One day last week I was wondering around the South Asheville Walmart looking for absolutely nothing in particular, when I ran smack in to this :
At $5.97 it was a steal and probably too good to be true, but I walked out of the store with it anyway.
All of the colors are beautiful! That’s what sucked me in to begin with! There are several shades of aqua to choose from and I almost went with that before I saw this green.
In terms of chalk paint, I am on a perpetual hunt for the perfect green. This little bottle is just the latest in an ever growing collection of greens that just did not work.
I picked up this cute little thing
what ever it is, last weekend at the same yard sale where I found all those antique books and those amazing corbels!
Yep. $1.
I knew immediately that it would make a great chalk board. Today I found myself with a little time to kill, so cracked open that little bottle of chalk paint.
Problem number one.
Poor coverage. And this paint is THICK! Like pudding thick.
The coverage was disappointing so I applied a second coat.
Problem number two.
Brush strokes, lots of them.
I applied a third coat.
Number three was somewhat of a winner.
Next I attempted to apply a coat of clear Annie Sloan wax. The paint did not take the wax well at all. Not only was it NOT glide on to the frame but it was
causing my wax cloth to skip, so to speak. Does this make sense? Also the paint color did not deepen at all when the wax was applied.
To me, this is not a plus.
I persevered.
Here is the only plus to this paint besides the price: the color change when I applied AS dark wax.
It became a lovely blue/green!
Now that I really liked!
And the pain did distress easy.
Is that color enough to make me put up with all the other issues?
No.
This is a craft paint.
Period.
The word CHALK should not enter in to your decision making process. It’s too much of a hassle to get that lovely color . Will I buy it again in another color? Probably not.
Definitely not for a piece of furniture.
Bummer !
So there is my opinion, I could be wrong.
And I’m still on the hunt for the perfect green chalk paint!
Paige
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Thanks for the review…I just bought the clear and antique waxes…hope they do better than the paint did for you!
Let me know? I'm curious about the waxes.
Hey i have experimented with the waverly chalk paints , wax and varnish as well, and after applying the chalk paint i did a fine grit sanding all over, and rougher where i wanted distressing or antiquing.,. Then used the antiquing wax in more distresed areas, went back with second coat of chalk paint, then finished with clear wax. I believe their products are more for lots of antiquing and distressing… but it worked great fr wht i did. ?
Pity it was such a pain to use because the price is good and the finished piece is really lovely. $1, you're killing me! It looks like it may have been a station from a church!?
That's what I was thinking too.
I’ve used this paint on several different items including my bedroom furniture. Never had any problems with it, covers most things with one coat and can be easily distressed if that’s the look you want.
As far as brush strokes they disappear when you apply the Waverly wax. I’ve only used the clear, let it dry over night and buff with a terry cloth and it become incredibly smooth and has a mellow glow.
The only reason I can think of that you had so many problems was that your bottle was defective or maybe frozen? I really urge you to try again as it’s my favorite paint! You can mix colors also to get the hue you want.
I agree! I have used this paint on several pieces of furniture and love it! I do prep with TSP and that’s it…I have been painting furniture for years and this paint (in my opinion) works great. I have had great success with no more than 2 coats.
I totally disagree with this review. I’ve used this Waverly Chalk paint on many things & have had great results & no brush strokes. I just painted my front door with it.
sorry it was so much trouble..yep, I am willing to pay a little more, not have to use as much paint, and have it EASY, which is the whole reason for CHALK paint.
Cute little piece, tho
Have you tried Basil green from General Finishes? It's lovely, and looks completely different depending on if you use dark wax or clear. Like your finished product, though!
I love Genersl Finishes in any color
Oh me too! It’s good stuff:)
I am so excited to stubble upon your review! Until last Thursday, I never heard of chalk paint. I wandered into a shop in Danville, California where they sold Annie Sloan chalk paint. I was intrigued but wasn't compelled to do anything yet! But then later that day, while in Walmart I coincidentally saw the Waverly Inspirations chalk paint! Since I actually had a table top chest of drawers that need to be repaired (and since I have to do that, I could repaint), I decided to give it a try! Loved the paint! Loved how it didn't drip and didn't leave brush marks and basically only one coat was needed. Had trouble with the waxing tho as the paint came off. Thinking it wasn't dry enough, I repainted and waited over night. The next morning I reapplied the wax and my piece looked great —like a white washed weathered wood. Having had so much fun and a lot of paint left over, I spontaneously decided to repaint the bathroom vanity and mirror frame last night, which went on beautifully! This morning I tried to wax the frame and the paint came off. After some internet research, someone suggested using a polycrylic sealer so I just did this on the vanity. As I was applying the sealer, it looked like it was moistening the chalk paint and the color was lightly coming off onto the brush, but the paint was basically intact. It still looks pretty good but there are minor brush strokes and a fews areas where the paint lifted off. In some areas it could pass for the distressed look but in other areas it looks like I scraped paint off. Ugh! So now I am in the process of more internet research on what to do. I am trying to decide if I should just touch up the spots with more paint and more sealer (will this make it worse?) or make the investment to go the Annie Sloan route if I have to repaint, or just get a whole new vanity, which is what I was contemplating before I got the creative urge to repaint!
I saw the Waverly paint at Wal-Mart yesterday and was wondering what it was like. Thanks for the review. I am surprised a home dec powerhouse like Waverly put their name on it. Jane
I normally do not post comments, but as I just finished a bureau with this paint I felt my two cents might be helpful to someone. As a FYI, I have a undergrad degree in art. I've been painting since I was old enough to hold a brush. I've tried every kind of paint under the sun. And I am picky. I too accidently came across this paint while shopping at Wal-Mart. I doubted. I deliberated. I scrutinized the label. I asked an associate if she had tried it. (Alas, no.) BUT…and a big one…I had just paid a carpenter to repair/remove finish of an old bureau so I could give it a new life with gray paint. And the color ELEPHANT was this color of my dreams. For $6 I thought the worse that could happen is that I sampled it in a corner, found it not working, and had to sand it down again. Much to my delight I LOVED it. It went on smoothly, it covered well, and one coat was plenty. I recommend a prep of thorough sanding, and use of a PLAID brush for no brush strokes. Really. This is good stuff. At least I can speak for ELEPHANT gray.
I had great luck with it too when reprinting a side table. One coat was all I needed, but I went ahead and did a second for good measure.
I just painted a table yesterday with Agave and got great results. One coat was enough except on top where I used a primer and that needed two. The finish is smooth and no brush marks.
Good to know! Thanks for the feedback. Not sure if I will ever try another color though. Did you use a wax on it ?
I used the elephant, celery, and agave colors and so far have loved each of them. The elephant color only took one coat while the others I did two and I have no visible brush strokes. I've used the clear wax and so far I'm very happy with it all.
I've been experimenting with these paints as well. I do see brush strokes on wood and have to do several coats. On cheap wood items. However, I have been using it on glad and it is nice with a foam brush. I used the waverly brushes to apply paint and wax…the brushes do work well…much better application with their brush. I am still trying to figure out how much to put on my brush. It states two light coats but I have not been so brave to try that. I think I like Milk paint to get that distressed look–much more inexpensive and does not require you to use AS's waxes and finishes. With milk paint you can use any combo of any brand.
I saw this at Walmart too and was going to pick some up…thanks for the review!
I use BB Frosch chalk paint powder which you mix into your paint. Its $10 for enough powder to make a Gallon. I use 2 tbs or $2.50 worth of paint to mix in a sample 8 oz size. Its the best Ive found and the price is killer. Im glad I didn't try the walmart kind, that does not sound like a fun battle to fight. I want it to go on beautifully and perfectly. The BB Frosch is amazing http://www.bbfrosch.com I think its only in some states but you can order and have it shipped almost anywhere. Thanks for sharing your review. I just did one on the bb frosch is anyone is interested. http://findingyourjoyinthejourney.com/side-table-makeover-with-bbfrosch-chalk-paint-powder/
Thank you for your review! I had seen this the other week in Walmart too but didn't have any upcoming projects so I left it…glad I did now!
Thanks for linking up at the Talented Tuesday party last week 🙂 I hope you can join us again this week!
funny, I actually found your page because I was trying to find a color chart for this lbrand of paint. I have had a different experience with this paint, I absolutely love it, it is no more thicher then annie sloan, which gets too thick that you have to keep adding water to it, I have coverd some pieces with just one coat and another I had to do two coats but It had a dark stain and yes, I had to choose a much lighter color. I hoe you give it another chnace, you could have gotten a bad bottle or something as we all have gotten from most brands. It always ends up with a hit or miss when buying paint, I, like you trying to find that perfect green, I am in search of the perfect chalk paint period, which now I'm on a new venture of trying to make my own, well I already make my own homemade chalk with the calcium carbonate but its still not actual chalk. I wish you all the best in finding your perfect green and I hope you might give that brand another chance, I am in love with there color (Rhubarb) it looks just like, well to me, the color of a barn. thanks for your testamonials, trails and errors to help others get a better sense and learn more about this craft.
I too found this blog because I was searching to find more Waverly paint. I tried an aqua color called Lagoon and had such great results. I watered it down a bit, a little water went a long way. I grabbed one of their brushes while I was at Walmart too and just happened to use it instead of my trusty Purdy brushes – I was very pleased! 2 coats and I had smooth full coverage beautiful matte color. Maybe give it another shot? I did go back to Walmart and buy the waxes and noticed all the chalk paints were gone and I don't see how to buy them online 🙁
I had no trouble with this paint, you may have needed to clean the mirror/project a little better
I think you are right. You have to clean whatever piece you are painting thoroughly no matter what brand of chalk paint you use.
I have been using this paint (Waverly Inspirations Chalk, various colors) to paint picture frames from Goodwill for jewelry hangers and also for photo collages. I generally use 2-3 coats because I want to have different colors show when I distress the piece. I have been really pleased with my results but I have also learned important steps. Most important: allow each layer to dry well!! I cannot emphasize this enough!! Overnight is great! I am using a synthetic bright 1" brush and have had no problem with brush marks and I generally apply a generous but not too thick coat each time. I have been using the white or dark wax followed by a final coat of Annie Sloan clear. I will probably only use Annie Sloan waxes when I use up the Waverly. It works well enough but it is runny compared to the AS which is a paste type wax. I love the look I got on every piece I have done. The dark wax does change the color so don't expect that gorgeous blue to stay blue-it will wind up more green but I actually liked the result I wound up with, despite the shock!! The white wax gives a beautiful finish, too! I am overall really pleased and glad I took the plunge with these pieces before I tackled any large furniture. My confidence is way up on my abilities going forward. Great score on that $1 piece!! It's great!!
Your piece looks like the frame of an old hymn board.
Not sure if you will respond but I do have a question. I bought the Waverly chalk paint but think I will return it. I really went to buy some acrylic paint but there were no exciting colors to match what I wanted. They had just what I needed. I get your green passion…walked through the cottage as I finished the last repaint of a bedroom and noticed that all the rooms are now GREEN. Various shades, but all green.But, my primary concern is what I am painting. I am painting plastic lampshades from IKEA and a faded mat on a beloved print (they wanted $80-$100 to replace the mat). Do you think chalk paint would work on those surfaces? Thanks, so much for helping me with this.
Yes! You can definitely paint that matte with chalk paint. I've e done it. I would not use the Waverly though. I don't have any idea about those shades though.
Yes. it will work.
I am trying it on one of my lamp shades tonight. I can let you know how it works. On the waxes I like how the dark turns out much better than the light. I bought several of the waverly colors (they were on sale). I like it yes I do have to do an extra coat but I believe that is due to my brushes. I found this site looking for glass ideas to use up my paints. Love your dollar bargain.
I found this chalk paint at Wal Mart. I have to admit it was the price that drew me in. We found two colors we liked. Elephant a dark gray and pool a light blue. My husband and I found our projects. I worked on a dry sink while my husband worked with the Elephant gray on a bathroom vanity. I saw brush strokes and after two hours did another coat. My hubby found the paint went on well and did a second coat and it is exactly what we wanted. The other project took three coats and I did the clear wax and need to buff it yet. The wax was very runny and I had to let it dry for 24 hours. I was on the net trying to figure out if I did something wrong but I see other people have had a few issues. Waiting to see how this turns out before I add wax seal to the bathroom vanity. we both love the look so far. Any suggestions are welcome
I just did several projects using Waverly chalk paint. it was my first time using chalk paint and I had watched tutorials about Annie Sloan products so I made some mistakes – did not let paint dry long enough before applying wax. I thought the wax was runny because it was sooooo hot outside the day I used it but after putting it in the fridge a few hours I realized it just is not like the wax I saw in the tutorial. I loved the way it worked on an old,pottery planter I had. No wax needed.I also have a red side table now. I am going to use their varnish on it instead of wax because it is for outside use. I painted an old farm stool maize and love it but painted it 2 x and then touched up some spots. I used the ivory on some old frames with the antique and white waxes and love the way they turned out but not happy with he ivory paint finished with white wax on a big shutter I am using as a room divider. After I finished using it I found the waverly instructions on line. I would use this paint again because I like the colors and the price but I would wait longer to wax it next time.
Came to pin your pretty script fabric chair and saw this in your side bar. I was curious if you had the same issues I did and I'm glad it wasn't just me! I tried the very pale blue and it went on very gel-like. I liked your description comparing it to pudding. You would think that would give it great coverage, but it didn't at all! Love how your $1 find turned out though. 🙂
I'm in middle of re-doing a table that I tried to paint with Waverly Chalk Paint. I wish I had found your review before I even bought this stuff. It's the worst paint I've ever used…the super-thick consistency shows brush strokes like crazy, the Waverly Chalk brush sheds badly, and for such a thick paint, the coverage isn't good at all. After several coats, I finally got the table to a point where it looked reasonably good, so I decided to do the wax coat (after waiting 24 hours, like the directions said) Big mistake!! Instead of drying clear (and I bought the clear wax), it turned an ugly brown color after it dried and no amount of rubbing or sanding would remove the brown tint. My experience with this has left me sorely frustrated, to the point where I actually sent my first ever complaint letter to the company. I got a quick email back from Plaid/Waverly asking me to call their 800 number and so I did, only because I was hoping to get some useful tips in order to successfully complete this project.
This is what I told…even though their product is advertised as needing no prep work, apparently this isn't true and only applies to surfaces that have been sealed or top-coated, like polyurethaned furniture and the like. If you're wanting to paint a stained piece of furniture then you need to strip it first, or else the wax top coat will pull the stained color to the surface. This is why my clear wax coat turned brown …as it dried it pulled up the original dark brown color on the 1930's table I was painting, even though I had applied 3-4 coats of the chalk paint and the chalk paint color looked fine before doing the wax. I was also told there wasn't anything that could be done about the paint showing brush strokes…that's just how it is. It does not self-level like other paints do. And I was told that no, I couldn't paint over the wax with some chalk paint, not even Kilz primer…the only way I can fix the table now is to completely strip it and start over.
Basically, if you want your chalk paint project to look good, you should use something else!
So that's why! Thank you for this comment. I couldn't figure out why the bathroom vanity looked so much better then the dry sink. The vanity was that light oak look you see everywhere. It has a clear coating on top. The dry sink was a stained pine. Every stroke showed and multiple layers were applied. So much for no prep and great coverage I guess
I will use the more expensive chalk paint for projects that don't have that smooth clear coat.
I used cashew on a table. Very frustrated with coverage and brushmarks. Until I read the label, which calls for two hours drying time between coats. I thought I knew from reading, that it was 30 minutes! When I waited the full two hours, the paint self leveled, coverage improved, and brush marks disappeared. Amazing when you read the instructions! I used a mixture of antique wax and clear to finish, and I plan on waiting the 7 days before putting anything on it, for the wax to cure. It's really pretty.
Hi , I Have tried many chalk paints and I feel Annie Sloan paint, waxes are the best! However I do use the waverly and love the peacock color and crystal! The Key is to let it dry overnight and I prefer to use AS wax(and then let cure for 5-7 days,).Dixie Bell Holy Guacamole green color is awesome.Like to hear all the advice and comments. Some of my mistakes turn out the best!Love your pic , I've been on a rampage over books !LOL
Sorry it is Dixie Belle- just add paint.com for more info
I have use waverly twice.. the first time on a door for a headboard and the second on a dresser. The paint went on very smooth and no brush marks for me but on the dresser I let the paint dry for 24.hrs and when I put the wax on the paint was peeling right off! I don't know what I did wrong. On the door I didn't have this issue and it was a plain wood door with no varnish or paint on it. I figured with the dresser it was because of the varnish on it but I thought this was the point of chalk paint was no sanding prep?
I've tried one of the turquoise/blue colors in this paint and actually liked it a lot. I own a shop where we paint and restyle furniture daily, so I've been through my fair share of chalk(y) paint, we usually make our own. It's not on my top 3 list but it's not too far behind. I will say that I'm in love with their waxes. They go on smooth, buff out beautifully, the dark antique wax is my secret go to that everyone asks for and about! It's funny how different experiences can be with the same product! No telling if color variations account for coverage issues.
You will never have paint peeling off with Annie Sloan chalk paint. I have used it multiple times and it amazing! This is one of those instances where you get what you pay for. However, I have heard bbfrosch is excellent but I haven't tried it yet. Don't go the Walmart way!!!
I just painted my couch, with curry. My couch is a cotton/polly blend with a pattern. I could have almost gotten away with one coat, but I went for two to completely cover the pattern. I'm very pleased with the outcome. I did a light sanding and buffing between coats and a clear wax to finish. Four hours of rest before each coat and I'm one satisfied customer ?
I have used the ink and the clear wax both of my projects turned out perfect not sure if it was because I have never used chalk paint before so maybe my expectations were not that high ?
I just used this same exact chalk paint, same color. On a orangey, 40 year old dresser that's been in my family that long. It had drawings on it from me and my brothers (in black permanent marker!). The dresser is about 4 ft tall and has 6 drawers. Tall and skinny thing. I bought only one container of the paint in celery. I sandpapered it down, which got most of the orange off. Yes, the paint is very thick and yes you can see the brush strokes a little too much and the brushes are awful BUT, I noticed that if you use your finger and smooth it over, it dries beautifully. I didn't sand down one of the drawers but it stilled covered it all. One container did the entire dresser. Now that it's completely dried, there are zero brush strokes and I do not see any of the old coloring. I used two coats. I like it a lot. I'm wanting to do my other two dressers but I think that they will need to be stripped and sand down first because they are a lot darker
I've always been a firm believer in that you get what you pay for, but this paint actually surpassed my expectations when I painted my dresser. I was planning on purchasing the Miss Mustard Seed Milk Paint, but decided the give this paint a try when I accidentally came across it in the craft aisle at Walmart when I was looking for something else. I'm so glad I did! I must note that I had sanded down my dresser with a sander weeks ago. This was to ensure that the wood was porous enough to accept any coating of paint. That's why I believe you may have had more desirable results if you sanded this. 🙂
You have to clean whatever piece you are painting thoroughly no matter what brand of chalk paint you use. You also need to use a good quality brush and then you have to let it thoroughly dry.
Waverly had been an excellent paint for me. If you clean your piece very well with mineral spirits before painting, you should have no problem at all. I was going to try AS, had a hard time finding it but found Waverly and have not regretted it one bit! If you're having problems with it, I would venture to say your piece you are repainting is not clean. Don't rush doing your second coat or waxing or the paint will lift off some because it didn't dry and cure properly. I LOVE IT AND THE PRICE IS RIGHT!
WORST chalk paint I have used since I started using chalk paint. Your review could have been written by me~ Used different brushes, used a roller, and a sponge. Only good thing I can say about it is that it did sand smooth. The wax is just as bad and the paint. Save your money…… As for that perfect green, I made my own when I had a customer looking for a custom color. It worked much better than the Waverly Chalk Paint
I use the waverly chalk paint all the time.. I love love love this paint. Just because one or two people don't like it doesn't mean you shouldn't try it. I've painted atleast 20 pieces of furniture with it and everyone loves all of them.
I just used the color Celery from waverly on my dresser and I love it! I painted the whole dresser and have more than half of the bottle of paint left; you can see the original color of dresser a little still. But I'm going for that vintage/distressed look and it already looks magnificent, I may or may not add a second coat then distress it. Haven't decided yet bc I did also buy the clear wax!
I use Waverly chalk paint all the time. It doesn't smell as bad as Annie Sloans, it's cheaper and I've never had a problem applying different types of wax. I love it. If you seal the piece first with shellac spray you should be fine-and let it dry overnight.
I bought the Waverly chalk paint yesterday in Mineral color, along with their brush set. It took me 2 coats on a vintage end table and looked great! I have not used wax yet and am thinking about doing a poly finish b/c I have heard the wax does not hold up well. I did a good wipe down of the table before starting with a degreaser we had under the sink.
I have had very good results with Waverley Chalk Paint. I use a good brush, it helps, and I prep my surface well. I have tried Amy Howard's One Step Chalk Paint. It was a runny disaster that had to be blasted off my dresser with an orbital slander. It was three time the price too!
Thank you for sharing this interesting and informative article, painting with airless spray gun will be faster and more interesting!
I'm wondering has had this problem. I used the indigo,2 coats with good coverage,used the dark wax and the finish. I'm not impressed.Does anyone know if I can use polyurethane over the water based wax?
Your piece looks like a church hymn board. It would have had horizontal rails to hold the numbers.
I love the Waverly Chalk Paint sold at Walmart, worked better for me than Annie Sloan or the stuff they sell at Hobby Lobby!
Wow! I tried Waverly Chalk Paint and was blown away with the results. I did my fireplace mantle in crimson with Antique wax. I only needed one container of Crimson, the coverage was excellent. Half a container of Antique wax did the rest. Wish I could upload,a pic. It turned out beautiful, a burnished deep burgundy.
I have to leave a comment. I absolutely love the Waverly Paint! I have a small store where I sell antiques and distressed furniture I can not keep anything I paint more than a week and all I use is Waverly. I do have a trick mid way through that probably saves the day. Because I am distressing my pieces, 2 coats is the max I put on and with some of the darker colors, 1 will do. The paint is very chalky feeling when you are done. I sand my pieces ALL OVER with a very fine sandpaper. This takes away the chalky feel and leaves the softest feeling finish. I’m very particular about sanding. I look at my piece and decide where it would have naturally worn over 100 years. That’s where I distress it. That’s the edges – especially feet – where hands would touch it day in and day out, etc. Once I’m through sanding, I use Waverly Wax. Maybe AS was was made for that paint? I know the wax has always worked for me and I wouldn’t consider finishing a piece without. I have done massive china cabinets, huge dining sets, my own cabinets, chairs – whatever needs a new look! The clear was will age the fresh wood you just uncovered and the antique wax will do just that. It will darken any of the colors and is very easy to apply and rub in.
I’m sorry you had a bad experience with it. Its the only kind of paint I use and I recommend it everyday
I use many brands of chalk type paint and what I have found is that you get what you pay for. The average quart of good chalk type paint is going to run you $30 -$35. If you find a brand that cost much less than $30 a qt it’s not a true chalk type paint.