Mia Bella Designs: NEW diy Chalk paint recipe

Updated DIY Chalk paint

SO after much research I have revised my formula for DIY chalk paint. I now use Calcium Carbonate in a powder form. I buy it at my local health food store for like $5.99 ( see pic below). Here is the new formulation. BE SURE YOU MIX CALCIUM WITH A FEW DROPS OF WARM WATER BEFORE ADDING TO PAINT, don't use to much, make more of a roux.

1 cup of calcium carbonate to 1 quart of paint.

Add more for a more chalky look. You can add up to 2 cups if needed. I never really measure but once you do it a few times you know the look you're going for!! This will last much longer in the can then the other formulas.

OLD RECIPE please use the new recipe! :Ok Folks! I love Maison Blanche la Craie, ~~ASCP~~ and CeCe Caldwell.

However, I wanted to see if I could make it myself. I chose two recipes I found on-line. One was called for plaster of Paris and the other unsanded grout.

WOW, the difference is amazing! I used one 8 oz sample pot from Home Depot in yellow and 1 table spoon of unsanded grout. Then I used 1/4 cup plaster of paris to 8 oz sample pot of off white paint. I mixed them in a glass pickle jar. The plaster of paris mixture is thick and has the chalky look and was still movable after a week of sitting in the glass jar. The unsanded grout is more grainy and turned to a sold after 1 day of sitting in the glass jar. It looks like jelly and smells VERY strong like chemicals. This eco freak will not be using the grout mixture, it stinks and was burning my nose hairs!!!!

SO my choice is the plaster of paris mixture. I did not paint anything really big, just an old cabinet door with this mixture but it turned out really good! It went on in 2 coats and was still chalky looking but not to much!

cost for plaster of paris (4 lbs) was $6.99.

1 8 oz sample pot of flat paint was $2.97

cost of 1 quart of ~~Annie Sloans~~ paint, $38.95

My DIY chalk paint recipe

1/4 cups of plaster of paris to 8 oz of paint.

Paint on, My friends.