~Tips & Hints for using Chalk Paint® by Annie Sloan~

Chalk Paint® by Annie Sloan is the most wonderful easy to use decorative paint.

Annie Sloan invented Chalk Paint® paint in 1990 and

presented her paint to the US almost four years ago.

I am the stockist in the Dallas area.

I came across these Tips & Hints written by a stockist at

Humming Bird Dunster in Somerset, England and wanted to share them with you.

Annie Sloan Chalk Paint – my Hints and Tips

Some of these tips are really easy and I know a lot of you will already be doing lots of these things but there may be something here for you So grab a cup of tea and let’s get started.

Okay here goes:

1. Before opening the paint, tip the can over for half an hour (a tip from Annie herself) and then give it a good shake. You want to make sure the paint is well mixed and all that magic is evenly distributed.

2. Prepping, the beauty of this fab paint is that there really is no need to prep but sometimes this tip can actually save you time and paint. To prepare furniture, wash it down, you don’t usually have to sand or prime. If it is a shiny surface you may want to scuff it a bit with a sanding block. Sometimes
on really dark wood I use two coats of clear shellac or knotting solution to prevent any bleed through. If it starts to bleed through during painting stop what you are doing apply the shellac to the affected area, wait for it to dry then start painting again.

3. Brushes are really important in creating a great finish, get the right ones for the job. We use the Annie Sloan Brushes because they hold so much paint and give the hand painted look by showing some brush strokes. They are available in three sizes and are perfect for getting into those fiddly nooks and crannies when painting furniture.

To clean your brush just wash with soap and water, it’s really that simple.

4. Paint – Annie’s paint is thicker than ordinary paint and gives a wonderful coverage because of this. Usually a piece is done in 1 1/2 coats. The paint dries really quickly, great news for the impatient people among us.

5. Colours – I love the simplicity of Annie’s range of colours. They are rooted in the use of colour in history and she takes reference from France, Italy and England. The beauty of her palette is that they can be used as is, or you can make your own colour. Lighten with old white or pure white (for a more modern look) or mix other colour combinations. Her workbook is great for sketching out ideas and noting down colour combinations.

6. Waxing – the waxes are so easy to work with. You only need a little to go a long way, less is more. Annie told us to think about applying wax like putting hand lotion on. Put a small bit and massage it in until it is absorbed. When applying the wax I press it into the paint with a wax brush and then wipe off any excess with a rag, if you have applied too much wax it will sit on the surface and remain wet and sticky to the touch.

Dark wax adds dimension and an aged quality and I think looks great on the brighter colours in an area which would naturally show wear and tear, but remember to always apply clear wax to the piece first. This then allows you to control the amount of dark wax effect you want for the piece. If you have added too much dark wax you can take it off be adding more clear wax and working it in. To clean wax brushes – after each use apply a small amount of low odor mineral spirits to a soft cloth and swirl the brush in it until the wax is transferred to the cloth.

Annie says you can do multiple coats one right after the other but I usually do one coat and then wait 24 hours to allow the wax to penetrate into the paint.

7. Buffing – Annie Sloan Chalk Paint dries matt with a chalky finish, but if you want a gloss effect you can buff it with a clean cloth. I like using clean white t-shirts. Be sure to wait 24 hours after your last coat of wax before buffing because your cloth will get stuck on the tacky wax. If you waxed a piece and left it, even months later you can buff it to a shine.

8. What can you paint with chalk paint? The paint has an amazing quality where it sticks to any surface. You can paint wood, plastic, metal, glass, and fabric, yes fabric. If you have any grubby looking drum light shades you can paint them. In my experience it doesn’t chip or flake on any surface I’ve put it on (where it hasn’t been intentionally distressed). I have painted a variety of pieces including melamine. It is always worth having a go.

Only one thing left to say before you get cracking… Beware this could be addictive.

Go HERE to purchase all your Chalk Paint® needs and for Dallas location and hours.