Let's talk about Annie Sloan paint

Let's talk about Annie Sloan paint. If you're not familiar, Annie Sloan is a mad scientist who created what some tout as the best paint in the world.

If you have had the good fortune to hear about Annie Sloan Chalk paint and have gone a step further to check it out at your local retailer, you see that this miracle paint comes at quite a price. Almost $35 for 32 fluid ounces and when you tack on shipping and handling we're looking at a $47 for a quart of paint. You see to me, a one-income family housewife, who is taking a Dave Ramsey Finance class; this was a frivolous purchase if I ever made one!

I'm NOT hating! Dave WOULD allow this purchase if it was in the budget...and it was! 

Nevertheless, there is a lot of hype about this paint among the DIYer crowd, and I don't want to be the last one to the rodeo!

Truthfully in taking this class by Dave Ramsey, I've had this renewed sense that when I purchase something, I want it to be quality, so I'm not replacing or retouching it in six months. In doing my research, I've found the chalk paint created by Annie Sloan is supposed to be just that- Quality.

The story truly begins last fall when I found this vintage table on craigslist. At the time, I was looking for a table with collapsible sides so it would be able to fit into a small space. I loved how this thing could virtually fold up and fit into your purse. Well not that small, but it is very versatile with two collapsing sides and two extenders that can be removed.

As I mentioned before it was a vintage table which translates into, it needed some extra love. This Sprague & Carlton maple dinning set was most likely crafted in the 1950s, and it screams Betty Draper's dinning room, well more like Peggy's mom's dinning room (think Mad Men, then you'll get the joke.)  The finish was wearing off the chairs, and the table top desperately  needed to be sanded and refinished. With a list, a mile long of things to do with this table set and the weather not cooperating at all, it just sat waiting for a little spray paint, or so I thought.

Sometimes waiting is the best thing that can happen to a project, because it allows us a little time to research. My extensive research (me sitting with a cup of coffee looking at blogs in the morning) led me to Annie Sloan paint. I mean, yeah I've seen it used my Miss Mustard Seed and Censational girl and thought awe that's nice. However, it was sitting on my butt and really thinking about the quality and primer-free coverage that this paint offered that convinced me to try. And try I did!

My order was placed with a local distributor, and I waited with anticipation until my UPS package arrived! I have to admit when that package was finally delivered all I could think was, "Crap, this is small!!" I hoped that it would cover my table and chairs without having to stop halfway through.

I set to work on my first chair. I used a small flat head brush to apply the paint. It was a bit like creating sand art with tweezers, but the finished project was well worth the elbow grease. The finish is beautiful and that stuff really does stick to all surfaces as it promises! I roughed up the edges for a little character, because nothing  says, "I've been through years of use" like fake scratches.

When it was all finished I decided to move my dinning room to the next room over. It looks great and there's a lot of space thanks to my table that can fit in my pocket!

The table is next, but I'm going to need a weekend for that one.

Oh and as an extra bonus I still have half a can of paint left and here's what I do with leftover paint. This trick keeps it fresh for up to five years!

Leftover Paint

Pour into a jar. I'm using an old pickle jar ;)

Place a sheet of plastic like a sandwich bag between the lid and the jar.

Label and store. This keeps the paint for up to five years.

There was still precious paint left in the can. So I added a little water to get every last drop. WHAT?! This stuff was over a dollar an ounce and I'm cheap!

Annie Sloan's paint can be mixed with water for a lime wash effect.