Do you love the look of colored chalk paint in home decor, but hate the high price of chalk paint? Good news! You can make your own chalk paint in what ever color you wish for a fraction of the price. Not only is it inexpensive to make, is also easy to make your own colored chalk paint.
For small projects, I like to make I like to make one cup of chalk paint at a time because it mixes better and the paint goes a surprisingly long way. I like to make the chalk paint in a 16 ounce wide mouth Mason Jar. The seal and lid make it an ideal lidded container for shaking the ingredients to combine. The wide mouth makes it easy to get a paint brush in it.
You can use any latex paint color you wish, but you must use either a flat or matte paint to achieve the chalk paint look and feel. We wanted a grey colored chalk paint, so we used a grey matte paint. If you are open to ideas for your chalk paint color, you can save money by using remnants of paint form past projects or select a flat or matte paint from the “oops” section of your local hardware store.
How to Make Colored Chalk Paint
Supplies Needed:
Mason Jar
Calcium Carbonate Powder (can buy at health food stores or online)
Latex paint color of your choice (be sure that the finish is either flat or matte)
Stir sticks
Warm water
Measuring spoons
Directions:
1. Start with the mason jar and add 4 TBSP of the Calcium Carbonate.
2. Next add 2 TBSP of warm water, and stir until you get a creamy base.
3. Add one cup of paint to the mixture and stir until the calcium carbonate and paint are well blended and you don’t see any white.
Tips for Using Chalk Paint
No sanding or priming is needed before you paint with your homemade chalk paint. Just make sure the surface is clean and dry before you start painting.
Apply 2 – 4 coats to achieve your desired results. Allow the chalk paint to thoroughly dry between coats.
You can finish your project with a waxing cream, but remember waxing cream isn’t permanent and will need to be reapplied from time to time. To apply waxing cream rub it on with a clean rag and then buff it off with another clean rag.
You can also finish projects painted with chalk paint with a water-based polyurethane finish, which is also known as polycrylic finish. It does not need to be reapplied.
Chalkboard DIY Ideas
How to Make Chalk Paint Using Plaster of Paris
How to Make a Chalkboard Pumpkin
Thanks to Kelly for sharing her chalk paint recipe and tips with me!
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Connie says
I am painting my entire home interior white, but have several antique/primitive pieces as accents that I am painting different colors in different rooms for color as well as using colored pillows as accents and my bright colored pottery in my kitchen to liven things up. I have wanted to chalk paint these pieces and started looking at the top brands. Pretty pricey. I cannot wait to try your chalk paint recipe! This has increased my budget or other things. Thanks for sharing!
Katrina Reed says
Hi, I have painted a large entryway sort of cabinet a light teal (I made my own chalk paint) and I have 2 good layers on but the color looks to be more of a baby blue than I hoped for. It is pretty bland and the cabinet is pretty big so there is alot of plain , bland and blue. What can I do to liven it up?
cheryl hill says
Maybe try a dark wax to add dimension, and depth to the color.
Kris long says
Doesn’t adding baking powder or calcium carbonate change the paint color?
Donna says
No. It does not change the color
Diane Deminie says
Is latex paint the same as acrilic paint?
Jackie says
Acrylic paint is chemically based where latex paint is water based. You’ll need thinners to clean up after acrylic but not latex. Just water is needed for that mess! Yay!
Andrea Walker says
Hi there, my name is Andrea and I live in the UK. Really want to start a paint project using chalk paint but I have just read a blog from someone who says that prep is important if the paint is to stay on and suggests sanding if there are serious scratches etc. It also suggests priming. Is this really necessary.
Andrea
Shy Cee says
I have not used this recipe before. Am eager to give it a try. Thank you for your terrific pics and instructions!
Cndee says
Alea, I’ve made my own chalk paint too, because it is so expensive to buy the top brands. I like your recipe, but I have used cornstarch in place of the Calcium Carbonate Powder. I love it because the paint is so smooth when applying. I am featuring this post on my blog tomorrow! Thanks for sharing on Idea Box.
Charlotte says
I would like to use this paint on my not so nice oil base painted cupboards. Would th recipe with corn starch work if it is a all possible to paint them ?
simple nature decor says
This is great, now I don’t have to purchase this paint and save a bunch! Thanks for sharing this on Dream Create and Inspire.
Maria
Vickie @Vickie's Kitchen and Garden says
I love the look of chalk paint but I haven’t used it yet. I know there will be a project in the near future and I’ll remember your recipe! Thanks for sharing at the #HomeMattersParty
Kate says
This will definitely come in handy next Spring when I plan on doing a lot of DIY projects around my home! Thank you so much!
I know that a lot of people would love this so I’m inviting you to join us for our Wake Up Wednesday link party going on now until Friday!
Hope to see you there!
http://www.theorganizeddream.com/2015/09/wake-up-wednesday-88.html
Kate | The Organized Dream
Mary says
I love chalk paint but you are correct, it’s pricey. Homemade is the way to go. I have made mine with plaster of Paris . I’ll give yours a try, also. Thanks for sharing.