DIY - Lessons Learned Mixing Chalk Paint

Plaster of Paris......you can find this at most hardware stores. If you want to have it delivered to your door, I found

I had this latex paint left over from a different project so I decided to use it

As I am stirring the paint it keeps getting thicker and thicker and was lumpy and gritty. Oh no, something is wrong.

As any DIY'er knows NOT ALL PROJECTS go as planned. For me the best thing to do is try to work through the problem and if that doesn't work throw it in the trash start over with plan B. Most projects can be redone or fixed

This was my wood candleholder before painting. Lovely but I wanted a change.

I went ahead and painted the candleholder with the thick, sandy looking paint. Ugh....not as I had envisioned...........This was not going well, but I wasn't giving up.

Once the first coat dried I sanded the candleholder and much to my surprise, it smoothed out the paint and took all the sandy particles off. It looked lovely and smooth.

Happy Dance Time!

After reading more on how to mix your own chalked paint I realized what I had done wrong. Its very important to first mix the Plaster of Paris and water until smooth. Then add the latex paint. I failed to do this step and the mixture turned so thick I had to keep adding water in order to use the paint. My paint also had lumps and sandy pieces.

This thick-body paint goes on as easy as regular paint, but adds the look of an antique finish -- with or without distressing. Not to be confused with chalkboard paint, a chalk-finish paint surface can be left with a matte finish or rubbed for a more satiny look. Everyone from decorators to homeowners appreciates its ease of application and ability to add color to a room without time-consuming sanding, filling, and priming.

Chalk-Finish Paint Recipe

Mix your own chalk-finish paint using the following supplies:

Flat latex paint

Plastic paint buckets

Plaster of Paris

Stir sticks

Plastic measuring cups (do not reuse for food)

Water (cool, not warm)

General _______ Matte Finish

Mix 1/3 cup of plaster of Paris and 1/3 cup of cool water; stir until completely smooth. Mix that with 1 cup of latex paint and stir thoroughly. This will make enough chalk-finish paint for one coat on a six-drawer dresser. Chalk-finish paint should not be stored and reused. If you have a smaller project, mix smaller amounts of plaster, paint, and water in the same proportions.

I put a coat of General Finishes Water Based High Performance Polyurethane Top Coat Flat Quart. It went on smooth and dried to a beautiful matte look. You always want to protect your project with a top coat and it makes dusting and keeping the painted item clean easier.

You really can save a lot of money by mixing your own chalk paint. Practice makes perfect so give it a try. I know I am ready to give it a try again.