We are still unable to buy Annie Sloan Chalk Paint in Australia. I've been desperate to try it but not desperate enough to pay the huge shipping costs. I even started discussions with Annie herself on becoming an importer/distributor but have decided against that path.
So what does a die-hard DIYer do but make some myself!
I found several recipes online for gesso and chalk paint. Here are some links if you are interested in going down that path yourself:
Gesso - Earth Pigments
However in the end, I used a simpler recipe which was just mixing normal acrylic paint with powdered calcium carbonate. This is similar to what Sherry at No Minimalist Here uses. I like how it turned out but as I've never seen ASCP or something painted in her chalk paint I have nothing to compare my homemade paint to. So I can't tell "if it worked out".
If you read this, and you have used ASCP yourself can you please let me know if the paint is smooth to touch before you put the wax on? On Annie's website it talks about the paint feeling velvety and my chair does feel this but only after I'd waxed it. COMMENTS MUCH APPRECIATED!
I think perhaps I'll have to order some sample pots from the UK to compare. .....Or I could just be happy with my version and not compare at all.
To make the chalk paint, I used a 500ml sample pot of flat latex (acrylic) paint and mixed it with 3 heaped tablespoons of calcium carbonate. I bought the calcium carbonate in the form of AG LIME (agricultural lime). I use the Ag Lime for my chickens so it was handy. I think next time I will try a finer powder as there are little bumps in my paint that look fine on the chair but may not suit a chest of drawers or flatter surface. I then mixed the paint with an electrical mixer (actually I used my bamix...). I used a lovely mix of clear and dark wax over the paint. I'm very happy with the result. (* EDITED to say I now use Plaster of Paris instead of Ag lime)
I still have to finish upholstering the chair. I'm going to use double piping which I haven't tried before. I haven't had time to drag out my sewing machine lately. And I want to stencil a French image on to the seat and just today ordered the stencil from the States. But this blog post is about the paint so I thought I'd share the unfinished chair with you now.
Ignore those staples and ragged edge below as they will be covered by the piping.
The stencil I ordered is this one from Maison Stencils. I think it will look charming on this chair:
The chair before was nice but very stained and dirty and I really didn't like the mottled wicker. The wood on the flowers at the top was actually quite damaged even though it doesn't show up in the photos.
I hope this encourages you to try your own homemade chalk paint. My chair has been painted for a month now and is wearing well. The paint has adhered extremely well and I didn't sand the chair but I did prime it.
I'll post the finished chair when the stencil arrives and it's all complete.
cheers
Fiona
PS =- See here foe the finished chair - I ended up not doing the stencil.
I really wish we could get Annie Sloane paints here. I thought when Masters opened they might stock it. Good tip to make your own, and the stencil looks great.
ReplyDeleteThanks Kylie
Yes thank you for sharing. You have a great blog I will follow on my way out and be sure to visit again soon. I hope you will visit at my place and do the same. Cheers Specialk XoXo
ReplyDeleteHi Fiona, well I have gone through 3 tins of chalk paint and I just love it. Once you have painted your piece and sanded it, it almost feels like silk, very soft and totally velvety. Once the wax is applied it feels even softer if that makes sense. The chalk paint is very easy to work with and and makes distressing the piece very easy. Will have to try out your home recipe but my chalk paint has almost come to an end. Love your chair by the way I think it has a chalk paint look about it that's for sure. Sandy xx
ReplyDeleteHi.your chair looks good and I love the stencil perfect..I also have been emailimg everyone trying to get some as well,its like they dont want to share this product,ha ha are the charges to bring the paint in really bad? what about if you got a few of us to put in and get it in at least that would be a start,- love dee
ReplyDeleteone word, love!
ReplyDeletei have got to try this one of these days! it looks awesome!
ReplyDeleteGreat job mixing your own chalk paint and painting that chair, Fiona! It's beautiful! You're saving a ton of money mixing it yourself, believe me! :)
ReplyDeletexoxo laurie
This is gorgeous! You are super talented. Thanks for sharing.
ReplyDeleteHope to see you on my blog:)
Stunning! Great job. Can't wait to see it finished.
ReplyDeleteThe chair is lovely. I look forward to seeing it with the stencil and the piping.
ReplyDeleteSharon @ mrshinesclass
Great job the chair is gorgeous and I like how you created your own chalk paint- it's on my to do list!
ReplyDeletegorgeous chair! I can't find Annie Sloan here in Dubai either and no one ships it here so I just made up my own version (I just finished waxing it). I used plaster of paris with my paint and it worked like a charm :)
ReplyDeleteLove the chair! I make my own chalk paint and love it! I use non-sanded grout. It is cheaper than calcium carbonate but is very chalky to touch until waxed. If interested, I posted my opinions on the homemade stuff on my site. Thanks for sharing! http://www.knottooshabbyfurnishings.com/2011/11/homemade-chalk-paint-low-down.html
ReplyDeleteNice chair!
ReplyDeleteYou asked about the texture of Annie Sloan chalk paint. It feels a bit like cosmetic foundation, so has a soft powdery feel to it, rather than a grainy texture. When looking at your close-up pics, I could see that your paint has a more textured finish than ASCP.
Jackie
I am a stockist of Annie Sloan's paint- so glad you were able to make your own. It is recommended to wax after painting then sand- I know, against everything you have learned....but try a sample board using the before wax sanding and the after wax sanding and see how they work for you with the recipe you have. Also, the sanding after waxing- the wax kind of rolls off in balls and you need a higher grit sandpaper- like 120 and up. This method leaves a silky soft feel and the idea is that the wax and paint bond for a super durable finish.
ReplyDeletefingers crossed for you.
Love your chair but did you ever post a complete after photo? I was curious if you painted the cane backing on the chair with a brush or if you sprayed your paint? Thanks
ReplyDeleteI am going to be making this paint this week. I will let you know how it goes. Looks awesome. Thanks for sharing!! Dee Covey, Fort Scott Kansas
ReplyDeleteSo - i just made chalk paint from plaster of paris - im guessing this is just too coarse as my paint went on quite granulated....i mixed it with dulux Antuque white - didnt even paint a quarter of what i wanted - so now im going to attempt to find some Calcium Carbonate from somewhere - good old Bunnings do not seem to stock it. I love how your chair turned out, the detail is lovely and love how its glazed in all the right spots.
ReplyDeleteD
hi D, if you mix some water into your plaster of paris and then mix it with the paint you will get rid of more granularity. you can easily sand those bumps off when the paint dried. good luck with it.
DeleteFiona
Hey guess what you can get Annie Sloan Paint in Australia :) there is a stockist in Strathfield :)
ReplyDeleteTry porters paint in Redfern they manufacture a range of lime and chalk paints
ReplyDeleteAnthony
Thanks Anthony but Porters Lime Paint is not suitable for furniture and their chalk paint is chalk board paint which is a little different to what I'm talking about here. But saying that I love Porters Paints!
DeleteHi Fiona,
ReplyDeleteAs I have said before, I love your paint effects on the furniture, but do you think I would be able to apply this paint to a wall? The wall will not have any wear but is behind lounge and buffet etc. I was thinking of using a colour like Taubmans 'Augusta' which a linen or ecru colour, or similar using a wide brush not a roller. I really want that old lime look. Have you used your chalk pain on walls?
cheers
best result with lime are mix a couple of sieved tablespoons with water until same consistency as the paint you are using. Let it soak an hour or so then mix with the paint.
ReplyDeleteplaster of Paris paint, again, sieve it, mix 2 Tbsp with warm water to creamy consistency, stir for 5 minutes adding more water if it thickens too much, you should end up with about a cupful, mix with a cupful of paint, combine well, add acrylic artist paints if you want to alter colour.
if paint thickens during use simply add more water. I usually use 3 coats, it must not be too thick for wood, just normal paint consistency. when it is dry I do sand VERY lightly, last coat is thinned down. I dont wax, I varnish, or not! my paint is only used for garden projects. Ive even painted old toilets using thick paint dabbed on, each subsequent layer sticks to the next, is quite textured when finished
I tried making my own chalk paint and it wasn't very successful. It thickened up super quick, even as I was stirring it! I threw the first two batches out and also had to throw the remainder of the third lot out after slapping it really quickly on my project until it dried. I used a recipe that seems to be standard although I've found some that have heaps more plaster of Paris than I used. Mine was to mix 1 & 1/2 Tblsp water with 2 Tblsp PoP then add 1 cup of acrylic/latex paint. Could it be the heat (it's mid January and we're in the middle of a heatwave)? I really want to have a go at this but am disappointed with the paint thickening up to putty consistency within a minute. Any suggestions?
ReplyDeleteP.S. When I tried adding water to thin it down it went lumpy and didn't thin out much
ReplyDelete