We were lucky enough to receive the gift of a piano from a friend. She simply didn't use it much and figured it was time to give it a new home.
I'm going to share with you something that may change your painting and DIY projects forever. It's a little thing called Chalk Paint. And let me tell you, I've heard about it before and dismissed it as a complicated fad but I was wrong.
It happens sometimes.
Annie Sloan Chalk Paint is the original brand and if you have a Stockist (a person who sells the brand) in your area you're in luck! The thing that makes it great is you don't have to prime. Can I say that again with more enthusiasm? YOU DON'T HAVE TO PRIME!
Total time saver. Because if you're like me, you are cramming in projects during a child's nap time, nighttime, or early morning hours while they're still in bed.
Also, the paint adheres to metal, plastic, glass, wood, and fabric!
Steps for Successful Chalk Painting
1. CLEAN
Clean your item with a damp rag and dry.
Using a basic paint brush (I used the cheap chip brushes you get from Home Depot) apply 2 coats, allowing it to dry in between coats. You can use more if you feel like you need it, but truly for this project I only required 2 coats.
It seriously takes 20 minutes to dry each coat. Walk me to the confessional if I'm lying because seriously this stuff is miraculous. Disclaimer: if you're in a super damp climate or it's really rainy and humid out this time will increase. I'm in Oregon and it still took around 20 minutes.
3. WAX
Wait 24 hours and then apply wax. Don't skip this part. This is what seals in your color and protects your piece. And it's easier to apply than you may think.
You have options with the brush you use. The first option is using the official Annie Sloan wax brush. It's a little pricey but if you are planning to do more projects it's worth it. Also, the pointed tip prevents you from applying too much. The second option is to hit up a craft store like Michaels and look for a very similar brush. It will probably have a flat top. I voted for the latter to save a little cash and it worked great.
Use the wax very sparingly. I brushed it into my piece using a circular motion. Once I finished one large area, I wiped and buffed it with a clean rag. Your paint will appear darker but since the wax is clear, it will dry to the correct shade.
At first your piece will feel satin-y soft, each day the wax coating will continue the drying process. In fact, it takes about 30 days for it to completely cure although, it's dry to the touch and useable pretty much right away.
4. TOUCH UP IF NEEDED
Added bonus. If you need to touch up your paint you can still apply it even after you've waxed. Allow it to dry 24 hours and you can always go back and add a little wax if needed to those spots.
5. CLEAN & ADMIRE
Clean brushes using mineral spirits.
My neighbor Sharon stocks Annie Sloan at her shop in Big White Goose in Canby, Oregon. Nope, this is not an affiliate link, I'm not getting free paint or anything else, I just like the product and I think she's a kind and brilliant business woman.
What do you think of the finished product?
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