I know, I know...I may be the last person ON EARTH who has not tried Annie Sloan Chalk Paint, and you probably said you'd curl up in a ball and start rocking if you read another blog post on this topic. I just haven't been compelled to go out and spend $38 on a quart of paint, not to mention the $36 tin of wax. {If my husband is reading this, I'm totally exaggerating the price. Because really, who would pay that much for paint?! NOT ME.} For those of you living with me under this rock, the special thing about ASCP is that you don't need to sand, prime, or do anything else before diving right in. You can paint wood, brick, marble, anything you can dream of! Doesn't that sound awesome, and worth a fortune? {We'll see.} For some reason {impulsive, anyone?} I recently decided that I had to have some. NOW. And not only that, but I needed to paint approximately 1,435 things, immediately. Does anyone else do this? It's a sickness. I get carried away easily. So I went to this lovely local shop, Stifel and Capra, because Kelly from Stylish Patina is a chalk paint "stockist." Which must be a very exclusive thing, since there are only two of them in the entire Northern Virginia area. I thought Kelly's displays were very well done, and she seemed to have a nice selection of paints, tools, and waxes. She also had some really cute note cards and other stuff. I wish I would have brought my camera! Next time. I also had a nice chat with the shop owner about the quality of our public schools and the outrageous real estate prices in the area. When I have more time to browse, I'm looking forward to going back. I bought "Paris Gray" paint and a clear soft wax. Even though I had major plans to paint every wood surface in my house, plus possibly my husband and kids if ASCP was really THAT GREAT, I knew I had to start somewhere. So I dug out this table, which was a "the-moving-trucks-will-be-here-any-minute-and-I-need-to-get-rid-of-this-thing"gift from my former next-door neighbor. It's a nice table, and I'd like to use it on my screened-in porch since it has 2 leaves, but there was some damage on the top: A perfect first victim! I mean candidate! ;-) Muahaha. I also bought a new paintbrush to go with my fancy paint, and it is AWESOME: so easy to clean, the bristles don't fall out, and the paint goes on so smoothly. It's a Purdy Nylox 2": Here are my initial impressions, after finishing the entire first coat: 1) A little goes a long way. I painted the whole table {including 2 leaves} and I hardly used any paint. 2) It's really thick, and dries quickly. So if you paint and try to paint over it, it gets a little sticky and difficult. After one coat, you can see the brush marks and black/silvery marks when it dries. If you like a distressed look, you would like this. If, like me, you want a smoother finish, you'll probably need multiple coats. See the brush marks? Here she is with her first coat {except the feet, because I didn't feel like covering the garage floor. Although, look at all those stains! Would it have made a difference?}
I'm going to try to apply a second coat to the top, before the kids wake up and we have to get ready for camp/preschool/work. Wish me luck, and I'll be back with a near-finished product...I hope!
30 Comments
Jennifer Saine
7/17/2012 11:03:47 pm
Well, just figured out what I'm going to do with the rest of my summer!
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Courtney Moreland
7/18/2012 05:43:33 am
Aimee,
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Courtney, Lucketts was actually the thing that planted the seed! I felt like the markups were crazy once they slapped on a coat of chalk paint. Let me know if you want me to pick some up for you {or you can order online}. They also had smaller sample sizes which should be sufficient for an end table or something small.
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7/18/2012 01:53:03 pm
I have not used it. The name "chalk" makes me think it will feel like chalk...too dry to the touch. (Does that make sense?) Which means I would have to not only buy the expensive paint but also the wax AND have to use it..another step. I am not patient enough for that! You are going to have to sell me big time to give it a try. Your table, though, is huge!! I know it will look great when you finish.
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Kelly, when I painted the first coat, I was like "uhhhh, it looks like I put liquid chalk on a table?" But after the wax was applied (which only took me a few minutes) it was matte but not chalky anymore. I need to take some better pictures so you can join me on the Annie Sloan dark side!
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Sheryl Wilson
7/19/2012 01:11:12 am
I'm in Kentucky and saw the paint in a cute shop here. I'm going to get the book today.
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Thank you so much, Sheryl! You'll have to stop by my back porch and see what you think. I'm definitely hooked and will be going back to Falls Church to get some more {since I have meetings there fairly often}. And yes, I'm going to invite Donna over to have a drink on her table! :)
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I am in LOVE with ASCP :) I tried to resist (even after buying my first quart) by making my own, and while it still works great it's just not Annie Sloan. Oh, and I've never bought the AS wax - I use the Minwax Paste Wax from Lowes and it works great - and it's only $10 :)
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7/20/2012 04:22:36 am
Hi Aimee, I haven't officially painted anything with ASCP either, just brushed some samples on my dining room chair and they weren't the right colors (but they were free!). Anyway, I look forward to seeing how your table turns out because mine is similar.
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Don't let the price scare you. Go to your local hardware store, (Fleet Farm) and they will mix you chalk paint. They don't sell it as chalk paint but they have a formula. It's a quarter of the price and works wonderfully. Three coats gives an unbelievable result. A little goes a LONG way.
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Great job on that gorgeous table, Aimee! What pretty legs she has! I'll bet that after you finished her up, you were more than pleased with ASCP, weren't you? After my first time using it, I decided I'll never need any other paint in my life for my upcycled pieces. :) LOVE!
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Barbara Ann
7/23/2012 08:59:55 am
Well I am in California and will be looking for this paint. I went to a women's small business seminar and a lady said her daughter was selling something like this, I think. I will have to look up her name.
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Barbara, I would definitely recommend getting some. You can order it online if you can't find it locally. RE: the wax, it gives it more of a subtle sheen than a full-on shine, if that makes sense? For a dining table, I'm learning that you need about 3 coats to adequately protect it.
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7/25/2012 11:50:13 pm
Call me crazy but I actually like the way the rush seats turned out!!!
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roz
9/17/2012 03:35:01 am
where did you find this paint in Northern VA? I live in Leesburg and am willing to experiment on my friends furniture ha ha. :-)
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Tracey K.
6/5/2013 02:52:31 pm
Wow. I now hold you responsible for feeding my paintaholicism. Furniture beware. All of my projects have now taken a turn. I'm so excited! I can't say that my family will be....
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8/16/2013 03:21:46 pm
Dining tables are one of the highlights of the house and this is where the family gathers each day to have that sumptuous meals.
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Tammy
6/9/2014 11:43:33 pm
You are not the last - I am about to start my first chalk paint project! Inspired by your gorgeous table... and all the other painted treasures in your home!
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1/19/2015 11:35:11 am
Are you still using the chalk paint after your first experience? If so can you share what you've learned and the best sources to purchase?
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Connie Vial
5/31/2015 09:14:35 am
We recently bought a white washed dining table & 2 chairs that are a wicker high-backed style. We plan on using our oak chairs with the others. Now I would love to try painting them in white wash but my husband thinks I'm nuts. So the question I have is - am I? And if I'm not, how would you go about it with chalk paint.
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