Summer Paint Projects Made Easy: Tips from the Pros at Corner Cartel
Written by Shawna Holly
Summer is officially here…and we’re spending more time at home than ever, right? Last month, we discussed a few simple home and garden project ideas we hoped would inspire you to get creative in your own spaces. And today, we’re taking that further and chatting about all things paint! Milk paint, chalk paint, mineral paint…what’s the difference? And where do we even begin?
Well, we’re lucky enough to have three lovely vendors at Corner Cartel who each stock a different brand of paint for those summer DIY projects. We asked each of them for a quick crash course in their product and technique, and here’s what they had to say:
Cathie De La Rosa of Shades of Yesterday, Dixie Belle Paint Company (a mineral chalk paint):
“I carry sixty-four Dixie Belle paint colors—plus specialty paints such as Patina and Metallics—as well as glazes, waxes, and topcoats at Corner Cartel. There are just so many reasons to love this paint! It’s proudly American made, has zero VOC's, is non-toxic, and also self-leveling for a smooth finish.
But to start any paint project off on the right track, you’ll want to give your piece a good cleaning with our ‘White Lightening’ to remove all dirt, dust, and grime. Then, for a super durable, waterproof sealer and protectant try ‘Gator Hide’. For a unique weathered piece, try our ‘Sea Spray’, ‘Dixie Mud’, or ‘Crackle’ products. For removing that ‘Grandma's attic’ smell and preventing bleed-through, try ‘Boss’. And for convincing paint to stick to even the slickest of surfaces, try the ‘Slick Stick,’ which allows your paint to fully attach and seal.
So many fantastic ways to try Dixie Belle! Have a question? Reach out at any time…I’m always happy to help!”
Johni Badder-Fahey, Sweet Pickins Milk Paint:
“Sweet Pickins was created by a military wife while her husband was deployed to the Middle East. That was in 2013 and the product line continues to grow. Today, Sweet Pickins milk paint is made with the same basic ingredients used to make paint for hundreds of years—milk protein, lime, and earth pigments—making it environmentally safe, non-toxic, and food-safe, too!
The look and feel of a surface painted with milk paint are extremely smooth and authentically vintage. This true milk paint comes in powder form and you simply mix it with an equal amount of water for a chippy, naturally worn result. Or, if you prefer, you may also add a bonding agent to create an end result that is smooth and slightly crackled but without the chippy look. We recommend finishing the piece with our clear matte topcoat, or distressing the surface and applying wax.
There are fifty beautiful, muted colors in the Sweet Pickins line; a few of our favorites being ‘bluebird’, ‘flour sack’, ‘galvanized’, and ‘sweetie Jane’. But don’t take our word for it, stop on by our booth at Corner Cartel and explore them for yourself!”
Debbie Lance of Hooked by Debbie, Junk Gypsy & Bungalow 47 (clay and chalk paint):
“When I first started renovating furniture and using chalk paint, I made my own. As you can imagine, that didn't last very long! Soon, I was on the hunt for a chalk paint that I would feel proud to retail—a brand that had tried, true, and on-trend colors and that, of course, also performed well.
I was an avid watcher of Junk Gypsies (who have long been my inspiration and heroes) and when Junk Gypsy released its own brand of zero-VOC, solvent-free, made in America, chalk and clay-based paint…I knew I had found the one.
A company called Bungalow 47 created the paint for them, and now I use both brands for furniture projects, stenciling floors, and more: Check out the restrooms at the Cartel, next time you’re in, for a glimpse of a recent stenciling project…And be sure to ask for ‘Hooked by Debbie’ to pick up a few samples to try, too!”
So there we have it; three different kinds of paint to be used with nearly any sort of project you can imagine! So, what will it be? That porch rocker you found at the yard sale that needs a little sprucing up? A few photo frames to try your hand before going all-in? Come on in and take a look around…you’re sure to find the perfect project piece (and paint) to help you learn something new!
Located for thirty years in the heart of Boerne, Corner Cartel boasts seven-thousand square feet of vintage finds, antiques, clothing, jewelry, handmade bath and body products, home decor, candles, souvenirs, and more. Whether you're looking for one of a kind vintage treasures, classic antiques, or on-trend home decor, you're sure to find something to love inside our doors!
