Chalk Paint - Is It a Piece of Cake?

Well, in this instance, maybe it was a bit more like bubble gum.

But, honestly, it's not Annie's fault. Let me explain...

This table is one of the few pieces in my home

that I bought already "done." 

It had been painted black and distressed. 

I loved the size of it, and the finish.

I bought it several years ago, and

have debated whether or not

I REALLY wanted to paint it white, even

in my quest for a light, neutral environment.

But it fit the space much better than a

larger table did, so I decided to paint it.

And just at the perfect time, my aunt

June asked me to send her info

about "that paint I had been telling her about."

LO AND BEHOLD! (Imagine a choir of angels singing here.) 

I went to the Annie Sloan web site

and looked at the list of stockists. Was I EVER

surprised to find a new stockist just a half-hour away!!!

So June and I went to get some yesterday after work.

I had planned to visit a friend in the hospital last night, 

so I didn't begin painting immediately. 

But today after work, I popped open the 

can of Annie Sloan Old White and began painting 

my cute little black table! I just KNEW I'd be distressing

before the evening was over!

Well, I was distressing before long all right!

Because instead of the piece of cake I was expecting,

I was treated to a load of bubble gum.

Apparently my precious little table had one

time been painted in oil, and then in latex.

So when I put a coat of chalk paint on it,

it loosened up. I tried to smooth out a spot, and

the paint came off. Yuck. Have you ever encountered

a situation like this? I have. NOT fun. So, I peeled

the top layer of paint off the table top.

The legs were not doing the same thing...

so I thought maybe someone had just

painted the top in oil. It peeled off in  a straight 

line at the  table edge. 

This is why I never buy manicures. I use my fingernails

as tools. Come on - 'fess up. Do you?

Normally, I'd enjoy peeling something 

like this - don't ask me why.

But TODAY, I wanted to witness a miracle!

I wanted a lovely slice of creamy vanilla cake that 

did everything but paint the table FOR me! 

All blogdom has been singing the praises of this paint!

I had coveted it for months. 

And here I sat peeling about a buck's worth of it off

my cute, formerly black table.

Had I not read that this paint stuck to EVERYTHING?

Or that you didn't need to sand or prime EVER?

Was I just imagining this? Did I dream it?

Apparently, no one had encountered a table that

had been painted in latex over oil. Drats.

OK, I reasoned. If it sticks to OIL, we're still in business!

So on went the second first coat on the tabletop.

And it's drying as we speak. (We ARE speaking, sort of, aren't we?)

And I must say, this paint covered really well.

Well, technically, it has one coat and a partial touch-up coat on it.

And it looks charming in Old White. Even before distressing.

I'll say one thing too - THIS PAINT DRIES REALLY FAST.

I admit, it's been 106 degrees here the past two days,

and it's maybe 103 right now. And my AC is broken...

but still, this chalk paint dries amazingly fast.

So fast, in fact, that it was ready to distress! So I did.

And it was EASY. I did in 10 minutes what it would have

taken an hour and more muscle to do with flat white latex.

And I love my little black table in Old White!

So much that I'm considering doing the sofa...

 and anything else that gets in my path!

OK Annie, you redeemed yourself.

My faith is restored. You ARE all that!

After all...50 zillion bloggers

can't be wrong, can they?

Word for the Day:

Hebrews 11:1

Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, 

the conviction of things not seen.

Linking With
Thursday
http://bec4-beyondthepicketfence.blogspot.com/	Under $100 Link Party
http://savedbysuzy.blogspot.com/	Suzy's House Party
http://www.theshabbycreekcottage.com/	Transformation Thursday
http://www.the36thavenue.com/ http://homespunhappenings-tammy.blogspot.com	Share Awesomeness Thursday Rustic Restorations Weekend
Friday
http://frenchcountrycottage.blogspot.com/	Feathered Nest Friday
http://www.missmustardseed.blogspot.com/	Furniture Feature Friday
http://www.remodelaholic.com/	Fridays on Remodelaholic
http://redoux.blogspot.com/	Friday Redoux Link Party
http://shabbynest.blogspot.com/	Frugal Friday
http://www.findingfabulousblog.com/	Frugalicious Friday
http://chiconashoestringdecorating.blogspot.com/	Flaunt it Friday
Saturday
http://funkyjunkinteriors.blogspot.com/	Saturday Nite Special
http://www.bedifferentactnormal.com/	Show and Tell Saturday
Sunday
http://my1929charmerblog.com/	Sunday’s Best
http://www.homemakeronadime.com/	Creative Bloggers Party Hop
http://www.niftythriftythings.com/	Nifty Thrifty Sunday
http://stylishonceagain.blogspot.com/	Restyled Sundays
http://www.sistersofthewildwest.blogspot.com/	Sister Sunday
http://www.thegirlcreative.com/	Just something I whipped up
http://www.thesoutherninstitute.com/	Creative Me Link Up
Monday
http://betweennapsontheporch.blogspot.com	Metamorphosis Monday
http://houseinroses.blogspot.com/	Show Off Your Cottage Monday
http://westfurniturerevival.blogspot.com	Revival Monday
http://howtonestforless.com/	Just a party with my peeps!
Tuesday
http://www.knickoftimeinteriors.blogspot.com/	Vintage Inspiration Tuesday
http://linda-coastalcharm.blogspot.com/	Nifty Thrifty Tuesday
http://farmhouseporch.blogspot.com/	Cowgirl Up!
http://www.elizabethandco.blogspot.com/	Be Inspired
http://creatingahouseofgrace.blogspot.com/	Twice Owned Tuesday
Wednesday
http://www.fadedcharmcottage.blogspot.com/	White Wednesday
http://micheleravendesigns.blogspot.com/	Primp Your Stuff Wed
http://primitiveandproper.blogspot.com/	Piece of Work Wednesday
http://restoreinteriors.blogspot.com/	Restored it Wednesday
http://savvysouthernstyle.blogspot.com/	Wow Us Wednesday
http://ivyandelephants.blogspot.com/	What’s it Wednesday
http://www.notjustahousewife.net/	Show Me What Ya Got

Friday's Goodwill Haul...

A little white mini vase I thought was vintage

turned out to be a Restoration Hardware vase - $2.
We don't have a RH here...

A heavy resin plaque from Hobby Lobby 

with a sticker still attached...$2

The corners are chipped, which won't 

matter at all when I paint it and use it in a 

gallery wall in the dining room.

This little original painting - framed and matted - a buck.

Of course, the frame will be painted, the mat will be

wrapped in old book pages or something, and

the art will pop! I can't wait for a day to do this kind of project.

Another interesting mirror for a gallery wall - octagonal.

It's wood and nice, but I may tone down the gold just a tad...

For 2 bucks, it went into the basket. And then I saw this:

I just never cease to be amazed at the variety

of items that end up at a thrift store.

A gilded octagonal mirror fron Brooklyn, NY

ends up in my house in Amarillo, Texas

via Goodwill. If mirrors could talk! 

And industrial wine racks. What would they say?

"Hi. I'm new around here. Read any good books lately?"

It may be a wine rack, or it could be a towel rack or

something else. Let me know what you think!

I spotted this like-new paisley floor pillow for Hannah!

It was a bit of a splurge at 4 bucks. 

Since she used floor pillows more than we imagined

last year, I decided to spring for it.

She's keeping the BOHO vibe going...

So it will work somewhere.

I also got her this plastic French mirror:

It's pretty large, and will look cute

painted a color for her BOHO apartment.

I wonder if the French are insulted when

their designs are reproduced in plastic?

Hmmm. Only 3 bucks, though. I'll take it.

And of course a bird in a cage. You've seen it.

And you've seen this hunk of fabby rust, too:

While there, I also scored some amazing tops - 

stylish and just what I'd been shopping for in 

"stores" where I'd have paid 10 times what I got them for.

5 tops at 3 bucks each. One for every work day! 

How cool is that? I wore one to church 

and got tons of compliments. I told some people about
my thrifty score, and to the others I just said, 
"Thanks!" and smiled sweetly.

They wouldn't get it. So you and I go shopping

and WE get it. And we take it home with us. 

And we look like a million bucks for $3.

So, I'm a happy camper. And the bills are paid.

And there's no credit card debt. 

And I "saved" hundreds of dollars

by spending about 50 dollars.

What an amazing gift!
 I am truly thankful.

Word for the Day:

James 1:17

Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, 

coming down from the Father of lights with whom there is 

no variation or shadow due to change.

Linking With
Tuesday
http://www.knickoftimeinteriors.blogspot.com/	Vintage Inspiration Tuesday
http://linda-coastalcharm.blogspot.com/	Nifty Thrifty Tuesday
http://cedarhillranch.blogspot.com/	Cowgirl Up!
http://farmhouseporch.blogspot.com/	Cowgirl Up!
http://theivycottageblog.blogspot.com	Cowgirl Up!
http://myuncommonsliceofsuburbia.com/	Tuesday’s Treasures
http://www.elizabethandco.blogspot.com/	Be Inspired
http://creatingahouseofgrace.blogspot.com/	Twice Owned Tuesday
Wednesday
http://verymerryvintagestyle.blogspot.com	Share the Love Wednesday
http://www.thethriftyhome.com/	Penny Pinching Party
http://ivyandelephants.blogspot.com/	What’s it Wednesday
http://junkernewbie.blogspot.com/	Would You Buy It Wednesday
http://www.notjustahousewife.net/	Show Me What Ya Got
Thursday
http://thriftydecorating-nikkiw.blogspot.com/	Thrifty Thursday
http://katherinescorner.com/	Thursday Favorite Things
http://thebrambleberrycottage.blogspot.com/	Time Travel Thursday
http://frommyfrontporchtoyours.blogspot.com/	Treasure Hunt Thursday
http://www.savvycityfarmer.com/	thrift’n on a thursday
http://blissfulrhythm.blogspot.com	Home and Garden Thursday
http://www.jannolson.blogspot.com/	Share Your Cup Thursday
http://livelaughrowe.blogspot.com	Live Laugh Linky
Friday
http://frenchcountrycottage.blogspot.com/	Feathered Nest Friday
http://twenty-eight-0-five.blogspot.com/	Potpourri Party
http://www.atthepicketfence.com/	Inspiration Friday
http://sassysites.blogspot.com/	Free For All Friday
http://www.lovenotesbylauryn.blogspot.com	Spread the Love
Saturday
http://funkyjunkinteriors.blogspot.com/	Saturday Nite Special
http://too-much-time.com	Get Schooled Saturday