Makeover - Using Hannah's Chalk and Clay Powder

April 20, 2015


Have you used chalk paint before? Ben and I have loved Annie Sloan's paint for years now ever since we got the bug for upcycling furniture for our first flat and now house together. It's great as it sticks to almost any surface so you don't need to spend time sanding or priming something first. From plastic to wood to metal to furniture to terracotta pots, try chalk paint on whatever you like. I also like the finish of the chalk paint and the wax you can add on after for longevity, it's matt rather than being glossy and is specially designed for painting furniture. I've painted old pine chest of drawers, garden chairs and our kitchen table and chairs which have lasted for a few years now without chipping. Anyway, this post isn't about Annie Sloan's chalk paint which while lovely only comes in limited colours and works out fairly expensive to buy. This post is about making your own chalk paint with Hannah's Chalk and Clay Powder - a clever invention meaning that by adding just 1tbsp of powder to your favourite coloured emulsion paint you can create your own chalk finish in whatever colour you like. And emulsion paint is cheaper to buy than chalk paint, win win all round. I was sent a packet of Hannah's chalk and clay powder to try so I set about finding some things to transform with it! 



I went to a car boot sale last weekend and bought an old step-ladder which I had plans to paint and take to the allotment filled with strawberry plants on each rung. However I got it out the shed today to paint and think I actually prefer it in it's natural state rather than being painted. So that was no good. 


But then I remembered about a mirror we had in my parent's garage leftover from one of Ben's old house moves. I'm not a fan of pine furniture so got out the chalk powder and some old emulsion paint. I like Farrow and Ball Charleston Grey which we had painted our old kitchen in our first London flat. 



It's super easy to use and for this mirror I only needed one tablespoon of powder meaning that a whole pack would last you for lots of projects or a few decent sized pieces of furniture. Friends of ours have transformed their old pine kitchen just by covering with chalk paint in about an hour! There are instructions on the back of the packet, you simply mix your ratio of powder with warm water in a bowl until combied properly and then mix into a cup full of your paint. 




I used an old yogurt pot to mix them in so it didn't stain, stir it up and then your regular emulsion paint has been transformed into chalk paint! Simple as that. Paint onto whatever you wish. 





All transformed! I love the look of the mirror now compared to the orangey pine before, it will go anywhere now. And I even had paint left to makeover an old wicker basket. And ridiculously easy. I would highly recommend the chalk and clay powder for whatever projects you wish. I want to try some terracotta pots next and some other colours. Now we just need another house that can fit more of our projects in! Will you try it out? Let me, Hannah and Thistles and Throws on Instagram know if you do!

You can find more info about Hannah's chalk and clay powder here.

{With thanks to Thistles and Throws and Hannah's Chalk and Clay Paint. I was sent this to review but all opinions are my own and I would never ever promote anything that I wouldn't buy myself}. 

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2 comments

  1. Hi Rebecca,
    What do you think of the longevity of chalk paint? Similar to you, I upcycled an old mahogany dining table (painted the legs in Annie Sloan, sanded and varnished the top). The table legs have a cross beam, which is quite handy for resting your feet on, but over less that a year has meant that the chalk paint is wearing away and looks quite dirty. This summer I put another coat of paint on and this time used Rustoleum's lacquer over the top. But the same thing is starting to happen again.
    Just wondered if you'd had similar issues with your dining table you painted in chalk paint and whether you've found anything to improve the longevity/hard wearingness? (is that a word?!)

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    1. Hi Natalie, ours have chipped a little in places but mostly seem pretty hardwearing even the outside stuff has lasted over three years now without touching up. I would say it may depend on the wood underneath so possibly redo it and prime it first?? Otherwise try the Annie Sloan wax to coat it all with after painting xx

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