A how-to guide: Annie Sloan Chalk Paint

I kid you not, this is the absolute easiest way to do a furniture makeover (and it is so fast)! Since I have been a part of the "Annie Sloan Anonymous" addicts club for about six months (cat is out of the bag now), I thought I would throw together a quick guide for doing a furniture makeover!

Things you will need:

• Annie Sloan Paint
• Annie Sloan Clear Wax (you can get the dark wax for the antique look - but do not share your wax brushes!)
• Krud Kutter
• Old t-shirt (or inside of a cloth diaper)
• Trash bag to protect your surface
• Annie Sloan wax brush and paint brush (you can use regular paint brushes, but your surface will not be as smooth!)
• Odorless Mineral Spirits

The best part about chalk paint is you do not need to sand! If my piece has some chipped areas or peeling areas I will sand so that the paint adheres better. 

I got this cute stool for $10 off of our last neighborhood Facebook sale page. It was in rough shape, but sturdy for little boys trying to wash their hands. 

I lightly sanded the top to make sure that the peeling finish would not affect the paint. Then I sprayed the whole thing with Krud Kutter to clean any sticky surfaces that could affect the paint in the long run. 

Using my Annie Sloan paint brush, I did long strokes to keep the finish as smooth as possible. 

This is what the paint looks like while wet. You have to be sure it is completely dry before painting the second coat.

You will see little spots like this as the first coat dries. It takes about 20 minutes to fully dry. 

Do not worry that you are not covering the entire surface with a thick paint the first time, the second coat catches all those little see-through areas. After waiting for the second coat to completely dry, time for wax. 

Put a small amount of wax on your Annie Sloan was brush, and spread it over one surface at a time. I did the top first, then I wiped all the wax off the top and moved on to the legs. 

To clean your paint brush just use a milk soap and warm water. To clean your wax brush, swirl in odorless mineral spirits until all wax is gone. I store mine in paper towels. 

I think it looks much nicer than the light wood color that clashed with our floors. We used to have this little cute stool on our fireplace stone, but Aiden needs it now for washing hands!