Welcome to Week 19 of the Make Bake Create Party! I really enjoyed all of your links last week and look forward to seeing what you link up this week!
Just to refresh, every Wednesday come and link up your favorite projects from the week. This could be any food, recipes, crafts or DIY! Since there are 5 hosts... your link will be seen on 5 blogs at once. SWEET!
Your hosts are:
Rachel from Bubbly Nature Creations, Sarah from Hope In Every Season, Kristy from Mommy Hates Cooking, Brandi from The Creative Princess and Vanessa from The Rookie Seamstress
We would love for you to follow us on twitter!
I am so excited to be the official party host this week! As I mentioned a few weeks ago, we are right in the middle of a home makeover. I took a break a few days ago and did a little project all on my own. I have been researching paint. A lot. I seriously spend hours a day reading about painting techniques. One of my favorites right now is Chalk Paint. I actually had never heard of it before, until a few weeks ago when my sweet friend Shelby let me bring extra cupcakes over to her new house. She showed me around and we gushed about her cabinets for a good 10 minutes. She chalk painted them! They were divine! I had to try it! But, I didn't want to spend the $35 for the Annie Sloan paint. There HAD to be a cheaper version.
After checking out pin, after pin, after pin, on Pinterest....I came across a post from Diane at In My Own Style talking about different "recipes" of chalk paint. I read the post like 3 times, clicked the other post she mentions and read it like 2 times. I decided I was going to go for it!
I have had this old stool for a few years now. I picked it up at a garage sale. For FREE! SCORE! It has been sitting in my garage for 3 years, collecting spider webs, dirt and old tools. I loved all the dings and dents. I knew they would just add to the look I wanted to achieve! Since you do not have to presand with chalk paint, I just cleaned it really well and let it dry for a few hours. While it was drying, I mixed my paint. When you search for DIY Chalk Paint on Pinterest, you will find hundreds of different recipes. Each recipe will end up different each time you make it. There is no set in stone way to make Chalk Paint. The paint you use, how hot/humid/dry/cold it is on the day you mix it up, if you use unsanded grout or Plaster of Paris or whatever, they all play a roll in the final product. After you make it a few times, you will find what works best for you. Here is my recipe:
{DIY Chalk Paint Recipe}
2-3 TBS Paint
1 TBS HOT Water
1 TBS Unsanded Grout (I used white)
1) Mix hot water and grout together until WELL combined. I used a jar and shook for about 3 minutes.
2) Once the grout/water mixture is mixed well, add the paint. Again, I just added it to the jar and shook.
That's it! Easy peasy! If you find your mixture hardens quickly, add a bit more water. This mixture was enough to paint 4 coats of paint on my stool.
Once the paint had dried, I began to sand. I wanted to acheive a well distressed look. I think I got it! I LOVE the way it turned out! After I sanded the stool, I dusted it off and added 2 layers of wax to give it a bit of a shine and protect the paint.
DIY Price Breakdown
1 Sample of BHG Paint: $2.89
1 Small Tub of Unsanded Grout: $4.99
Water: Free from tap
Total: $7.88 +Tax
I saved $27.12 by making my own Chalk Paint! That's AWESOME! While I was out, I did also purchase a quart of a creamy ivory/white paint to redo my dresser in a few weeks. Since I already have unsanded grout, the total of that project will be under $10! SO awesome!
Yes, I do actually want to try the Annie Sloan chalk paint to see how it compares but, I am more than happy with the DIY version! My bank account is too. ;-)
I didn't add the cost of the wax in my total because I would have had to purchase it even if I had gone with Annie Sloan. It was about $10 though. You do not HAVE to use the wax, it does help protect heavily used items though.
If you have used chalk paint before, or plan to, I would LOVE to see your finished piece and/or hear about your project!
{DIY Chalk Paint Recipe}
2-3 TBS Paint
1 TBS HOT Water
1 TBS Unsanded Grout (I used white)
1) Mix hot water and grout together until WELL combined. I used a jar and shook for about 3 minutes.
2) Once the grout/water mixture is mixed well, add the paint. Again, I just added it to the jar and shook.
That's it! Easy peasy! If you find your mixture hardens quickly, add a bit more water. This mixture was enough to paint 4 coats of paint on my stool.
1 Sample of BHG Paint: $2.89
1 Small Tub of Unsanded Grout: $4.99
Water: Free from tap
Total: $7.88 +Tax
I saved $27.12 by making my own Chalk Paint! That's AWESOME! While I was out, I did also purchase a quart of a creamy ivory/white paint to redo my dresser in a few weeks. Since I already have unsanded grout, the total of that project will be under $10! SO awesome!
I didn't add the cost of the wax in my total because I would have had to purchase it even if I had gone with Annie Sloan. It was about $10 though. You do not HAVE to use the wax, it does help protect heavily used items though.
I can't wait to see what you all link up this week!
Make sure to follow our Make Bake Create Party Pin Board where we will be pinning the projects linked up here! ALSO Your DIY project or recipe may be made by one of us. So make sure to link up one of your favorite projects and we may put it to the test ! It will be shared by all of us (with links back to your recipe or craft of course).
We will also be hosting a Make Bake Create Google Hangout too (TBA)! So stay tuned!!!
Disclaimer and things to keep in mind~
* You may link up any DIY/ recipe/ food type post.
* You may link as many links as you want.
* Be sure to include The Make Bake Create button or text link to in your linked post; this is recommended to be featured!
* By linking up you are agreeing that the photos are yours or that you have permission to use them, that we may use those photos to feature your project on a blog post, Facebook, Pinterest, or Twitter with a link back to your blog of course. (; We may also occasionally MAKE YOUR PROJECT OURSELVES- with a link back to your recipe or tutorial. (this gets more exposure for you... and potentially lots of traffic!)