Cedar chest redo and how to use chalky paint for the first time!

Okay. confession time: I have never used chalk paint! I’ve heard about it. RAVE reviews! It seems to be the new big thing. But just like most things…I’m always late getting on board with it! And I love my spray paint. and Our town is small so there wasn’t anywhere to buy it. So I thought I would be fine sticking with what I know!

UNTIL NOW.

Ladies and gentlemen….I have used chalk paint. and I am officially on the chalk train.. (woot woot. that’s supposed to be the train whistle.)

I’ve had this cedar chest …that has been screaming for a redo. But I didn’t want to sand it. and prime it. and paint it. and hope that the paint doesn’t come off if you scratched it.

So I used chalky paint and skipped the first two steps. no sanding no priming!!! AH! i’m so lazy! this is chalky paint was made just for me!!!Apply like normal paint (stir before you paint) and make sure you have a great paint brush! and do nice light coats.

The blue is a combo of legacy and relic…One I couldn’t possibly recreate!

but Americana Decor ® has tons of great colors (go here) after my paint was on…I wanted to fancy it up…I used some chalky finish paint…and some acrylic paint! (just what I already had in my stash)and then painted…after I got it well enough that I didn’t hate it….I sanded it down for a little distressed look. just where you would have natural wear and tear.

and wipe up all the mess

and it’s time to creme wax this baby up! I used a rag…I would probably get a round waxing brush next time

This Creme Wax seals the paint like crazy! I wanted to sand off a little more on the corner…and tried and tried and tried. It’s AMAZING. It’s perfect for any piece that would see wear and tear. My kids are hard on stuff. HARD. So this stuff is my new BFF.

I also got a bottle of the brown creme wax…and tried it out…but didn’t love it with this piece. I think it would be totally cool on something else but it wasn’t quite what I was going for…..but I wanted to show you how pretty it is regardless….
There you have it. My new cedar chest. I’m so sad that I have been wasting years not using chalky paint!!!