Posted on August 28, 2021August 28, 2021 by sdavis

Is Annie Sloan Chalk Paint® Right for My Project?

Is Annie Sloan Chalk Paint® Right for My Project?

Ready to turn that old dresser, kitchen cabinets, or maybe a family heirloom that needs some modernization into a masterpiece? Curious if Chalk Paint® is the right medium to bring your vision to life? Love DIY and want an easy project? Then this article is for you!

Chalk Paint® comes in a variety of colors to suit every need. From Pure White to warm pastel green of Lem Lem.

What Exactly is Chalk Paint®?

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Let’s go over if using Chalk Paint® is right for you!

Annie Sloan Chalk Paint® is an amazing, easy-to-use product that will have you painting furniture in no time. It doesn’t require any priming, and it can be used as soon as the surface is ready! Chalk Paint® can be used on anything from furniture to walls and even fabric, too! Chalk paints are durable enough for inside projects or outside ones.

Chalk Paint® isn’t just a smart time-saving option; it’s an environmentally friendly one too! Chalky Paint is created with no harmful solvents or VOCs (volatile organic compounds). That means fewer fumes in the air and safer workspaces!

Chalk Paint® should only take one or two coats if applied correctly but will look fuller with two coats. Chalk paint® does not require sanding in between coats. However, a light scuff with a sanding pad will ensure even application and coverage. Use Chalk Paint® on any dry surface, including glass, wood, metal, ceramic tile, and fabric!

Chalk Paint® should be applied using Annie Sloan Chalk Paint® Brushes for the best coverage and look. They are specially designed for the consistency of the paint and leave a smooth finish when dry.

Many people are concerned about whether Chalk Paint® will hold up on high-traffic pieces. The short answer is yes, but only if you take the time to seal it properly with wax after every coat. With Annie Sloan paint in particular, be sure to apply two or three layers of soft wax and allow each layer to cure before applying another one fully. You should never have a problem! If using Dark Wax you should be more conservative of your use as it will darken as you add more layers.

Chalk Paint® is nonreactive and will not react with metal hardware causing blemishes or defects in the finish.

It’ll likely look nice for several years but allow you easily maintain any changes later on by simply rewaxing the surface when it starts looking shabby, which may not be necessary since there are other methods like using lacquer or even polyurethane sealers (though note they will lose its original sheen).

If you want to make your chalk paint more durable and last longer, the lacquer is a great option. However, it might take away from the matte finish that makes these projects so beautiful in the first place!

Cleaning up is easy! You don’t need any harsh chemicals to clean up after using chalk paints, either. Just use soap and hot inside of five minutes for cleanup. Since Chalk paint dries quickly, it makes it easy to clean up! And the best part is how little you need for each project, so they go a long way! The less you use, the less mess you will create!

For more tips and tricks, Check out our How-To Series of Blog posts.

Not looking to bite the project off yourself? Not in the mood to Chalk Paint® furniture yourself? Ask us to do a custom project for you! We offer a wide range of Chalk Painting Services

Check out our Store Locations for Curated Chalk Painted furniture

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Posted on August 25, 2021August 28, 2021 by sdavis

Cleaning Chalk Painted Furniture: A Helpful Guide

Many people who love Chalk Paint furniture find that it’s difficult to keep clean. Chalk paint is a matte finish, which means dirt and other debris can stick to the surface more easily than with glossy surfaces. This blog post will show you how to clean Chalk Paint furniture so it looks new again!

How do I clean my furniture that is painted with Chalk Paint?

You can just wipe it off. You can’t use harsh products or tools on your piece. And you should avoid liquids and spray polishes. However, if there is a stain, use water with dish soap and rub it in gently.

How do I remove scuff marks?

If you want to remove scuff marks on your furniture, the best way is to use a clean cloth and Chalk Paint© Soft Wax. This will make the finish stronger and remove any marks. If you have accidentally damaged your finish by cleaning it, apply another coat of wax.

What if Oil spilled on my Chalk Painted Furniture?

If you spill oil on your project, use a degreaser (like Krud Kutter) to clean it. Then wipe it off with some water. Now you can access the damage. If there is a stain, lightly sand the surface and then paint or wax again. The degreaser will make your finished project look bad, so do not use too much of it.

What if I get Lipstick or Makeup on my Chalk Painted furniture?

If you get lipstick or makeup on your finished project, you will need to clean it with a degreaser. This will remove any oil. Then wipe it with clean water to remove any chemical residue that might be left behind. Sometimes when people wear lipstick, they have colored a surface, and then you will need to sand and repaint the area where it was stained.

What if I get Nail Polish on my Chalk Painted furniture?

If you spill nail polish on your finished project, you will need to wipe off the nail polish and let the surface dry completely. You will then need to lightly sand that area and repaint and wax the entire surface.

What if I Overheat or Burn my Chalk Painted furniture?

If the finish has been discolored from scorching or is bubbling or peeling. The bubbling and peeling paint should be sanded until smooth. Then you can repaint and wax the entire surface.

What if I spill Water on my Chalk Painted furniture?

If water gets on the paint, wipe it up quickly. If you do this, you will see some spots in your paint. After a few hours, these spots will disappear and your paint will be fine. Keep the area that has water damage dry then lightly sand and paint again with a coat of wax to protect it. If there is too much water damage, the paint may peel off. In this case sand down the peeling area before painting again with wax to protect it from further damage.

What if my Chalk Painted furniture gets scratched?

Scratches are easy to fix. If you want to blend it into the paint, use sandpaper that is medium or fine-grit and then paint over it. However, you can also just paint over the scratch if you want. As the wax cures, it will look normal and not be noticeable anymore.

Chalk paint is meant to be distressed and worn, so a few scratches here and there will add character.

If you’re looking for a way to keep your Chalk Painted furniture clean, we’ve got the answer! We hope these tips are helpful as you maintain and care for this beautiful finish. Let us know if there’s anything else we can do to help.

Posted on April 20, 2021April 21, 2021 by Beth Lee — Leave a comment

Saving “Matilda” from the Coal Furnace a story of Custom Restoration, Chalk Paint©, and Family

A common question asked by our customers is; do you paint furniture for customers? The answer is yes! I love to do custom furniture painting for customers and help them bring their vision to life. Some custom jobs are easy, just a simple single color application with clear wax. However, some projects require a lot of TLC. Like my current project, “Matilda.”

I give these long-term projects names. I’m not quite sure what Matilda’s story is; what we know is that she had been assembled by combining several pieces of furniture. It appears that her base may have been a harpsichord with a desktop and cubbies and drawers added and a cupboard resembling a glass front kitchen hutch on top. Matilda is a family heirloom, which makes this project so much more exciting and fulfilling.

Matilda who was abandoned in a basement in Western Pennsylvania next to a coal furnace was covered in black soot. She had been tragically cut in half to remove her from the cellar as the steps were too narrow.

My first step was to scrub the top section and access the damage. Matilda had some missing corbel type molding trim and some other small pieces of “gingerbread.” I was able to replace the missing parts by making silicone molds and resin to duplicate the components.

After I cleaned Matilda and having her missing trim replaced, I applied a coat of Shellac. Using Shellac is essential; it creates a seal, keeping any talons (defects In the wood that rise to the surface and develop brown spots) from bleeding through the

paint. The Shellacking process also helps the Chalk Paint© to not be fully absorbed into the old dry wood saving on the amount of paint needed. Since the customer chose to paint Matilda in the Original color of Annie Sloan Chalk Paint. It was very important to create this seal.

After the topcoat was applied to Matilda’s top, I distressed the entire piece using 120 grit sandpaper. Then, applied a coat of Chalk Paint Clear Wax.

With the top completed, I started on the base. In the initial assessment, I discovered one piece of trim missing and gathered the pieces that had been cut off to get her up those basement steps. Unfortunately, when I moved her across the floor, I discovered one of her feet was rotten and needed to be replaced. So as of today, I have replaced her foot, made the silicone mold for the missing trim, and rebuilt the interior framework so the amputated part can be reattached.

DIY Silicon Mold Maker

Prep for Silicon molding

Suspending the part so the molding silicone can cure

Creating the Mold

Example 1 of reproduced pieces

Example 2 of reproduced pieces

Example 3 of reproduced pieces

Example 4 of reproduced pieces

The next steps are: to secure the amputated part in place, pour the resin in the mold, attach the molded part, scrub the coal dust off, apply Shellac, paint distress, and wax. The final step will be to replace the missing back and attach chicken wire to replace the missing glass front.

Just a few more days and Matilda will be going home!