, semi-gloss) – 1 Cup
- Plaster of Paris – 1/3 Cup
- Warm Water – 1/3 Cup
A container to mix in that has an airtight lid.
A Stir Stick of some sort.
You can make as much as you’d like by increasing the recipe. Plaster of Paris will take the sheen out of the paint and provide that chalky smooth finish that we love so much! Warm water is essential to help in mixing the Plaster of Paris or you will end up with a clumpy mess (trust me!) There is no order or preference to the mixture, just put it all in a container and stir thoroughly then apply to your piece.
What to do After you Paint
After you apply your paint and it dries, I recommend giving your piece a quick once over with very fine grit sandpaper, like 220 fine. This will give it that smooth chalky finish. Did you know – you don’t “have” to seal chalk paint?? –
30 days after application, chalk paint cures fully. However, if you are impatient like me, you want to use your finished piece immediately…. if that’s the case do the following:
You can elect to use a Clear Poly ( I like MinWax flat water-based poly) over the top in 2 thin coats to seal your piece -especially if you painted the top of a dresser or table where you know wet items might be placed, or you can wipe the piece down with clear wax ( I like Dixie Belle Clear Wax).
I have used my own DIY chalk paint on several projects including Clocks, plant holders, artwork, and furniture.
Try out this simple recipe and share your experience with me including some pictures of your creations!
Thanks for stopping by and have a wonderful day!
Customers Say…