I am a DIY-er. A
crafter. Someone who loves to get her hands dirty and be creative.
But I also am impatient, and I don’t like to wait, prep, or bother
with the steps that slow me down. I am a little like Veruca Salt:
“I want it (done) now.” As I was making a post for Young House
Love’s Pinterest Challenge for Winter 2013, I had my first
experience with a crafter’s best friend: Annie Sloan Chalk Paint.
What?
Chalk paint? Do you mean chalkBOARD paint? Well…
yes and no. Annie Sloan’s Chalk Paint is a decorative paint that
has been around for years (according to her website, over 20). The
idea is that it is a versatile paint that acts like a limewash to
make an older look to freshly-painted furniture. 
Ok, but can’t I
use paint from the hardware store for that? Sure, but
not in the same way. The great thing about Chalk Paint is that it
has no odor, and you don’t need to pre-treat the surface before
using it. That means no sanding, no priming, just painting. It is
simply heavenly for an impatient crafter like me. So
colors? There are around 30 different colors to choose
from, but there are endless ways to mix, match, and further treat
the colors to get basically any look that you want. My first use of
the Chalk Paint was for my new menu board, and I wanted a flat
color. I am planning on using it in the future for the surface of
my map table. I just need to have a top coat of the clear wax to
make sure the paint surface stays scuff-free and a little shiny.
The name says
it’s “chalk paint.” Can I use it to make a chalkboard?
YES! You can use any of the colors to make a chalkboard surface.
Colorful and versatile! I want to learn more!
Yeah, after seeing my neighbor use this stuff, I was pretty
convinced too. To find out more information, you can go to Annie
Sloan’s page about using the Chalk Paint. You can find
the American retailers here (I love
that they also have store hours on that page). 
Here are some fellow
bloggers and their take on Annie Sloan Chalk Paint: Remodelaholic Carter’s Cottage (#1) Carter’s Cottage (#2) Hyphen Interiors Whimsical Perspective Northdixie Designs SAS Interiors The Purple Painted Lady The
Picky Girl
The Doyle Dispatch 