I'm not familiar with chalk paint and why it seems to be so popular.

It's popular because you can paint without sanding down, or stripping the previous finish.

It is also easily distressed for that rustic look. You can wax it, or protect it with water based poly. Just clean your piece first, and then go. Jill has the the best answer. If you have a cherry finish, and are going to paint with white paint, seal the piece first with Zinsser Spray Shellac, so it won't bleed pink through your chalk paint. Ask me how I know. lol

10 reasons to use chalk paint

1) PREP WORK!

1)Probably the most popular benefit is no sanding or priming needed. How great is that?!?!

2) Any Style!

It doesn’t have to be “shabby chic”

Other styles: rustic (junky), antiqued (gently aged), farmhouse (chunky), whimsical (fun), artistic (hand painted designs), crackled, crisp and clean, and more.

3) Fast drying!

Yes, chalk paint is fast drying. You can do 2 coats in a matter of 1 – 1.5 hrs, total time of painting two coats and wait time between them.

4) Less coats!

Different brands will require different amount of coats but in general a good quality chalk acrylic paint should only take 2-3 coats to go from one extreme light to dark or dark to light.

5) Easy peasy!

The more you paint the more styles you can accomplish and feel comfortable doing. Remember it’s just paint. You can always put another coat over it if you don’t like it or if you act quickly you can wipe it right off with a damp cloth and no harm no fowl.

6) Paint inside!

This was a huge attraction to this type of paint for me, painting all year round no matter what the weather is outside. No worries about bugs, dust or pollen from the winds blowing onto a freshly painted surface.

7) Paint Anything!

Chalk paint will stick to almost any and every surface! Here are just a few surfaces for examples: outdoor furniture, metal, glass, dishes, plastic, linoleum, ceramic, steel, fabric, walls, finished and unfinished wood, laminate, tile and more!

8) Availability!

Currently every store and their brother has their own brand of chalk paint so it is readily available and you can always find any brand online. There are great DIY recipes that work for those who don’t want to mix their own customized colors from the available chalk paint brands on the shelf.

9) Sealers!

Chalk type paint has an ultra matte finish. This allows any sealer to have great adhesion to the chalk type paint surface. This means you can use anything from Vax, wax, varnish, poly (though polycrylic seems to be the most popular) etc.

10) Easy clean up!

Chalk paint is water based, and can be washed off of almost everything, including your project which is why it needs to be sealed.

I did see that I received answers about my pine cone projects but I haven't had a chance to do them and I don't see them any more. I'm not a fast worker and my husband has been in the hospital since Sept27,2017. I need simple projects .I did bleach some cones as told how to do it.Thanks for any that I have gotten or will get

Judy