Is Annie Sloan Chalk paint REALLY that easy?

Question

I have a cabinet I'm using in my kitchen as a coffee bar. I put a new top on it and put laminate on the top that matches my kitchen island. I would really like to refinisht it with a fairly light color Chalk paint, but I'm a little afraid to try. I am not usually put off by attempting new things, but for some reason, since I've never used chalk paint before it kind of scares me away from trying.

All the YouTube videos say it's easy to use...AND we have a local shop that not only sells Annie Sloan, but gives a how-to class. (They charge $100 for the class, and you work on pieces of scrap wood, not on a 'real' project.) I'm not sure if I should spend the money on the class or if it's something I could do a good job of without having taken the class. Thoughts?

Kathrine Anderson · Answer

I have never used ASCP simply because I haven't found a supplier where I live, but I have used other brands and made my own.  I love working with it.  I love the flat surface it provides.  I do lightly sand the item I am painting and for a super dark colored surface that is being painted a lighter color I think I would prime first.  It is probably not needed but also can't hurt.  I haven't used any of the waxes because I don't distress my painted project.  I find the paint wears well.  The paint is very thick and goes a long way.  I have added water at times to thin it.  I say give it a try.  :0)

Julie Fellhauer · Answer

I haven't used that particular brand,  but instead a brand that WalMart sells. It is a very thick paint but also really easy to use. Go for it!

Monica · Answer

It is a very good brand, very smooth and easy to apply. You don't really need a class to teach you how to use it.

Donna · Answer

I use ASCP for furniture, Mason Jars, picture frames, etc.  it is very easy to use.  Clear wax is a must for a smooth, rich finish.  Add the dark wax for an aged look.  Distressed well.  I love using ASCP.

Country Design Home · Answer

ASCP is really very similar to any other paint, except it goes on a bit thicker and adheres to any surface with little to no prep work. However, it does need a finish coat, so that is an additional expense and work required. You might try Americana paints by DecoArts- you can get them at Michaels (with a coupon, a lot less than ASCP) and gives you the same look. Krylon also makes a chalk paint in a spray can which is very easy to use and gives a smooth surface-also available at Michaels and cheap with a coupon. Or, if you are just planning on painting it, then grab a spray can of your favorite primer + paint color at your local Home Depot and spray away! By far the easiest method with great results!

Harv · Answer

A friend uses it its very easy, but I use my homemade chalk paint I love it and no lessons 2 coats and a wax or polyurethane top coat and done. No prep except wipe to clean. I've done several pieces including a dinning set and china cabinet. 1/3cup water 1/3 cup plaster Paris 1 cup paint. Mix. Paint. looks bad after first coat wonderful after second

Kelli Quinn Clark · Answer

Annie Sloan, in my opinion, is superior to any other paint. I have tried cheaper brands and they don't come close.

Sharon · Answer

I use American Paint Company chalk paint. I'm sensitive to string smells. There's no chemicals that require venting, no odor. Easy to use. I get it from Shizzle Design. Here's a link to their store but check out their site for all kinds of tips and ideas. You don't need to take a class. That's if you want to mix colors, layer colors & then distress,or wet distress. I've used the chalk paint from michaels but not crazy about it for furniture. I haven't tried the spray version yet. I would say if you're going to use wax as a finish, brushing in all directions creates texture and depth. If you're using poly, I'd go for a smooth look and brush in the same direction. Or, use a primer, and cover with Ben Moore cabinet paint, or lightly sand and use any paint&primer product. If using latex, add 'Floetrol' to the paint. It slows the drying time so the paint becomes self leveling. I think they're all easy. It depends on how you want the finished product to look & how durable it needs to be. If it may contact water, Shizzle has a new mineral paint that wld work well. Check it this link and good luck. http://shizzle-design.com/store#!/c/0/inview=category12405989&offset=0&sort=normal

Ana · Answer

I use DIY chalk paint.  2tbspoons calcium carbonate, 1 tbspoons water, 1cup paint.   Any brand.   Chalk paint is easy in a lot of ways. The variable is the surface.  Older, dark pieces need lots of prep to prevent bleed through.  Shellac-based primer is best I've used.

Nana in Texas · Answer

I've just started using the brand called Shabby Paints and I love them. Very little prep other than water & vinegar and the 2 pieces I've done have turned out fabulous. The paint covers extremely well. Plus they are SAFE. No odor, no VOC's, safe to paint inside your house and use around your family. There is a website with videos, and a FB page with questions and answers from the people who make their living working with it.

Tina Bloomquist Gauthier · Answer

I don't know anything about Annie Sloan except it's expensive and the color palette is somewhat limited. I looked up some DIY recipes to make my own and practiced using some leftover latex paint and a yard sales nightstand. I didn't pay for a class. Instead I searched Facebook for chalk painting groups. I've been admiring the work of others and asking advice as I need it. Everyone has been very helpful. As it happens, I didn't like my practice colour so I went to Home Depot and bought one quart of latex paint in a colour that ages my eyes happy. My practice project is almost done.  Out of pocket expenses so far are the quart of paint, a. Package of foam brushes and a clear paste wax. All in, I'm under $30.

Elaine Simmons · Answer

I would never spend $100 for a class and then have to buy paint on top of that? I have used the recipe that Ana used and it turned out great. Her suggestion of using shellac on dark pieces is right on.

Valerie H · Answer

I used ASCP to paint a laminate cabinet, it was very easy to do and turned out great. Based on my experience, I would add that you should add water to it to thin it out just a little before painting with it. The store that sold it to me recommended I do that, as well. A couple thin coats are better than one thick one. The cabinet I painted is used daily in my kitchen, and is holding up great!

Rita Fabro · Answer

ASCP is too expensive for my tastes so I've decided to make my own using 1 cup of flat paint, 1-2 tablespoons of Plaster of Paris, and 1/4 cup of hot water. There are many recipes for DIY chalk paint on the internet. As for practicing first, why not get a scrap piece of wood and try it on that before committing to a piece of furniture?

DEBORAH BUTKUS · Answer

Yes extremely easy, do not hesitate...the paint is a little expensive, but I find it goes a long way and the results are fabulous. No need to prep the surface.  Just paint it.  You can do different styles...solid color, dry brushing,antiquing or distressing. I also hesitated and did a lot of research and once I started, I look at my furniture and cabinets and see potential.  Go for it.  If you want I will sent you some before/after pictures. This paint will make you look like a professional.  And I never took a class

The Redesign Habit · Answer

I'm with the other folks above. Why spend so much for a name when you can easily make your own for very little time and money. I like the Plaster of Paris recipe the best. Rita listed the recipe above. Use some leftover paint you have and do a trial run on some spare boards to get the hang of it. Just think of what else you could do with that money you save! :)

Milly Krotzer · Answer

Will the paint chip off laminate cupboards? Anybody reading this that knows?

Linda · Answer

This looks like an excellent first project. I love ASCP, although I see know that there are many other brands available. I agree that thinning it with water is a good idea. It may be necessary to add another coat when you do that, but It is much easier to work with if you thin it. I took the $100 class because I wanted to paint the cabinets in all 3 of my bathrooms (turned out great!), but I think that you could do this one on your own. You will want to finish with a coat of clear wax or some sort of a clear coat - brings out the grain and removes the 'chalkiness'. Happy painting! You'll get hooked!

Rosie Walsh · Answer

Milly Krotzer, you need to use a top quality primer on the laminate. I bought mine at Sherwin Williams. Mine has been replaced but is Multi-Purpose Interior/Exterior Latex Primer/Sealer B51-450 Series.

I make my own chalk paint using the calcium carbonate recipe shown above. Did purchase Annie Sloan Clear Wax, which I love, but for kitchen cabinets you should use a water based top coat sealer such as Poly Vine. This will give you an easily cleanable surface. And clean the heck out of your cabinets before doing anything. I use TSP.

Doreen · Answer

Yes the chalk paint is that easy.  Remember to finish it with the wax.

Katherine Mitchell · Answer

I have just used the chalk paint for the first time and it was very easy.  It rubs off quite easily until you seal it.

Ana · Answer

The blog 'In My Own Style' is my guide for painting how-tos.  See 'how to Paint Anything'

Art-Faux Designs and Painting Inc · Answer

I have heard both good and bad about the product. I have been in the business for nearly 40 years and would not trust a product for longevity that tells you no prep needed. I know many other decorative artists in the industry who don't care for this product also as the difficulty of using the wax. I would also warn that as a professional that wax is not used for a topcoat in the cabinet or furniture side of refinishing. I can only tell you my opinion here but if it were me I would take the class before investing a lot of time and money onto the product line before committing anything to it. However like I said this is only my professional opinion

Shari · Answer

Your satisfaction with Annie Sloan chalk paint will probably depend on your expectations of what you want your finished painted piece to look like. I've used the Annie Sloan brand and I am not a fan. Overall, it is easy to use (if you've watched videos, I don't think you need a class) but the coverage and finish I got was not as smooth or as professional looking as what I've gotten when I used interior latex paint. (Before I tried Annie Sloan, I had painted in excess of 30 pieces of furniture with latex paint.) I did thin the ASCP some and still found it difficult to achieve a smooth finish. I also found when painting a light color over a dark furniture finish (as you will be doing), it is extremely difficult to get good coverage without applying 3 or 4 coats. One problem no one really talks much about when using chalk paint is 'bleed through' on old furniture with a reddish stain. I experienced this first-hand on an old desk I painted with ASCP. After I applied a couple coats of paint, there were spots that would bleed a pinkish stain through the paint, which was very frustrating. I tried a stain blocking primer but that didn't work so I went to the Annie Sloan website and read you have to use shellac to block the stain. Once I got the bleed through spots blocked with shellac, I had to apply several more coats of paint and unfortunately, with time, the shiny spots of shellac are now showing through the more matte finish of the chalk paint. Really, the whole desk needs to be sanded down and repainted (in something other than chalk paint!) but after all the time and money I have put into it, I'm just not up for it right now. I mention the bleed through problem because it looks like the base of your cabinet is an older piece of reused furniture that has the same type reddish stain so bleed through may end up being a problem for you, as it was for me. Frankly, I much prefer Miss Mustard Seed's milk paint over Annie Sloan chalk paint. I've used Miss Mustard Seed's milk paint multiple times and I've been much happier with the final results. I do mix a hefty amount of the Bonding Agent with the milk paint though because I do not want my furniture chippy, at all, and if you use the milk paint without the Bonding Agent, some furniture can naturally *resist* the milk paint and you may get some automatic chipping. I hate waxing so I usually use the Hemp Oil to add a little luster to the matte finish of the milk paint, although the next project I do, I will probably try her new Tough Coat Sealer. I also love all the colors in MMS's milk paint line. Annie Sloan chalk paint colors--not so much. Miss Mustard Seed has video tutorials on her website if you want to learn more about using milk paint and the different milk paint products. If you don't have a Miss Mustard Seed retailer near you, Robyn Story Designs in Tampa, FL will ship Miss Mustard Seed milk paint products for free. Most of the time I have it shipped right to my door rather than drive 45 minutes to the shop. http://shop.robynstorydesigns.com/miss-mustard-seeds-milk-paint-free-shipping/?p=catalog&mode=catalog&parent=136&pg=1&pagesize=60 On the positive side, if you use the Annie Sloan chalk paint and don't like the final results, at least your cabinet will be relatively easy enough to sand down and paint with something else. (It's small and has very few intricate details that would require a lot of tedious sanding to remove whatever topcoat--wax or poly--you chose.)

OhSally · Answer

Thanks everybody for the great advice. I met with the woman at the shop that sells Annie Sloan locally, but discovered I don't want to spend even 2 cents at her shop. She was quite rude...had told me when I called she'd be there from 11 to 5, but I got there at 11:30 and she was just getting ready to leave for 'an important meeting'. Didn't she know about the meeting BEFORE she told me she was going to be there? And, she kept hinting that she thinks EVERYBODY needs to take her class because there are 'so many tricks' to doing chalk paint correctly and that she just doesn't have the time to give that information away for free! OKEEEE DOKEEEE...I'm rethinking this whole Annie Sloan paint thing.

NOW, I'd like to know WHY chalk paint vs other paints...what's so special about CHALK paint? Thanks!

Beth Baker · Answer

I had the same questions you did, I just purchased 1 can and went to town on a dining table. I used polycrylyic to protect it, not into waxing. But, from then on I've been making my own chalk paint with latex paint, plaster of Paris and calcium carbonate. It turns out beautifully. Give it a shot, and see if you like it? I can post the recipe I use if you are interested. I run a nonprofit that supplies furniture and other household items to women and children leaving homeless and domestic violence shelters who have acquired their own apartments. I paint a lot of furniture!! Hope this helps.

Beth Baker · Answer

BTW, when I teach a volunteer to chalk paint, I find a vintage, detailed, decorative frame for them to paint. That way they are not worried they are going to 'mess it up'. It dries quickly and they have instant gratification.

Connie · Answer

I myself have never used chalk paint but I read an article on a blog called itsalwaysautumn.com which seemed to have a lot of great info (I don't know her so this isn't a pitch). Anyway you might find it helpful before you start.

Chas' Crazy Creations · Answer

Here are some ideas that might help https://chascrazycreations.com/diys/re-purpose-up-cycle/furniture/

Is Annie Sloan Chalk paint REALLY that easy?

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Is Annie Sloan Chalk paint REALLY that easy?

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