Chalk Paint® decorative paint is typically applied by brush. Enjoy your painting and don’t be shy with your brush. Apply the paint liberally. Some brush marks showing in the finish can be part of the look. For a demonstration on how Annie Sloan applies Chalk Paint®, visit our tutorial page or her YouTube channel at www.youtube.com/user/AnnieSloanOfficial and watch her Chalk Paint® Tutorials Nos. 1 and 2.

Chalk Paint® decorative paint will take approximately 30 days to harden and cure, a process that takes significantly longer than drying. Annie Sloan Soft Wax will take about 4 to 6 weeks. All finishes prefer warm, dry conditions during the curing process. Cold temperatures, high humidity, and application thickness will extend drying and curing time substantially. You can use your newly finished piece during the curing process; however, it should be treated gently and with respect. Avoid placing objects that would scratch or otherwise damage the surface. Wipe up spills immediately and avoid any harsh cleaning.

Your brush does not have to be expensive, but it does need to have certain qualities because working with bad brushes can be very frustrating. A brush that is made of natural bristle works best. The bristles should be fairly long and flexible with a little bounce to allow you to be expressive in your work. Don’t choose brushes with bristles that are too short since the paint will not flow well, and don’t use a brush with hard and inflexible bristles, because the paint will look scratchy. Don’t have a floppy brush either because you will have to work too hard to make the paint spread.

Annie Sloan’s oval Pure Bristle Brushes are excellent for applying both Chalk Paint® decorative paint and Annie Sloan Soft Wax. These brushes give you the freedom to paint expressively, they hold lots of paint, and they are comfortable to hold and easy to work with.

If you are working with new, untreated wood, you will need to apply clear shellac to any wood knots and open grains. One or two coats of shellac applied with a cloth pad will block any tannins that can bleed up through your new layers of Chalk Paint™ decorative paint. This is particularly important on pine, oak, and certain types of mahogany.

Don’t worry if this happens. It is easily fixed by simply applying another thin layer of wax. The new layer of wax will soften or “melt” the underlying wax. Work in manageable sections at a time and remove all of the excess wax with clean soft cloths as your go. Have several cloths available and change to a clean cloth when the old one becomes clogged with wax.

Brushes used to apply Annie Sloan Soft Wax can be easily cleaned with very warm water and a grease cutting soap. This method is good if the wax is still fresh on the brush. If you find the wax has hardened, soak the bristles in low-odor mineral spirits for approximately 5 minutes to dissolve the wax, and then wash the brush. Allow the mineral spirits to evaporate before disposing the container.

It's normal for all bristle brushes to wear down over time. There is really just one reason that your wax brush will wear down and that's from working it too hard. If you find that the hairs on your wax brush are getting short very quickly then you should look at your waxing technique.

The best way to apply wax with a brush is to move quickly and avoid overworking the brush. You don't particularly need more force for waxing than you do for painting. Working the wax into the paint with the brush until there is no excess is unnecessary hard work.

Annie Sloan Soft Wax offers water resistance but it is not waterproof. Spills should be wiped up as soon as possible. If spills remain on the surface, the moisture can penetrate through the wax coating and leave a mark. These marks typically disappear as the moisture evaporates, but if not you can use a bit of Soft Wax on a soft cloth to rub it out.

Once Annie Sloan Soft Wax is applied, no other protective finish can be applied to your project. Attempting to add another coating, such as Annie Sloan Lacquer, varnish, or polyurethane, over a wax finish is futile.

Annie Sloan Soft Wax builds up only if you fail to remove all of the excess wax after each application. Each time you apply a new coat of wax, the solvents in it dissolve the underlying wax, making one new mixture. When you remove all of the excess wax you will be left with the wax that is stuck on the surface. It’s easy to remove the excess wax by wiping it away with a clean absorbent cloth. You will want to have several cloths on hand and switch to a clean one when your old one becomes clogged with wax.

Furniture finished with Chalk Paint® decorative paint and Annie Sloan Soft Wax stands up very well to everyday wear and tear. Treat your furniture with respect. Allow your new finish to harden and cure 30 days or longer before placing items that may scratch the surface. Avoid excessive water. Use coasters under water glasses and placemats on dining tables. Clean with a soft cloth and avoid all liquid furniture polishes. To clean marks or stains, use a slightly damp cloth with a bit of mild soap. Keep your piece away from extreme temperatures or humidity. Waxes dissolve in alcohol, so using wax on bars is not advisable!

Annie Sloan Soft Wax should be used on interior projects only. It is not suitable for outdoor use.

Annie Sloan Soft Wax should always be applied in thin layers using a brush or cloth. Gently spread and push the wax into the underlying paint so it absorbs (just like hand cream!). Work in manageable sections and remove the excess wax with clean absorbent cloths as you go. Change to a clean cloth frequently as an old one can become clogged with wax and become ineffective. Let the remaining thin layer of wax dry before buffing. This process can be as little as 10 – 20 minutes, but 2 hours or even overnight can sometimes be best. You will know when the wax is dry when the surface no longer feels cool or damp to the touch. Buff with soft cotton cloths. Buffing lightly will produce a satin sheen, while more vigorous buffing can produce a higher sheen or even a gloss. If the wax has been properly applied and all of the excess wax has been removed, the finish should be dry and not feel sticky or smear easily.

Linseed oil, a finishing product used to restore wood's natural moisture, is typically found on vintage pieces of furniture that have a stained finish. Unless the finish has weathered to the point of almost being gone, the surface may not be receptive to new paint. Clean well and apply one or two coats of clear shellac, a natural non-toxic sealer. Chalk Paint® decorative paint can then be applied as you would on any other wood surface.

Yellow or pink stains can appear in your new paint layers when painting over pieces previously finished with a non-colorfast stain (typically found on older pieces from the 1930’s and 1940’s) or certain woods with open grain, such as oak and mahogany. When this happens, don’t worry. Apply one or two coats of clear shellac, a natural non-toxic sealer, with a cloth pad to stop this happening. There is no need to remove the stained coat of Chalk Paint®; you can apply shellac directly on top. Shellac dries in minutes, and then you can get on with your painting!

Chalk Paint® decorative paint can be used to give both old and new walls depth and interest and even a bit of texture. Apply one or more coats of paint with a brush or roller for coverage and let dry. You can leave the paint as is, but some like to apply Annie Sloan Soft Wax over the paint for a really smart polished look.

The Chalk Paint® decorative paint palette doesn’t include a true black. Graphite Chalk Paint®, which is almost black, is not a simple, hard color but a mellow, sophisticated one. You can create a darker appearance to Graphite by first applying a layer of Aubusson Blue Chalk Paint®. Follow this with a coat of Graphite. When the paint is dry, apply Annie Sloan Dark Soft Wax. You can also mix a bit of Aubusson Blue into the dark wax to make an almost black wax.

With Chalk Paint® decorative paint distressing is no longer an arduous chore. Most finishes are best when just a bit of paint is evenly rubbed away here and there using fine grit sandpaper. This will be easier to do if you apply Annie Sloan Soft Wax first. This will also reduce any sanding dust, helping to keep your workspace clean.

Chalk Paint® decorative paint can be applied over new untreated wood with ease. However, on wood that has wood knots and/or open grain, you should first apply one or two coats of clear shellac, a natural non-toxic sealer, with a cloth pad to block any tannins that can bleed up through your new layers of paint. This is particularly important when applying lighter colors of paint over pine, oak, and mahogany.

Annie Sloan Lacquer was designed for use on interior floors only. It is not recommended for use in areas where there will be a lot of water. It is not suitable for outdoor use.

Apply Annie Sloan Lacquer with a quality sponge roller and/or brush. Stir well before using and during use. Apply two thin coats for even sheen and greater durability. A small amount of water (up to 10%) can be added to the Lacquer for the first coat. Let the first coat dry one to two hours before recoating, and leave the final coat to dry overnight before walking on it.

It is not advisable. Excessive moisture can cause the cracks to reactivate and the paintwork to become milky in appearance.

The product is fine. Place the container in a bowl of very hot water where the warmth will thin it out. You can also dip the tip of your brush into very hot water, wiping it off so that the tip is moist (but not wet), to make it easier to apply.

That’s hard to say because the cracks can vary widely depending on the thickness of application. It is always wise to do a test piece first. Thinner applications will give you smaller cracks, whereas thicker applications produce larger cracks, but don’t apply these materials too thick. If you apply two coats of Step 1 you will get a larger crack, but if you feather or overwork Step 2 the crack is likely to be smaller.

This is dependent on the look you wish to achieve, and could range from one layer to several. For a finish where the decoupage will be covered with Annie Sloan Craqueleur, two or three layers of Decoupage Glue and Varnish will probably be okay. If you wish the paper to look more embedded, apply several layers until you can no longer feel the edge of the paper. The advantage of Decoupage Glue and Varnish is that it is thick, so you will need fewer layers to achieve a professional look.

For a very smooth embedded look where the edges of your paper are no longer visible, first apply several layers of Decoupage Glue and Varnish. Paint each coat in the opposite direction; i.e., one coat horizontally and the next vertically. Smooth, if needed, by gently sanding over the dry finish using very fine wet/dry sandpaper. Dip the sandpaper in water and sand gently. Then wipe the surface clean with a soft cloth before painting on the next few layers. Repeat, as necessary, until you have achieved your desired look.

Bubbles in your decoupage paper can be carefully pricked with a pin to release the air. Gently smooth the bubbled area down with a brush or cloth, and apply another coat of Decoupage Glue and Varnish.

Yes. Always allow the Decoupage Glue and Varnish to dry well between each coat. The time this takes will vary depending on the temperature of your workspace, the thickness of your decoupage medium, and the thickness of your decoupage paper. You can speed the drying process along with the aid of a hair dryer.