Barb vs. Chalk Paint. Round #1 Goes To...

So I tried out this chalk paint phenomenon that all the kids are talking about. My friend Joanne, from Muddarittaville Studio, recently became a distributor of van Gogh chalk paint so she gave me all of her leftover Annie Sloan paint.

We have an old bookcase that is cheap and an ugly shade of brown. Not real wood, just one of those particle board jobbies with a fake wood grain. Perfect for my first stab at chalk paint.

I'm completely new to this don't-need-to-sand, just-slap-it-on kind of painting. Kind of scary. I'm not that trusting. But since I didn't like the bookcase anyway, I had nothing to lose. I used Old White for the sides, top, and shelves, and Paris Grey for the back wall.

When I opened the white paint it was very thick so I added some water to thin it out. I think I might have added too much though because it took 4 coats to cover the sides. I didn't water down the grey at all and it only took 2 coats. Also, when the paint is watered-down it doesn't self-level as well as it should and I was left with brush marks. So there you go, lesson learned - leave it thick.

brush marks. boo.

Here we are at the end of the first day. I do like how fast it dries. Even though I had to do multiple coats, they didn't take long at all. 

(How 'bout that Hoosier cabinet in the background? Can you believe my father-in-law was using it to store paint cans and hardware? I can't wait to re-finish it.)

Joanne gave me several colours to play with, so I used a few blues and a yellow to stencil some flowers onto the back wall. Again a first - first time using a real stencil - hey, Martha! - and real stenciling brushes. I like how the flowers don't jump out at you in a hippie-dippy, mystery machine sort of way - they're just there behind the books as a little extra surprise.

I waxed everything and then roughed up the white a bit along the edges with a sanding sponge to give it a chippy look. I didn't sand the grey at all since the back wouldn't normally wear, amiright?

I haven't decided where to put it yet - probably in the craft room since there are never enough places to hold all my stuff. For now I gave it a little decoration and put it in the front hallway.

I don't know if I'm completely sold on chalk paint yet - it's a little heavy for my liking. My favourite wood finish is still to stain it then give it a light wash of colour (and wax of course). I do want to try it again though. I'd love to paint something with one of the bright blues - maybe a stool or a small table.

Have you tried chalk paint? What's your opinion? 

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I'm linking up here this week!