Easy Chippy Paint DIY - With a Secret Ingredient!

@JagCagDesign
by @JagCagDesign
4 Materials
$3
45 Minutes
Easy

So we've been in our house for over four years now! Amazing how time flies. Over five years since we lost our home to wildfire - I can't believe it. Every little DIY has made this home we bought feel more like the home we have always lived in. One of our big projects was the kitchen. Check out the "before" pic... pretty, but a little too much "fru fru" for me.

🥚

Best way to get a chippy effect!

Try this special paint technique with this Crisco that Amazon reviewers swear by!


The cabinets got an overhaul. (They REALLY needed it - don't let that before pic fool you! A lot of them were in need of repair and they had so much hand grease built up under the handles that there was no way to save the wood finish.) The counters got covered in zinc sheets. The wall got planked with milled wood from the trees that burned in our fire (I whitewashed it). We updated the sink and made a light fixture... so many changes, all done by us! Be sure to follow me on Instagram or Facebook @jagcagdesign if you want to see more pics!

Anyway, those corbels under the counter (in the first photo) were not structural and I didn't like them there. But I do like pieces like these used as decorative accents around the house - especially if they are white and chippy. So I set out to make them white and chippy!

First, they got a coat of this beautiful blue chalk paint I had leftover from another project. I painted them as messily as I could!

Next, came the secret ingredient. I had read about people using Vaseline to achieve a chippy finish, but it was 10pm at night, I didn't have any Vaseline, and the stores were closed. So I decided to try this:

Yep. Crisco. I happened to have it on hand because I use it to season my cast iron pans, especially those yard sale or thrift stores pieces that need a "pick me up". I dipped my finger in and smeared it on the corbels. I concentrated on putting it where natural wear might occur - like on the fronts and the edges. Then I gave the corbels two coats of white chalk paint, let dry, and started sanding. You can use a piece of sand paper or a hand sander. I like the hand sander, as long as you are gentle.

Everywhere that I had smeared the Crisco, the paint peeled off easily in chunks, leaving the "chippy" finish. Next, I watered down some brown acrylic paint and "antiqued" the pieces.

I am very messy with this part - cover the corbel quickly and heavily (you'll have to experiment with how much water you add to the paint), then dab/rub off with a rag. I like to let the paint soak down into the crevices. Just keep an eye on it while it's drying and wipe up obvious drip marks.

And that's it! The perfect chippy finish! I love them so much more than I did when they were part of the kitchen. Here they are, sitting on a shelf that we made from our milled Valley Fire wood.

Just look at this close up.... chippylicious for sure! 

And another angle... I have so much fun decorating with these!

Now... what are you going to paint with Criscoicon ? I'm sure you must have something lying around that needs a little character! If you try this technique, be sure to share a pic of your finished piece. I'd love to see it. Who new that Crisco could be such an awesome DIY ingredient!


Happy DIYing!


Xo,

Jamey


PS - Do you like my projects? If so, please share them and give me a follow on Instagram and/or Facebook - Jag Cag Design. Your likes, comments, and shares are what inspire me to keep posting. Thank you so much for your support!

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  • TERESA FORST TERESA FORST on Apr 05, 2021

    Great Tip!


    Do you have a post on the tin jello mold wreath? I love it!

  • Robin P Rambeau Robin P Rambeau on Apr 23, 2021

    Did u rebuild on same property? If not- how were u able to salvage the burned wood?

  • Emmawilliams1 Emmawilliams1 on Apr 05, 2022

    I think I will stick to Vaseline as much as I bake and Crisco is out of sight, cost wise..Guess if you decorating this much and cost, Crisco cost wouldn't be an issue? It all looks very nice!

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