All this rage about chalk paint had me thinking...(like a lot of other DIY chicks)...how hard could this be to make my own for cheap? Well I must tell you that it was really easy and very cheap. I used a 7ounce color sample of Behr premium plus ultra (cost $2.95) and had the folks at HD custom match the color from a Martha Stewart paint card named algerian blue MSL118. I started by putting 2 and 1/3 ounces of plaster of paris in a plastic cup. Then I added a tiny bit of water until it was thin enough to stir but not as loose as paint. I mixed this all with my paint stick till smooth. Then I poured in my 7 ounce paint sample and stirred. Then it was time to get working on the very beat up chest that sits at the bottom of my daughters bed.

Chest before picture

After sanding down the nail polish marks a bit.

The stickers I used as reverse stencils.

The finished product!

Reverse stencil butterflies and birds.

After I was done applying two coats I let it dry overnight. The next day I applied minwax furniture wax in natural. Then I let it dry, buffed it out by hand and applied another coat. It was very beautiful.( I must tell you though that the warnings on the can kind of freaked me out.) Anyhow...  I must tell you that this blue is so beautiful! The natural wood space butterflies and birds are so cute! I will definitely use this technique again as well as my handmade chalk paint. This was very easy for a beginner like me.