Easy Chalkboards & Air Compressor Trick for Milk Paint

When I got this HUGE five foot long piece of framed artwork from the first auction I went to, I knew I was going to transform it into a chalkboard.  I read on Kammy's Korner that she uses plaster of paris mixed with latex to make the chalkboard paint.  Since that is what I already use for my homemade chalk paint recipe I was good to go. 

I removed all the staples from the back and separated the picture from the frame.  I painted right over the picture with two coats of the homemade black chalk (chalkboard) paint. No need to buy material to replace the picture--just paint over it.  I paint over glass and mirrors too!

Since the frame is so big, I wanted to pick an easy to like color for it.  I remembered that I ordered a sample pack of Luckett's Green MMS Milk Paint when the paint first came out.  I was saving it for the perfect piece and decided this would be it!

The paint did chip in some areas and it is recommended to use a scraper to help it come off, but since my husband has an air compressor and air hose attachment I used it on the frame and it took off all the chipping pieces!  I didn't have to scrape to get them off. I wouldn't have been able to scrape even if I wanted because of the profile of the frame.

I did sand to distress it further and waxed it with Minwax Finishing Paste.  The raised parts are where I sanded and the low flat parts are where it chipped.  The paint was really easy to use.  My only issue would be about how much paint to mix for my project.  You can't keep the leftover paint for more than a day or two and I would be worried I mixed too much and wasted paint, or mixed too little and not get the same color when mixing more.

Because I still had paint left after I did two coats on the large frame, I wound up painting this smaller frame the same color.  I don't like to paint a bunch of things the same color--I like to break it up.  But if you wind up mixing too much milk paint, keep another piece handy to paint with the leftover.

All these frames were very inexpensive and a very easy project to turn into chalkboards.  I find them at garage sales and so far they have sold very well at the consignment store.  I have a bunch more waiting for me to paint right now!

Linking to:
I Heart Naptime
Too Much Time On My Hands
Life on Lakeshore Drive
Navy Wifey Peters
Craft-O-Maniac
I Should Be Mopping The Floor
Homemaker on a Dime
Coastal Charm
Kammy's Korner
Today's Creative Blog
Liz Marie Blog
Kathe With An E
Not Just A Housewife
Elizabeth & Co.
Fluster Buster
Shades of Amber
Southern Lovely
Beyond The Picket Fence
House of Hepworths
I Gotta Create
Embracing Change
A Creative Princess
The Shabby Creek Cottage
Miss Mustard Seed  
The Shabby Nest
Redoux  
Funky Junk Interiors
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