After spending $45 and a half day drive on a quart of brand name chalk paint, I was determined to find the BEST Homemade Chalk Paint Recipes for a cost efficient alternative.
If you’re interested in mixing your own chalk paint to save yourself time and money, read on because I discovered a bunch of interesting stuff I wasn’t made aware of on other blogs.
I tried four (4) of the most popular Homemade Chalk Paint Recipes and the results surprised me and left me with a hands-down fave! In sharing my experience, I hope it helps you decide which DIY recipe is right for you.
So let’s start my countdown…. 😉
Baking Soda Recipe
2/3 cup Paint
1/3 cup Baking Soda
Mix really well
My least favourite is the baking soda recipe.
When applying this Homemade Chalk Paint, (HMCP) it had a very gritty texture despite a thorough mixing. I could actually see the tiny granulars in the paint as I was applying each coat.
I was worried it wouldn’t sand down properly, but it turned out just fine…. whew! Here’s what it looks like after the final sanding/distressing.
Although Baking Soda Chalk Paint is listed last on my countdown, it’s perfect if you’re trying to achieve an old weathered, distressed “country” looking piece of furniture.
Deana at Alchemy Fine Living has a great video showcasing a dresser painted with the Baking Soda Chalk Paint Recipe.
Baking Soda Chalk Paint Cost – $1.69 for a box of baking soda which can be used for another 5 single chalk paint recipes + cost of latex paint
Time Involved – No time was spent on the purchase because I always have baking soda in my kitchen. 2-3 minutes to mix it thoroughly into the paint.
Application – Grainy look and feel even when mixed thoroughly.
Adhesion & Coverage – Great! No priming or sanding required and great coverage. Good coverage after 2 coats but I applied 3.
Odour – No odour other than the latex paint it’s mixed with.
Clean Up – Cleans up like regular latex. Not as easy as 100% green brand name chalk paint.
Distressing – Requires sanding. Not as effortless as brand name chalk paint (ie distressing with dampened cloth).
Finish – The finished look is chalky but not quite as smooth as brand name chalk paint.
Non-Sanded Grout Recipe
1 cup Paint
2 Tbsp Unsanded Grout
Water to mix Grout
Number 3 on my list is the Unsanded Grout Recipe.
I mixed the grout with the water, then once smooth, added it to the paint. It looked and applied like a brand name chalk paint. It dried fast (within 1/2 hour), and the finish was just as “chalky” as the store bought.
It had a bit of a weird odour…ok…really weird. But because it was applying so beautifully, I wasn’t bothered by it too much.
Fabulous! … so why is it listed No.3 on my list?
This DIY Homemade Grout version started to thicken up while I was applying my first coat…. it turned more like thick icing than paint.
I had to keep mixing it while I was painting and eventually had to add more water because it was too thick. The next day it had really congealed and more water was needed. Take a look… it just kept turning into a thick mess!
Here is the before and after. The table on the left is painted with Baking Soda HMCP and the table on the right is painted with Unsanded Grout HMCP. Can you see a difference?
Unsanded Grout Chalk Paint Cost – $17.99 for a large 10lb bag which will last a zillion single recipes + cost of latex paint
Time Involved – Easy to find Non-Sanded Grout on-line or at any Lowe’s, Home Depot, Rona, Canadian Tire or any on-line home reno store. Note – Grout comes in different colours. You want to buy white unsanded grout. Why? If you add a coloured grout to your paint, it may alter your paint’s hue. 3-5 minutes to measure and mix it thoroughly into the water and paint.
Application – Fabulous… until it started thickening up. Then time was spent mixing it and adding additional water to obtain the right consistency.
Adhesion & Coverage – Great! No priming or prep required and it had full coverage after 3 coats. The more water I added, the thinner the coverage.
Odour – It had a weird smell. I’d love to explain it to you but I don’t know what to compare it to?
Distressing – Requires sanding. Not as effortless as with a brand name chalk paint (ie rubbing with dampened cloth).
Clean Up – Cleans up like regular latex (brand name chalk paint cleans up much easier)
Finish – The finished look is exactly like a brand name chalk paint. Smooth, chalky and lovely.
Plaster of Paris Recipe
3 parts Paint
1 part Plaster of Paris
Water to mix
My number 2 pick is the Plaster of Paris recipe.
I made a smooth paste with the plaster of paris and water before mixing it into the paint. When mixed well, it was silky smooth and applied just as nicely as brand name chalk paint. 
The second day it did thicken a little and appeared a little grainy, but after a thorough mixing it was fine.
The left over paint was stored in a glass pickle jar and used again 2 weeks later.
Plaster of Paris Chalk Paint Cost – $6.oo for a large box which will last for a looong time + cost of latex paint
Time Involved – Easy to find Plaster of Paris on-line or at any Lowes, Home Depot, Rona, Canadian Tire or craft store. 3-5 minutes to measure and mix it thoroughly into the water and paint.
Application – Fabulous! The consistency was great and it applied like brand name chalk paint.
Adhesion & Coverage – Great! No priming or prep required. Applied 3 coats for compete coverage.
Odour – None other than the latex paint used.
Distressing – Requires sanding. Not as effortless as with a brand name chalk paint (ie rubbing with dampened cloth).
Clean Up – Cleans up like regular latex (brand name chalk paint clean up is much easier)
Finish – The finished look is exactly like a brand name chalk paint. Smooth, chalky and lovely.
I used the Plaster of Paris Chalk Paint Recipe to re-purpose an old sewing table into a little girl’s desk. What do you think?
Calcium Carbonate
2 parts paint
1 part Calcium Carbonate
My hands down #1 choice was the Calcium Carbonate Recipe…which makes good sense since Calcium Carbonate is chalk!
It mixed into the paint easily, had the perfect consistency, coverage was fantastic, dried within 30 minutes, AND left me with a perfect chalky finish. I stored the left over paint in a yogurt container and it kept the same consistency for days. (I did stir it vigorously each time before use.)
The only downfall to my #1 choice was I had a difficult time finding it! Not many stores sell it in powder form and the pill form won’t work even if you grind them up.
My local pharmacy ordered it in for me and I picked it up 4 days later. Since then, I’ve found a good grade Calcium Carbonate On-line and will be ordering from the comfort of my home. 🙂
As I mentioned above, the Plaster of Paris recipe was used to re-purpose the sewing table into a desk, but I used the Calcium Carbonate Chalk Paint to paint the matching chair. Can you tell the difference?
Calcium Carbonate Chalk Paint Cost – $11.99 for a 500g container which I’m almost finished. I’ve painted 1 chair, a large desk (NOT the one shown above) and 2 large chalk board frames. I have enough left over for another small/medium project. Out of all four(4) recipes, Calcium Carbonate is the least economical. However, comparing it to brand name chalk paints, the cost difference is still pennies on the dollar in this recipes favour! + cost of latex paint
Time Involved – Took me 2 weeks to track this stuff down! I searched Shoppers Drug Mart, Health Food Stores, Organic Stores and finally asked at my local pharmacy. Next time, I’ll be ordering it on-line! 3-5 minutes to measure and mix it thoroughly into the paint.
Application – Fabulous…exactly like brand name chalk paints.
Adhesion & Coverage – Great! No priming or prep required and the coverage was fantastic. It dried faster than the Plaster of Paris (within 20 minutes) because no water was added.
Odour – None, other than the latex paint used.
Distressing – Requires sanding. Not as effortless as with a brand name chalk paint (ie rubbing with dampened cloth).
Clean Up – Cleans up like regular latex (brand name chalk paint clean up is much easier)
Finish – The finished look is exactly like a brand name chalk paint. Smooth, chalky and beautiful!
So the Best Homemade Chalk Paint Recipe… Calcium Carbonate!
Although these HMCP recipes are not 100% green, the coverage and finish are VERY comparable to brand name chalk paints. In researching all my options, I also learned Wall Texture, Limestone and Whitening Powder can be used to make chalk paint.
I wish I knew who to give credit to for the above recipes. Whoever originally came up with them… thank-you… absolutely BRILLIANT!!!!
Still undecided which DIY recipe you’re going to try? You can read more HMCP Tips here.
If you have a HMCP experience you’d like to share or have any questions, feel free to leave a comment and I’ll get right back to you!
Enjoy your day & happy painting.
Denise
Hello again... I'm so happy you dropped by! Let's keep in touch! Follow me on social media or sign up for a dose of furniture painting inspiration and diy tutorials. :) 
I’m wondering about using the chalk that they use for baseball fields?
I’m not sure Cindy…I’ve never tried.
Do i use flat paint and how does everyone get different colors of chalk paint . Can you add acrylic paint to the whit paint to make a color.
Kimberly, you can buy the paint in ANY color you wish, and then just add the chalking ingredient of your choice. Water based paints in flat or eggshell sheen work very best. 🙂
I will be trying one of your recipies on a dining table base and chairs – not the top though
we shall see
Lea
I’m on my second piece and it has streaks in the paint as the first piece did. I guess I didn’t read up enough to know I needed a special brush! Can you give me advice on the best brush to use?
I just started my second piece a couple hours ago and I’m on hold until I get the correct brush.
Griff, I’ve used cheapy dollar store brushes and brand name Purdy’s with these DIY recipes. It’s whatever your most comfortable using. If you’re getting a lot of steaks/brush strokes, it could be as simple as thinning your paint down with a little bit of water so it’s not as thick. It’s always better to do a few thinner coats than one thick one.
I did the paint with the calcium carborate with the right receipe, Mine looks like the one done in baking soda, its grainy, I thought maybe the waxing paste would take care of it. but it didn’t , any suggestions as how to get my pieces smooth. ?
A light sanding with a fine grit sand paper should smooth it out beautifully Judy… and you can lightly sand over the wax and then reapply another coat if desired.
In one of your posts you talked about using bees wax over the paint. Does it attract dust? We always have dust from the fields around the house so I don’t want it to become a dust magnet, but love the look.
Have you ever tried tinting the bees wax?
Thanks muuch!
Randi, once the bees wax is rubbed in and buffed 100%, it doesn’t attract dust anymore than any other wax top coat. As for tinting the bees wax, I have NO desire to try…lol. All natural bees wax is dense and harder to work with. The task of adding and mixing in a stain or paint to create a light or dark wax…no thanks. 😉
Hi there! I’m going to try the baking soda mix because I’d actually like some texture in mine. Any idea how long it keeps? And have you tried acrylic paint with any of these mixes? Thanks!
I like mixing my DIY ChalkPaint fresh every time I start a new project however it should keep well for a few weeks. You may just need to slightly thin it with a bit of water and mix well before using again. And yes, acrylic is water-based paint and it works well April.
What brand wax have you had success with? Any thoughts on minwax natural?
I love all Minwax products including their Furniture Paste Wax and the Natural stain/topcoat Lisa. I’ve had success with both. 🙂
i would like to paint my dinning room table, but it has a formica like top I believe! It’s shiny and doesn’t seem like real wood. Do I sand this? It seems like sanding wouldn’t really help. Someone told me I could just paint over it with chalk paint. Is this true?
Thanks for your help! 1st time attempting this!!:)
Ruth, if it has a glossy top or topcoat, whether you use DIY or brand name chalk paint it’s best to lightly sand. This will give it a little ‘tooth’ for the paint to grip onto. 🙂
I love your post, Denise, and appreciate all the fantastic ideas! I have a basement full of furniture that is yelling my name to be revived! I am eager to start and your techniques are giving me more confidence to tackle the projects. I have researched all the Pinterest posts and have found other mediums: milk paint and, one that truly intrigues me, “Mud” paint that apparently is a secret recipe by its creator. Do you have any ideas what their secret is? Thank you!
Although I’ve come across Mud Paint on Pinterest too, I’ve never used it and wouldn’t know what the ‘secret’ is Kathy. 🙂
Thanks for your reply, Denise. Top secret it shall be 🙂
I just purchased my supplies and I’m going with the plaster of Paris method. Keeping my fingers crossed!
Can chalk paint be used on already painted pieces? If so should I sand first Thanks Jean
Yes Jean, chalk paint can be used over an already painted piece. No sanding is required unless the prior paint job has been sealed with a shiny topcoat…then a light sanding is recommended.
Have you been able to find a source for the “Now” brand CC in larger amounts than 12 ounces? Thanks for your help.
As far as I know, that’s the largest the “Now” brand sells Mary.
Hi, Thanks for the information. I want to use a very dark teal on some chairs. If I mix in the CC or PoP will it lighten the color considerably? Also, should I use TCP to wash the chairs and strip the poly that is already on there before applying the paint?
I plan to use the PoP because I already bought some and these are two small chair frames which won’t get much use so I’m not too worried about it.
BTW: Sherwin-Williams uses quart samples for $6 which is great because I think Ben Moore quarts can be 3x that price and their samples are quite small. I tend to find the color in BM for a couple of bucks and no waste and then match it at SW.
The Plaster of Paris will not lighten your teal paint but keep in mind if it’s not FULLY mixed in, you may see the tiny granulates of POP once you sand. Super important to mix thoroughly when using darker paints. Thanks for the paint sample tip. 🙂
Hi! I was hoping to paint some fabric chairs, and am interested in ECONOMICAL ways to paint! 🙂 Since I’m going to have to sand them anyway, do you think the baking soda recipe would be ok, or do you still think the CC recipe would be the best? (THANK YOU, by the way, for this article!) 🙂
Christy, I’ve never painted fabric with any of the above recipes (or brand name chalk Paint for that matter… it’s on my to-do-list!) so I’m not sure. My guess would be the Calcium Carbonate recipe would be the closest match to a brand name chalk paint and therefore be the best fit for painting fabric. You can also pick up a fabric medium from any craft store and add it to a latex paint for excellent results. I’d love to hear some feedback if you give it a go! 🙂
Hi! Love this article! I am about to dive into the chalk paint world and have several projects in mind. My question is about how to finish each piece? Wax vs poly? The pieces I plan to do include picture frames, dressers, night stand, staircase railing, kitchen cabinets and a hutch. Which finish should I use for each piece? Thank you for the great information!!!
Thanks Ali! Here’s how I decide on which topcoat to use on my DIY Chalk Painted pieces.
Hi
Thanks for your great tips. Have tried the plaster of Paris and am
going to try your No 1 recipe. I have used the store paint but fun
to create my own. Regarding the wax how long should one wait
for applying this after painting.
I like to wait 24hrs when possible, but so long as the paint is 100% dry, you can wax Robyn. 🙂
I have tried them all,and the calcium carbonate wins hands down. I’ve use flat,eggshell and even semi gloss and have been extremely happy with my finished results. Not only is the finish chalky and smooth,the CC mixes effortlessly with the paint. My one concession in regards to the brushes I use is that the oval or round brushes specifically made for applying chalk paint,are really worth the extra cost. While I still think the AS brand is too pricey, I do believe in using good brushes. I was able to pick up an AS knockoff at Joann’s at 60% off. I think I paid less than $6. for a quality brush that made the paint glide even smoother with virtually no brush strokes. As far as cost effectiveness, I find the CC wins that category also. I pay just over $18. for a 20lb bag on Amazon. Purchased that last March and nave since painted 3 dining room tables, matching chairs, 4 large coffee tables as well as over a dozen other projects. I have barely made a dent in the bucket. I’ve yet to purchase any paint at retail. I am on a first name basis with the paint dept at Lowe’s and Home Depot. Their shelves of unclaimed custom colors are my favorite section of their stores. I thoroughly enjoyed reading your article Denise and all the great comments that followed. You know your stuff! Thanks for sharing with us all!
Cia
I was glad to see that your #1 choice of DIY Chalk Paint is my fave as well!When I started out,I used ASCP and found the Ca+ Carbonate CP is quite comparable at a much lower cost! I’ve seen bloggers rant and rave about the one made with Plaster of Paris! If they had researched it, they would realize that the chance of inhaling the fine powder into their lungs when mixing the paint is a health hazard that I feel is not worth the risk for the extra bit of cost savings! I buy my CC at the health food store for $9 for the same brand as the one on Amazon. Thanks for the great article!
Sandy
I want to make acrylic chalk paint translucent for paper crafting. Would I just use more water?
Yes, adding water will thin out your chalk paint Debi. Adding paint to a glaze is another great way to make your paint more translucent while adding dimension and color. Have fun crafting! 🙂
Hey Denise,
I’m excited to try out one of your recipes but was wondering if you wouldn’t mind telling me what base paint you used? I’m going for the “Old White” Annie Sloan color and that seems to be the color you created in the furniture pieces pictured above. There are just so many shades of white that I don’t want to use a base paint that will be either too white or too yellow. I want the perfect “off-white/cream” color!
THANK YOU!
I did these a few years ago Emily, but I believe it was Behr’s Cottage White. Have fun! 🙂
Hello;
I am using Marble dust which says it is Calcium Carbonate; however I am getting bumps in my paint. Then when I sand them they turn white. Which is a problem since my paint is barn red; I am loving the texture though. Do you have any suggestions? I used my mixer with a whisk the last time I mixed the paint. Still had the same problem.
Shurree, I it may be that your CC is not the finest grade and therefore leaving little white specks in the paint. You could try mixing your Marble Dust with a little warm water prior to adding it to your paint. If that doesn’t work, seek out the finest Calcium Carbonate Powder you can find. I really like the NOW Brand.
has anyone tried drywall compound in the mix? wondering if it would work?
hi i’ve used Rust-oleum chalk paint in Antique white and then i used same brand furniture finishing wax in clear it turned my white a slight yellow tint but now im going to make my own chalk paint with the your No1 calcium carbanate whate do you recomend to seal the chalk paint with as i have children and to seal it properly for long lasting without it going yellow if u say poly i dont no what that is as this is my 1st time doing anything like this x
Lyndsay, “Poly” is a very durable topcoat and can mean 2 things. Polyurethane – oil based and will slightly yellow over time. Polycrylic – water based and they do sell non-yellowing which will be stated right on the label. First one that comes to mind is Varathane’s Diamond Non-Yellowing Finish…works great!
Thank you very much for your efforts to post fantastic information. Much appreciated. I checked the link to the calcium bicarbonate product on amazon.es and it is no longer available. Any other suggestions where to purchase it in Spain?
Oh no! I’m so sorry Kathleen – I wouldn’t know where to purchase CC in Spain.
I want to paint a bathroom with chalk paint, or at least few accent walls. Are there any problems with using homemade chalk paint as wall paint?
Not at all Marsha – it will look great! However something to keep in mind when painting with DIY chalky paints OR brand name – it’s very porous paint so it may pic up grease/dirt easily if not sealed.
Hi, I would like to know if you can use exterior semi-gloss paint to make chalk paint. I have some left over and would like to use it up but I don’t want to waste it and make a mess. I also want to know how to fix a project that I painted white and the underlying finish has bled through and discolored the white paint. In some places the discoloration is very dark spots. How can I fix this? I would like to keep it white.
Thank you so much for your time and help,
Patti
Hi Patti. Yes, ext-semi-gloss will work but the end result won’t look as “chalky”. If you’re after a very chalky-matte-look, an eggshell or flat paint would be ideal. Bleed through uggg… here’s a solution to keep your whites white when dealing with tannin(s).
Hi Denise,
Where I live in Ontario, the Pottery Supply House sells 50 lb bags of calcium carbonate for about 20$ CDN. I have used it to make clay based paints for walls for interior use, and it is pretty smooth. It is normally used in glazes in pottery. It might be worth a try to check pottery supply places in your neighbourhood. Thanks for the recipes!
Thanks Mike!
I do a fair amount of both interior and exterior painting. I use a quality interior paint (Miller, Sherwin Williams, etc.) and plaster of paris, which is mostly calcium carbonate. I do not use water to thin, rather I use a latex extender and have great working time as it extends the wet edge without degrading the bond.
Thank you so much for your ideas. I live in South America and we don´t have Brand named chalk paint here . People don´t know what it is. These ideas helped me so much to find the way to make beautiful furniture because I love vintage and shabby chic styles. I´m from Ecuador.
Any experience using diamataceous earth, and if so, what would the ratio be?
No, sorry Heidi.
I was wondering that myself. I have some so I put a little in a cup added some craft paint it was thick added a little water. was still thick. added more and painted anyway. I had brush strokes but I am willing to bet it would be fine if I added more water. I will be painting a bathroom storage cabinet this weekend.
have you tried using the CC recipe through a paint sprayer? Do you know if it needs to e thinned?
Hi Marianne. Yes I have and it worked beautifully. You can see more details here.
Hello Denise 🙂
You wrote the paint with Calcium Carbonate doesn’t require any preparation nor primer but have you tried it on different media like metal, rubber or plastic? Would the paint peel off you think? I am asking because it is meant to be fine when using a brand name chalk paint. Thanks a lot.
Isabelle, even brand name chalky paints will require some prep on glossy surfaces and this goes for diy chalky paints too. If it’s a super shiny surface be it top coated wood, metal plastic etc, it is a good idea to give it a light sanding before application.
Hi, For kitchen cabinets, would you choose a flat latex or eggshell for the Calcium Carbonate recipe? Thanks!
Flat or Eggshell will both work nicely Lori. Using Flat may be a little more porous in nature so a good protective topcoat (that’s easy to clean) is important in a kitchen.
I am new at this and very excited to try chalk paint on an old dresser. Calcium Carbonate is available at most farm feed type stores, it is very inexpensive, has anyone tried this?
Thanks!
Kohl
Lebanon, OH
After all the reading etc. on all the recipes, I Googled ASCP’s MSDS sheet. I saw enough to create a recipe, with my own addition.
I buy a lot of 8 oz samples of the latex paints, so this initial recipe is the basis I created it for.
8oz flat latex in ANY color
2T Calcium Carbonate powder
1/4t Talc powder
1t Floetrol
Mix well, (I use one of those shaker cups you use to make a rue for broth gravy)
I store in Mason jars, I added to my recipe app, using the 8 oz as the serves qty, that way if I want a o make a larger qty for bigger projects, all I need to do is change the serves qty to desired oz of paint, 32 for qt, etc.
can you use acrylic paint or does it have to be latex? Thanks
Acrylic is water based and works fine Mary.
I’ve painted a very old dresser with chalk paint that I made with plaster of Paris. I mixed it well but the finish is very grainy
It’s possible the Plaster of Paris was not 100% mixed in prior to painting however a light sanding should smooth everything out Ranji.
Ok. Changing my white, the other color was too yellow. So, what is the difference between polyurethane and polycrylic? Would the polycrylic be less likely to yellow?
Clearly my concern is the yellowing
Hi Denise,
You have just saved me spending a lot of money on branded chalk paint.
Are all the above chalk paint recipes ok to use on outdoor furniture? Assuming I would have to seal with a UV protection seal??
Thanks for your help.
Yes, but just as you mentioned, I would top coat with an outdoor sealer.
Thanks for the first hand information. Have you found any problem using the latex based chalk mixture to cover an item painted with an oil based paint? I would think the item would have to be well sanded in order for the chalk paint to adhere–but what do I know????
Pleasure Mary. 🙂 If there is a sheen on the prior oil based finish – yes, sanding is best.
Thanks for the help Denise.
Hi Denise, thanks for posting this recipes. Using the calcium carbonate version I have got the marmalade consistency paint. What is about the water in this recipe?
If you find any of the above recipes turning your paint too thick, add a small amount of water to thin.
I have really interest to learn but i have no experience at all i will be really thankfull to help me ,when you said mix with paint ,which kind of paint you mean .When i am going to rona i can see 100 kind of color ,but i don’t which type .please if you know any website or book that i can use let me know.
Thank you
Any brand of water based paint should work Soheila. 🙂
I was wondering where you buy your calcium carbonate? I buy NOW pure powder form (which is my favorite type because others are too gritty and leaves a sand paper type feel on the pieces.) The only problem is that it comes in a small quantity. Do you suggest a good product but in a bulkier size? THANKS!
I use the exact same NOW product as you! It’s the BEST! I buy it off Amazon now and there’s an affiliate link I’ve included in this post Tonya. I’ve NEVER had a problem with grit or graininess (and NO water is added!) as some other bulk brands of Calcium Carbonate seem to have. Correct, you can’t buy this premium brand in bulk, but I think it’s well worth the extra few dollars… and you still save a TON of money in comparison to brand name chalky paints. 🙂
I purchased a 25 lb bag of CC…will this have more ‘grit’ to it? If so, how can I get a smooth application. :/ Or should I return it and purchase the other brand that was mentioned?
Kari, if you read through the comments here, there are mixed reviews on ‘bulk’ or ‘cheaper’ option of Calcium Carbonate. It doesn’t hurt to give it a go and see if it provides you with a smooth chalky finish.
Thank You for all this information ! Love to try it on a smaller piece of furniture instead of many kitchen cabinets which I was hoping to try in the next few weeks.LOVE the looks of your featured pieces.
Did you use brushes or sponge applicators ? if so which ones ?
Thank You again for sharing !
Glad you’ve found the info helpful Brigitte! I usually use a brush or sprayer to apply my DIY Chalky Paint.
So if I understand correctly… if I use 2 cups of paint… I need a full cup of the Calcium Carbonate? That just seems like A LOT! Or am I reading it wrong?
Exactly Dawn. You can certainly add less if you like, but for a perfectly matte/chalky finish, this is the ratio I like to use.
Have you ever tried crackle paint under chalk paint? Could be interesting. Thanks!
It seems like the regular chalk paint requires a hard wax over the paint. Does the homemade chalk paint need the same? Or does it look and feel totally fine without the wax coat. One thing I am looking to paint is my kitchen table. Wondering if the homemade chalk paint will be good on the kitchen table to eat off of and not get destroy.
Chalky Paints are super porous so sealing is important to protect against oils, dirt, food etc. I like to protect with a few coats of poly on high traffic items and use wax on everything else.
where would I get a poly coat?
Any Lowe’s or Home Depot sell a variety of brands ie Minwax Poly, Varathane etc.
Chalk paint made with the calcium carbonate, is it grainy like the plaster of paris? Would you recommend using the calcium carbonate chalk paint on kitchen cabinets provided that you put a wax on them?
Wendy, if the correct CC is purchased, it is so powdery fine that no water is even needed to mix it into the paint… so no, not as grainy as plaster of paris. If using it for cabinets, I would suggest using a poly to seal/protect rather than wax seeing as kitchens are high traffic areas.
If using CC chalk paint on kitchen cabinets then aging with dark wax and finishing with a poly, should I still use clear wax before aging with the dark wax?
Marie, poly should not be applied over wax. For antiquing/aging kitchen cabinets, I suggest using a glaze and then a strong poly topcoat. This way you will have a washable strong surface that you will never have to worry about re-apply like you would with a wax.
Although I haven’t decided which recipe I’ll be using, I’m going to be tackling my first project and have some questions… With the last two recipes, no sanding or priming is necessary, correct? Also, once you’ve applied two to three coats of paint, you lightly sand the entire project THEN sand the areas you want distressed? Also, what are you using as a sealer to protect the paint?
No sanding unless you are working with a glossy/shiny surface… then a light sanding is required. To finish/distress the piece, exactly like you described. To seal, I use wax for lower traffic items and poly for high traffic pieces like dining tables/chairs. Have fun with your project Kim!
Just to add my $.02…be careful with poly over lights and whites…they tend to yellow with minimal sun exposure over time…even a matte poly. There are matte varnishes that i’ve had some success with, but they still will tint a lot of lighter paints (browner/redder than yellowing of poly). I’m a finishing paste girl all the way…the more traffic, the more layers of wax.
I would always use wax or polycrylic with light shades!! polyurethane always yellows.
Only the oil based poly will yellow. The water based poly will not.
Hello Denise, I have a lot of paint samples and was wondering if they can be used to make chalk paint. They told me at the paint store they are not real paint. Have you tried paint samples? They seem like the right amount to make a batch of chalk paint.
I have not tried paint samples but I’ve had some readers write in saying it works just fine. If you give it a try, I would love for you to come back and report your results Ellen!
Hi Denise, I used the paint sample to paint the coffee table. All good so far. I am happy with the results.
Yaaay! Thank you for taking the time to leave this update!!! 🙂
I have painted a TON of gorgeousness using the plaster of paris and Behr FLAT paint samples from HD. I just ordered a 5 lb bag of Calcium Carbonate on Amazon (5 lbs for $12) and am psyched to try it this weekend…i’m planning on using one of my million flat samples to mix. You can order all HD samples online and have them delivered — ALL the colors you want, as many as you want, delivered to your door… NO DIRTY LOOKS FROM OTHER PEOPLE WAITING, or from the folks that work there that HATE mixing samples = WIN/WIN in my book. Samples for $2.98. LOVE.
Are you making chalk paint or just adding chalk to commercial paint?
Hi thank you for sharing. I’ve just bought some chalk paint here in Ireland and it’s too expensive for me to use regularly, si I will be trying your recipe. Just one question, have you ever tried using baby powder, the reason I ask is because I make texture paste with it and it just might work??
I have not tried baby powder Barbara. If you do, I’d love to hear your results!
The paint samples that you purchase at any store are real paint. Whoever told you that they were not REAL PAINT…is just silly! 🙂
I was told the same thing today at Sherwin Williams
The paint samples from Benjamin moore is egg shell regular pain. I’ve used that before and it comes out great.
Just thought I would let all know calcium carbonate can also easily be purchased a a store that carries and caters to those that make beer and wine. It is an item that is on shelf and cost effective. I think I paid 2.50 for 5oz package. It’s used to drop acid level when making wine.
Elizabeth
Does it matter if paint has primer?
Yes…it does matter. It makes it dry super fast and get clumpy. Make sure your paint doesn’t have primer in it.
I’ve used paint w primer quite a few times (I get whatever “oops” paint there is in the colours I like) w great results.
So if use two cups of paint I need one cup of the calcium carbonate? How far does one 12 ounce container of CC go?
That’s correct Jeri. I can usually paint 2 dressers with one 12 ounce container of Calcium Carbonate.