Chalk Painted Side Tables

Do you feel the panic of summer slipping by more quickly than desired?  Oh my gosh, it is the middle of September and my days of painting in my garage are ticking away.  My cars lost their home this summer to my collection of ” finds” and “treasures” waiting for a transformation. This collection consists of doors, tables, chairs, shelves, cabinets, shutters and old windows just to name the major stuff.  Because the weather here was so goofy, I was feeling way behind on completion of these projects   You see, I would rather spray the large items in my garage and save the smaller items for the winter indoor projects. So when the chance occurred that I could slip away when the weather was right, I painted like crazy sometimes forgetting to take pictures of the whole process. One project I did complete was freshening up a pair of side tables I purchased. These were a pair of quality, solid wood side tables from craigslist that had great lines, but  well used.  I definitely could see their potential. I knew they would look fabulous and fresh painted. Below I will share the transformation of chalk painted side tables.

Prepped and Painted

I began with preparing the table for paint.  An important process and one not to skip.  After a good sanding, I used my Home-right Paint Sprayer and sprayed the table with a few coats allowing drying time in between .  Because I wanted the surface to have extra protection, I brushed the top and edges applying the paint a little thinker than what  spraying provided.  I then spayed one more time to remove the brush strokes and leave a smooth surface.  I did have a few drips and corrected those quickly with just a light, quick stroke of the brush.  I suggest always doing a quick once over inspection to look for any drips.  They sure can be sneaky.

Chalk Painted Side Table

This piece was finished up a few days later with a light sanding to smooth out the rough feeling of the chalk paint and then wiped clean.  My initial idea for the finishing top coat was to go with a glossy sprayed lacquer.  Getting back to the weather I mentioned earlier, we were experiencing a sticky, gross, hot spell.  I had no business trying to paint in such conditions, but I must admit, I don’t have the greatest of patience.  That poor decision bit me on the butt.  The paint dried all splotchy. Some spots were glossy and some spots dull.  It was a mess. I had to sand the piece again trying to remove all the lacquer. Grrr. This time, I brought the side table into the house, applied clear wax to it and buffed it.  It turned out beautifully.  ( thank goodness) Now, to repeat this for the other table.  I won’t be making that same mistake.  Lesson learned… just be patient!

Have you ever experienced a dumb mistake while creating? Please share.  Maybe we can learn from each other!