Making Outdoor Chalk Paint

I know I have not posted about making and painting with chalk paint in a while.  I still LOVE it and get many questions in my inbox on a daily basis about making and painting with it. Today I am sharing with you how I make and use outdoor chalk paint.

There are many chalk paints on the market these days. It seems like every brand of paint makes it now. Some are very affordable, even come in spray cans.

However I still like to make chalk paint myself for two reasons.

• Cost – much cheaper to make yourself especially if using inexpensive latex paint.
• The ability to make it in any color you desire.

When we moved into our lake house last December, the previous owner left us 18 resin barrel style planters. Up on the deck they were used for flowers. Along the side yard, they were used for herbs and vegetables.

Since I am a flower and herb loving girl, I knew I would use them and recently added my own style to them using DIY chalk paint.

Here is how the planters along the side of the house looked before I painted them. Some were white, others grey, and brown.

How To Make Outdoor Chalk Paint

Making outdoor chalk paint is no different than making chalk paint you use indoors.  It is the same, except you use “exterior” paint. When the paint is used outside though, it gradually fades and will take on an softened weathered patina.

I used the Calcium Carbonate with Plaster of Paris recipe and inexpensive Walmart paint to make the outdoor chalk paint.

If you are new to making your own chalk paint, you will find all the recipes I have used here: How to Make DIY Chalk Paint

I painted the planters in 3 easy steps.

1. Brush on base color.  2. Applied top color with a rag.  3. Wiped excess top color off with another rag to expose some of the base color.  Very Easy!

Below you can see the process in a little more detail.

supplies needed:

• Latex exterior paint in desired colors – I used two colors that I bought at Walmart. Black as the base color and Turquoise for the top coat.
• Calcium Carbonate and Plaster of Paris
• Paint mixing container. I use coffee containers to make and mix my chalk paint in.
• Water
• Paint stirrer
• Measuring cups and spoons
• 2″- inch wide paint brush
• 2 Rags

1.  Make the chalk paint following the Calcium Carbonate and Plaster of Paris recipe. You can find the recipe here: DIY Chalk Paint

2. I placed the planters on flattened cardboard boxes to protect the grass.

3. I used a 2″- wide paint brush and black chalk paint to paint each planter and let them dry.

4. Once the black chalk paint was dry, I used a terrycloth towel/rag and bunched in up in my hand. I dipped one end into the turquoise chalk paint and then dapped it over the black paint. I continued to do this until the black paint was covered.

5. While the turquoise paint was still wet, I took a second rag and wiped some of the turquoise paint off to expose the texture of the planter and see a hint of black that is underneath.  I just kept wiping the turquoise off until I liked what I saw.

6. Once I liked how the paint finish looked, I repeated the process on the next planter.

I had 9 to do and did one at a time. If you have a line up of planters like I did or items to paint, do one at a time so you can remove some of the top coat of paint before it dries.

I did not use poly or wax over them, the just have chalk paint on them, no sealer. Wax would melt in the sun and poly would not stand up to the elements. I want the planters to take on a softened patina. Over time the color will fade away and look more like verdigris.

When you look up close at the finish, you can see that it is not perfect, but slightly distressed and perfectly…imperfect…. just the look I was after.

Have you ever used chalk paint on outdoor items or furnishings?