Annie Sloane V. Homemade Chalk Paint

Karyn Workman
by Karyn Workman
I've looked at both and haven't tried either. I was thinking of starting with Annie Sloane but the color red she has ins't as dark as I would like. So I am considering making my own. I want a brick red (dark) for my (headboard/footboard bench) and then I plan stencil a gloss image of the same color before the final black stencil over it all. Then to distress from there. What's everyone's favorite?
  12 answers
  • Becky Becky on Jan 26, 2015
    I've used both. I guess I really prefer Annie Sloan, but it is expensive. I've had good luck with making my own and truly doubt if I will ever buy AS again. Just be sure to get your homemade paint very smooth. I haven't found any difference in the durability of the homemaded vs AS paint.
  • Karyn Workman Karyn Workman on Jan 26, 2015
    Thanks Becky! Trying to get a general feeling from the crowd.
  • Abi Zimmerman Abi Zimmerman on Jan 26, 2015
    I haven't used either but my sister-in-law uses the DIY version and swears by it. @Becky what kind of wax do you use with your DIY version?
  • Belinda Todd Belinda Todd on Jan 26, 2015
    I prefer Annie Sloan. You could mix some of the AS paints to make a custom color.
  • Becky Becky on Jan 26, 2015
    I use Annie Sloan clear wax and mixwax for the colored wax. It was getting too pricey to buy more AS. Both work equally well. Minwax clear darkens the color by more than just a little. AS is truly clear. I'm not finding either type is holding up extremely well. I have it on living room furniture which gets harder use. I'll use some kind of poly in the future but we are hard on furniture.
  • Linda Linda on Jan 27, 2015
    i have added a small amount of black latex paint to the Annie Sloan red to get the darker red paint color. It works great! The Annie Sloan paint is great to work with but limited on deeper colors. Just mix colors to get what you want. Have fun!
  • Elizabeth Giese Elizabeth Giese on Jan 27, 2015
    You could check shabby p aunts online I have used all shabby Annie and home made. I liked shabby or Annie best.
  • Elizabeth Giese Elizabeth Giese on Jan 27, 2015
    Oops. Paints
  • Country Design Home Country Design Home on Jan 27, 2015
    Hi- I have used pretty much every type of chalk paint, including my own recipe. Annie Sloan really is great to work with, as it goes on smoothly and actually, one quart goes a very long way. I think the color you are looking at is Emporer's silk, which is a very bright red. You can tone it down with either the dark wax or adding (not black) but brown or burnt sienna to give you the barn red you are searching for. But, as an alternative, Americana makes a nice line of chalky paint you can purchase at Michaels, and I think they have the color you are looking for. It's called Rouge Burgundy. http://www.bing.com/images/search?q=americana+chalk+paint+red&id=327045C6991318F8B61F1630011DE6855732B98C&FORM=IQFRBA#view=detail&id=327045C6991318F8B61F1630011DE6855732B98C&selectedIndex=0
  • Karyn Workman Karyn Workman on Jan 27, 2015
    Thank you all for your suggestions. I really appreciate them!
  • Pamela Jones Pamela Jones on Jan 27, 2015
    I mix my own chalk paint.. mix equal parts paint with Plaster of Paris and I use old shoe wax in the can to wax :) works great.. If your paint is a little to thick for your liking, just put in a little bit of water..
  • Karyn Workman Karyn Workman on Jan 27, 2015
    Will the wax rub off on clothing? Or should I use a glaze? This bench will be for seating.