(If you missed it, click HERE.)
I know it was a bit wordy (not that this one is isn’t!)
but I really wanted to walk you through my learning experiences,
because in the end, they answered a ton of questions that I wanted answers to
and either couldn’t find {or didn’t anticipate}
when I originally considered painting my counter tops with Annie Sloan Chalk Paint.
After ironing out a few wrinkles, so to speak, I ended up with lovely counter tops and cabinets.
Here are the wrinkle-free tutorials…
I’m sure there are other ways to do it. This is just how I did it!
COUNTER TOP TUTORIAL:
SAND.
just to give them some tooth and ensure that any grease residue, etc. was completely gone.
Step 2:
I used STIX Waterbourne Bonding Primer, tinted gray.
I just asked my Sherwin-William’s folks to add a couple of drops of black.
Step 3:
PAINT.
I prefer to use the smooth, white nylon brushes purchased
I painted them in long, continuous, smooth strokes from edge to edge.
I let them dry for 24 hours.
Tip:
I’ve noticed that Chalk Paint tends to grab subsequent coats.
Adding the tiniest bit of water to your brush helps.
I only needed two coats of paint for complete coverage but painted a third for good measure.
Chalk Paint sands very easily so if you apply too much pressure or sand like you normally would,
A couple of light swirls of a sanding sponge ought to be enough.
Where did I get my stencil?
using painter’s tape to guide me, distressing them a little with my sanding sponge after they dried.
Stencil tutorial:
The JDL stencils have a tacky backing.
Using a rag dipped in Pure White paint,
You can see where I blotted my excess paint off next to “EXTRA“.
When I needed a rag refill, I’d just dab my rag onto that little section to pick up more paint.
After the paint dried for about 20 minutes, I carefully peeled off the stencil.
WAX.
After my paint dried, I waxed them using the clear Soft Wax.
Image Source
I like to apply my wax using a lint-free cotton rag,
better known as one of my husband’s old t-shirts.
(I love the brush for getting in the nooks and crannies though.)
I think some of the furniture-painting pros like Miss Mustard Seed
and Shaunna at Perfectly Imperfect prefer the brushes.
So, it’s really just a matter of what you’re personally comfortable with!
Really push that first coat of wax into the paint.
Apply several thin coats, letting each coat dry at least overnight in between.
3 or 4 coats ought be enough but if you’re like me, do five.
:)
Then do a good buff to bring out that smooth lustre after your final coat is dry.
as well as her Wax Questions post.
In yesterday’s Q&A post, I mentioned that the longer the wax cures, the more it hardens.
It takes 28 days for a full cure.
Based on my personal experience,
I recommend letting them cure for at least a week before you resume normal use.
I’ll need to periodically (around every few months) apply a fresh coat of wax
because it will wear down over time after repeated washings
and you wash your counter tops a lot more than furniture.
If you’re rockin’ battered and bruised avocado green tops circa the mid-60s,
I swear, I originally had a few more shots and step-by-step tutorial photos for you!
However, I uploaded all of my photos to box.com before I sent my laptop in for repair
in January and my kitchen photo files show as zero bytes.
{sigh}
Only the two tutorial pics above were downloadable.
Fortunately, I was able to grab the final stenciled counter top shot from a sneak peek post!
So much for trusting the upload successful icon.
Lesson learned.
Always double-check the file by clicking on it before deleting the original from your computer.
(This happened to so many of my precious photos, including some of my babes.)
so re-shooting them at this point would likely frighten you!
CABINET TUTORIAL:
using a $1 bottle of Totally Awesome from Dollar General.
Step 2 (Optional):
(She also painted them in a day. Wish I could say the same!)
UPDATE: See Amy’s note in the comments.
Her cabinets have been painted for quite a while now vs. 2 months like mine so I found it reassuring!
Step 3 (Optional):
Step 4:
It covered my factory Eggshell (cream) finish in two coats but I painted a third coat.
.
she has written a couple of books of books,
If you can get yourself to one of her American Tour Workshops, that would be even better.
I certainly hope to!
I also wanted to mention the other sweet bloggers who paint furniture with ASCP professionally
(if you don’t already know!).
They each paint furniture in a different style.
when I have a question.
Your area stockist would be a great resource too.
There.
That ought to {overwhelm} get you headed in the right direction as far as paint techniques!
Despite the pretty look and finish, chalk painted cabinets aren’t for everyone
(I’m curious. Who doesn’t?!)
At least in my house.
Oh, how I would love a farmhouse sink with a deep basin!!!
If you paint your cabinets or counter tops, I’d love to see!
Make sure you read my Q&A post because that answers a bunch.
Have a lovely week!
UPDATE: Be sure to read the comments for some sealer recommendations.
Very helpful.Thank you for your step by step.I will review this once I am ready to paint my cabinets :-)
Who ever thought to use chalk paint on countertops? Yours are beautiful. But I also want you to know that you don’t have to use only wax with chalk paint. You can use regular sealer which to me would be preferable on countertops. I do this on furniture pieces about half the time the other half I do the wax.
Okay, folks. On furniture, Terry said she uses Polycrylic by Minwax. (I used General Finishes PolyAcrylic in a low lustre satin finish which is supposed to the best you can get.) She said that if you let several layers cure for at least three days, you should be fine. (I only waited about a day and half.) For counter tops, she has done an exterior sealer called Zar found at Sherwin Williams. It can withstand water better since it is made for exterior conditions. (Ooh. Good call on the exterior sealer.)
Hope this helps! In yesterday’s post, I mentioned Annie Sloan’s new floor varnish. Talk to your stockists because that might be a good option too.
Thanks again, Terry!
When I painted my cabinets with ASCP I was thrilled~I avoiding all the prep work, besides washing them first. They really look fantastic~ASCP has a softer look than regular paint. I don’t know how to describe it exactly, but it is more of a matte look and when the wax is added it has a softness. I haven’t been very dilligant with the waxing on the cabs, and still have some to finish up. And even so, they are holding up with no issues at all! Thanks for showing off my kitchen Jami!
this was a great tutorial! and i apply wax the same way you do- a brush for the hard to readch places, but i prefer a rag for sure! thanks for the shout out, but i generally don’t use chalk paint- i just don’t love it like i love my other paints. there are a couple colors i use and like, but i prefer my good quality latex paints! i just didn’t want your readers to come to me and then not find what they were looking for.
Thank you, Cassie!
very good tutorial – even without the extra photos that got lost in cyberspace. Sigh isn’t that just so irritating when you lose pics?
I can’t wait to see your zinc counters – are you doing a tutorial on them too?? pretty please?!
Thank you so much, Jill. I was so afraid I’d lose you all without photos. :( Happy to know you still got something out of it. Yes, I will be doing a tutorial on the zinc counter tops. Picture and video (Unless I lose a finger in the process; Then just photos.) :)
This is a great idea! I am glad you put brand options and showed your process step by step. This would be great in a bathroom also, especially our boring, bland builder variety. Cheers!
Hey Jami,
Love the tutorial…well done!
Don’t you just adore Patty…she trained me in Nj and her sister Karen is as awesome as her.
Whenever I talk to her she is chock full of wonderful ASCP info and tips. So giving!
I am looking forward to seeing your kitchen all completed.
janet xox
The Empty Nest
PS…where did you get Patty’s button?????
I want one for my blog.
janet xox
The Empty Nest
I love the chalk counter tutorial!! It’s great! Glad to be your newest follower!
-Anna
asweetsouthernmess.blogspot.com