Several Sundays ago, mom and I took a chalk painting class. This was the 2nd class for me and the 1st for mom. I "gave" her the class for her birthday present this year. Mom, me, Uncle Mike, Aunt Carol, Aunt Christine, and Maria all took the class together and we had a blast!!!
This class was a little different than the first class I took. In this class, you actually make your own chalk paint using paint samples from L@we's, plaster of paris, and water. I really like the fact that you can use any color of paint from Lowe's. The other paint I have been using is only available in a certain number of colors so this can be a little limiting at times. I also like the fact that this method is very cheap. You can buy a paint sample in any color for $3 and I got a big tub of plaster of paris that will last me FOREVER for $7 or so. This is WAY cheaper the the ASCP.
I brought the footstool that belonged to my great-grandmother (this was also the same piece I brought to the first class I took, I was not happy with the way it turned out the first time). And once again, I was not happy with the way it turned out. I just cannot get it to suit me! My next plan is to have dad strip it for me and just start all over with it. Who knows, the original wood may be gorgeous and I will just put a sealer on it and be done with it! Mom brought her wooden office chair, which was painted white when she bought it. She used a really soft green and it turned out beautifully. When she distressed it, some of the original dark wood showed through which I loved. She is going to paint her desk with the ASCP in Old White and then do the drawers green to match the chair, I will post a pic when it is all finished!
I liked this method of making your own paint just fine when you are going for the "distressed" and "shabby" look and when you are trying to "fix up" something old to make it look good again! Mom's chair and the stuff that the others brought really turned out beautiful. The lady next to me did a table that I just loved. It had been used to mix paint on so it was damaged. After she got through with it, I would have put it in my living room. I think if I had brought something else besides the footstool I would have been happy with the results. Downside-I do not think this paint goes on nearly as good when you are just trying to paint something for coverage. It seemed to work the best when used on dark wood and then distressed with sand paper or a sanding sponge. I think that is why I didn't like the way the footstool turned out. It had been painted with white gloss and then brown over that. Once I began sanding, the white showed through and I really didn't like that look at all. I prefer the look of dark poking through the chalk paint. Also, I am not sure about this paint holding up outdoors. The ASCP can be used outside, as long as you do not wax it. If you wax it, the wax will literally melt off in the heat. I have painted a cast iron owl and some bird houses that seem to be holding up great outside. The place where I took the 1st class had their awning outside painted with ASCP in red, so I know it holds up outside over time. Just not sure about the paint that you make yourself.
My next BIG project is the furniture in Izzie's room. It is mine from when I was a child. I love the style of it but am not so crazy about the paint. It has blue/orange/yellow little flowers on it that I could do without. I am going to paint it with ASCP in Old White. I am going to do the desk chair she has using the new method in a really pretty pale pink. Stay tuned to see the finished project but don't hold your breath, this is going to take a while! I am also in the process of re-doing a coffee table that I bought when I first graduated from grad school. It is a light oak. Don't like the color of it but love the design. Ceddy took the legs off which I have painted red. Then Dad is going to "help" (ok hopefully he will just do it) me with refinishing the top with a dark walnut stain product. He recently did the poker table in their basement using this stain stuff and it turned out fabulous! I think the table will be cool in my living room, which already has 2 red side tables that I painted.
This chair was painted with the first method I took the class on, using the Ann!e Slo@n Chalk Paint. I have this in our bedroom with the desk I painted. I really love the way these turned out! The color of the desk is the same color I am going to use on Izzie's bedroom furniture.
