Chalkboard vs. Chalked Paint

I was talking to someone recently and telling them about my booth at the antique mall and painting furniture and my new found love of Shabby Paints chalked paint. She got a funny look on her face - it's one I've seen before. It's an indication of a very common misconception.  You see, she in envisioning my entire house painted in furniture that looks like this from this post on chalkboard painted furniture.

Is this what you were picturing too?  These are great!  But I wouldn't want all of my furniture painted this way!  There is a big difference between chalkboard paint...and chalk paint.

Chalk paint is a different animal all together.  It is a chalk based paint and it's all the rage in DIY circles for several reasons.  For one, it's just so darn easy to use!  The furniture doesn't need to be primed or sanded before starting. You just...paint!  This appeals not only to my extremely lazy side, but also my impatient streak.  When I want to paint something, and have the beautiful gleaming brand new can of paint...I just can't WAIT to slap that it on!  It drives me crazy to have to do any prep work! 

Another reason people also like it is because it is a more natural alternative to other types of paint.  It has low to no VOC's (volatile organic compound), you know those nasty fumes that can wreak havoc on some people's respiratory systems.  So you can paint indoors, around children, and it won't bother people with asthma or other respiratory problems.  It comes in many gorgeous colors.  And for those who like the shabby distressed look, chalk paint sands off easily sometimes even with just a wet wipe.

Now you may have noticed in some places I referred to it as chalk paint and in some as chalked paint. That's a long story but basically there are many different brands of chalk paint.  Chalk paint itself has been around for a LONG time but one company who makes it actually trademarked the term "chalk paint" and so now all of the other companies have to call it something else.

The brand I LOVE is called Shabby Paints and theirs is called chalked paint so now I've gotten in the habit of calling it that.

Here are some examples of things I've done with chalk'ish paint of various brands besides the ones I've shown you recently here and here.

 Above is a part of a coffee table I painted and waxed but I never took a picture of the entire thing and at this moment it's covered in Legos and markers and kids' junk!!

I hope this clears up any questions or confusion about chalkboard vs chalked paint! If you have any questions, please let me know!!  And be on the look out for a big announcement from Wheelbarrow Cottage very soon!!  It's going to be an exciting and colorful 2014!

BUSY....CRAZY!!!!

Anyone else feel busy and crazy?

Last week started with an ice storm that had us at a dead standstill.  But then...we went back to real life and it was zero to sixty.

We had...a piano recital, 3 performances of a musical in which my daughter had a couple of solo parts (which means I was there for every performance), a parent teacher conference, Girl Scout meeting, field trip (an outside one...in the cold AND rain), cookies to son's class for birthday, son's birthday, religious education service project, Junior Catholic Daughter's service project, Christmas shopping, and a doctor's appointment. 

In the midst of all that...I sold a dresser at the antique mall!!  Luckily, my mom and partner, was able to take some little things out there to replenish.  It went from this

 to this

Still looks cute but I think it's lacking the one big anchor piece.  I'm working on it...in the middle of 5 million other things.  Can't wait to show off the piece I'm doing right now.  Can't wait to have time to finish it!!

In the mean time, let me finish showing you the rest of what I worked on during the ice storm.  I blogged about the rooster and the owl here.

Do you have an old frame that looks worn and tired?  Or the color is out of date?  Frames are super easy pieces to refinish.  Just a little #Shabby Paint chalked paint and a quick finish of Varnish to protect it and you've got a brand new piece.

I also worked on a frame that turned out GORGEOUS!  I bought it at an estate sale and at first it looked like this...

It was not horrible looking but so much better with Shabby Paints Peacock blue, Old Gold glaze and Varnish.

Maybe you have a little table or dresser that is in great shape but a tad boring?  Next up is an adorable little side table/dresser that fits this description perfectly.  My mom bought it for my grandfather's room at the nursing home where he was living this time last year.  He passed away in January.  I drive by the nursing home many times a week when I go to Jazzercise and still get a pain in my heart when I see it.

Anyway, I got too excited about refinishing this piece and did not take before pictures - the more you follow me and my blog the more you'll realize I'm a huge airhead and am constantly forgetting to take before pictures!

But, the brown that you see is the before color - just slightly boring-ish.  The more you follow me and my blog the more you'll realize that I make up my own English language. 

I painted the front of the drawers and the sides in Shabby Paint Worn White and then gave it a distressed looking finish of Hazelnut #ReVax.  I love how it turned out!

So that ends the tour of stuff I finished during the ice storm! I got a lot done!

But most special during that time was the family together-ness (see, my own language again).  We watched movies, went sledding (well, not me - haha), baked and ate together.  It was wonderful to have some forced downtime.  Makes us remember to sometimes CHOOSE to take that downtime together every once in a while!

In the meantime, take a look around your house and see what pieces you have that might need a spruce up.  It can be an easy way to make some changes in your home #decor.

Ice Storm Blues

It's been COLD and ICY here in Dallas the past few days!  This is our first day back to real life since last Thursday!  We actually had a great time. Luckily, our electricity didn't go out like many people we know.  The kids watched a LOT of tv and went sledding several times.  I baked and we all ate bad for you stuff.  We kept a fire blazing in the fireplace.  And I did TONS of painting!!!  I'll be sharing some projects with you!

See the rooster and owl above?  They've been in my booth since day one.  They're cute - but I knew they could be awesome!

Even if you don't have a booth, painting is a great way to spruce up decorations you've had around the house before holiday entertaining starts up.  It can also help with holiday gifts.  Both of the items I'm highlighting here were bought at thrift stores for a dollar or so.  A little paint makes them both gift worthy...in fact, someone I know MAY be getting one of them - but I won't say who and give it away!

I used Shabby Paints Peacock Chalked Paint which is a pretty bright blue - kind of turqoise'ish.

The rooster has lots of grooves so I finished him off with black ReVax and it turned out gorgeous!

The owl got pearl ReVax!  Might be hard to see well in the picture but it looks gorgeous in person.

Vax is Shabby Paint's amazing furniture finish that gives the protection of varnish and the look of wax.  Put away your buffing cloths and sore arms - all you do is paint them on!  No rubbing, buffing, or sweating while you finish up those projects!  It's amazing!  ReVax is Vax in colors - pearl, black and hazelnut (dark brown).  They are beautiful!

I also did a frame with a glaze and a small dresser in Worn White with hazelnut ReVax. Stay tuned to see how those turned out!!

Stay warm!

Project Frustration!!

Have you ever done a project where EVERY SINGLE THING goes wrong??  I had hoped to post a picture of this chair / bar stool that I'm refinishing...

But SERIOUSLY...EVERY. SINGLE. THING. has gone wrong!!!  UGHH!!!  Ran out of paint, got a glob of a different color on part of the chair that had the paint I had already run out of, messed up the graphic I was trying to put on the seat.  

I think it's time to put it aside for a while and get back to it another time before I throw it through a window!!

Ever have those projects?  What do you do?  Take time off?  Fight through it?  Have a glass of wine (which is what I'm doing right now)?