Homemade Chalk Paint

Chalk Paint is my best friend. For reals folks. It's amazing. I use it on  99% of my upcycle projects.  You don't have to sand or prime, you can paint over stain, lacquer, laminate, paint etc.

But, it is EXPENSIVE to buy.  Seriously. Like $47 a pint.  So I have been experimenting with lots of DIY recipes, and found the one. I won't ever cheat on this one. It's amazing, and you can't tell the difference between it, and the really expensive stuff, well except for in price. 

Here's the recipe, cause I wanna share the love :)

1/2 cup HOT water
1/2 Plaster of Paris (if you use a coupon at Hobby Lobby or Joann's this is less than $5 for a huge box that will last you forever)
1 1/2 cup flat latex paint (in any color you chose)

Mix the water and PoP together until PoP is dissolved, then add paint, and voila! You have chalk paint.  Throw it on a piece of furniture that's seen better days, and give it a face lift.  If you want a vintage-y grainy feel don't sand, but if you are looking for a  more smooth surface, use a brown paper bag and go over the piece after each coat.  Wax, lacquer, or Polyurethane after.  (Note, use a polycrylic instead of polyurethane over white pieces, or it will yellow)

It also dries much faster than regular latex paint, so it cuts your work time in half.

Writing Desk

I've been busy this past month with several refinish projects for my friend Marlynn who just bought a new home.  It's been a lot of fun, and she has great taste!

She brought me this generic partially faux wood writing desk. It's a great size for a smaller space, and perfect to keep the kids out of her bills. It's been really fun to give this piece some personality. It was such a fun project, and I just feel in love with the vintage white, and mint combo she choose.

Cosco Step Chair #3

I have a friend that bought the Chevron Step Chair and wanted another one, so we found one at an estate sale and set to work.

This one was by far in the worst shape. Unfortunately, I forgot to take a before picture. 

This time, we went with a rust protectant, hammered metal spray paint, and a cute floral fabric. It will be a great addition to her new kitchen!

Jade Jenny Lind Cradle

This cradle turned into a bit of the pain the behind, but when it was finished, all my hard work really came together. I forgot to grab a before pic of this one, but it looked exactly the same as this one:

Cosco Step Chair #2

I was asked to do this chair for a friend. I love the fabric.

Before... Pretty gross right?

After. Love me some Chevron!

Vintage Cosco Step Chair

I picked up this awesome chair on a facebook yardsale.

Please ignore the messy floor :) I had some "help"

Some new paint, and fabric, and viola! New chair!

Chevron Bench

Here's a little goodie I made from the hutch of an old computer desk.  Told you I love me some chevrons! 
I posted this pic right after painting it (it was distressed and sealed after) to get an opinion on pricing, and had dibs on it before I could even post it. 

I love me some chalk paint. This is laminate, and I didn't have to sand, or prime.

Mason Jar Soap Dispensers

I've been making these for awhile. I've done pretty good selling these on etsy, and the Facebook yardsale pages. 

Gotta love a little polka dot and chevron love

Vanity

I picked up this mess of a vanity at my local DI for $10, and bought the chair at a garage sale for $10 a couple months ago.

Before

I posted the picture of the vanity on my Facebook page to get opinions on color. If I am going to sell something, and am stumped on color, I always reach out to my peeps for an opinion. What can I say, they have great taste :) Any who, my cousin asked me if I could do it up custom for her to match her new bedset. 

I got to spend some quality time in Hobby Lobby's knob section, and fabric section searching for just the perfect things. I absolutely love doing custom pieces for people I know well, because I can add more personality and spunk into.  This particular cousin I did the piece for, has, A LOT of spunk, so this was fun. 

Had to add the little surprise pop of color on the drawer.

New seat cushion with fabric covered buttons.

It's amazing what a little paint and time will do.

This set made me want to paint every piece of furniture I own matte black. No lie. It's a problem, but you know you did a good job when you feel that way. 

Dream Cradle

When I listed the Chevron Cradle, I was nervous about the response I would get, I love it, but wasn't sure how much other people would like it.  There was a lot of interest, and one lady in particular was upset she didn't win the auction, emailed me to make a cradle for her sister on a rush order. 

I drove to Magna late in the evening to pick up the cradle so I would have another one in time, and hurried to finish it before my son's surgery mid week.  A little chalk paint, a little wood applique, and we were in business.

It turned out pretty cute I think :)

Before

Sorry the quality of picture isn't as good. My trusty photographer wasn't available during the rush of this to get me some good pictures.

 

I love me some Riley Blake fabric. All of my cradle bumpers so far have been sporting Riley Blake fabric.  If you haven't seen it, you NEED to check it out. 

Chevron Cradle

I am obsessed with chevrons right now, so when I picked up this sweet vintage cradle at a yard sale for $10 I couldn't help myself but give it a little chevron love.

This cradle needed added slats on the sides to make it legal to sell, so I added the slats, gave her a freshening up with some chalk paint, some chevron love, new mattress, new bumper pads, and a new sheet.  This sweet little cradle was picked up by her new owner just the other day, and is awaiting a brand new baby to rock to sleep.

I struggled a bit, painting over the little decals, my parent's crib had some just like this on it, and it was an emotional deal from the start.