HOW TO MAKE ACRYLIC AND TALC CHALK PAINT

APPLE BARREL ACRYLIC PAINT

ESTIMATED READ TIME: 11 MINUTES

DISCLOSURE: This post may contain affiliate links from Amazon, AWIN, and Sovrn. As an affiliate partner, I may earn from qualifying purchases at no extra cost to you. Read my FULL DISCLOSURE HERE

Learn how to make DIY chalk paint with acrylic paint and talcum powder.

DO YOU WANT TO SUPPORT WILD WEST SUCCULENTS IN A SIMPLE WAY?

Treat me to a one-time coffee or support the team with a monthly donation!
Your kindness helps keep my blog thriving and allows me and my team to continue sharing gardening tips, DIY projects, and creative inspiration.

Table of Contents

INTRODUCTION

If you love the velvety, matte finish of chalk paint but want a budget-friendly and customizable option, you’re in the right place!

I’ve experimented with different DIY chalk paint recipes, and this one made with acrylic paint and talcum powder is my personal favorite.

It’s smooth, easy to work with, and perfect for furniture makeovers, craft projects, and even decorative accents.

In this post, I’ll share my simple recipe, step-by-step instructions, and tips for achieving a flawless finish.

Let’s get started!

WHAT YOU’LL NEED

MEASURING CUPS (FOR CRAFTS ONLY)
MEASURING TEASPOONS (FOR CRAFTS ONLY)
APPLE BARREL 2 OZ BOTTLE OF PAINT
TALCUM POWDER
WATER (AS NEEDED)
PLASTIC TARP (OPTIONAL)
NEWSPAPER (OPTIONAL)
DISPOSIBLE GLOVES (OPTIONAL)
JAR WITH LID
SHARPIE
STIR STICK (OPTIONAL)
SPOONS OR SCOOP FOR PAINT AND TALC
PROTECTIVE EYE PROTECTION (OPTIONAL)
FACE MASK (OPTIONAL)
PAPER PLATE (OPTIONAL)
MIXING BOWL (OPTIONAL)

WHAT WE’LL COVER

DO YOU WANT TO SUPPORT WILD WEST SUCCULENTS IN A SIMPLE WAY?
INTRODUCTION
WHAT YOU’LL NEED
WHAT WE’LL COVER
STEP ONE: ESTIMATE YOUR PAINT AMOUNT
ACRYLIC PAINT
TALCUM POWDER
SAFETY FIRST WHEN USING TALCUM POWDER
STEP TWO: SELECT YOUR PAINT
WHY APPLE BARREL PAINTS?
STEP THREE: PROTECT YOUR WORK AREA
STEP FOUR: REMOVE PAINT LID
STEP FIVE: REMOVE ACRYLIC PAINT FROM CONTAINER
STEP SIX: OPEN TALCUM POWDER AND PREPARE TO USE
STEP SEVEN: HOW TO MAKE MIXTURE SMOOTH
STEP EIGHT: CONTINUE BLENDING PAINT
WHAT TO DO IF TOO THICK?
WHAT TO DO IF TOO THIN?
STEP NINE: IF YOUR PAINT IS PERFECT
STEP TEN: LABEL YOUR CONTAINER
STEP ELEVEN: WRITE DOWN YOUR FORMULA FOR MAKING YOUR COLOR AND MIXTURE
STEP TWELVE: PUT YOUR LID ON FIRMLY
STEP THIRTEEN: FOR YOUR PROJECT
STEP FOURTEEN: APPLY TO PROJECT
STEP FIFTEEN: DRY AND PROTECT
PAINT DISCLOSURE:
RECIPE FOR ACRYLIC PAINT AND TALCUM POWDER MIXTURE
CONCLUSION
ADDITIONAL HELPFUL HINTS
JOIN US TODAY!

STEP ONE: ESTIMATE YOUR PAINT AMOUNT

ACRYLIC PAINT

BEFORE YOU BEGIN, ESTIMATE HOW MUCH PAINT YOU’LL NEED FOR THE JOB.
THIS CAN VARY GREATLY DEPENDING ON YOUR PROJECT.
FOR EXAMPLE, YOU WILL NEED LESS FOR A PROJECT THAT IS A FLOWER POT AND MORE FOR A GREENHOUSE SHELF.
IF YOU ARE ANyONE LIKE ME, I SEEM TO FORGET THIS AND ALWAYS NEED TO STOP AND PURCHASE MORE PAINT IN THE MIDDLE OF MY PROJECT.
SO PLEASE LEARN FROM MY MISTAKES AND REMEMBER IT IS ALWAYS BETTER TO HAVE MORE PAINT THAN NOT ENOUGH TO COMPLETE YOUR PROJECT.
BESIDES, IF YOU HAVE MORE PAINT YOU CAN ALWAYS USE IT FOR A FUTURE PROJECT.

TALCUM POWDER

IF YOU HAVE A BOTTLE OF TALCUM POWDER, ONLY A SMALL AMOUNT IS NEEDED FOR YOUR PAINT.

SAFETY FIRST WHEN USING TALCUM POWDER

CONSEQUENTLY, WHILE I LOVE USING TALCUM POWDER, IT IS IMPORTANT TO BE AWARE THAT YOU SHOULD ONLY USE IT WELL-VENTILATED AREAS, PREFERABLY OUTSIDE WITH A FACE MASK FOR YOUR PROTECTION.
IF YOU’RE NOT A FAN OF BABY POWDER SCENT, YOU CAN FIND UNSCENTED TALCUM POWDER AS AN ALTERNATIVE.
PERSONALLY, I LIKE THE FRAGRANCE OF BABY POWDER WHEN PAINTING MY PROJECTS.
KEEP IN MINE THAT THIS FRAGRANCE WILL FADE OVERTIME.

STEP TWO: SELECT YOUR PAINT

IF YOU DO NOT ALREADY HAVE YOUR SUPPLIES FOR THIS PROJECT, YOU WILL NEED TO PURCHASE THEM.
YOU WILL NEED SOME BRAND OF PAINT.
SELECT A BRAND THAT YOU LIKE TO WORK WITH AND PURCHASE ENOUGH PAINT TO COMPLETE YOUR PROJECT.
MANY PAINT COMPANIES OFFER SMALLER OR LARGER PAINT SIZES FOR CRAFTS.
FOR MY GREENHOUSE, I SELECTED APPLE BARREL PAINTS IN 2 OZ., ENGLISH NAVY AND 2 OZ. JET BLACK.

WHY APPLE BARREL PAINTS?

I LIKE APPLE BARREL PAINTS BECAUSE THEY ARE MADE IN THE USA, ARE AFFORDABLE, CAN BE EASILY STORED, AND EASY TO CLEAN UP.
THEY ALSO OFFER MANY COLORS OF NON-TOXIC PAINTS FOR YOUR DIFFERANT PROJECTS.
AVAILABLE IN 2 OZ., 8 OZ., 16 OZ., 32 OZ., AND I GALLON AS WELL AS PAINT SETS.

STEP THREE: PROTECT YOUR WORK AREA

WITH THE PRELIMINARY STEPS COMPLETED, WE’RE NOW READY TO BEGIN.
PROTECT YOUR AREA WITH A PLASTIC TARP, KRAFT PAPER, OR NEWSPAPER.
MOVE ALL YOUR ITEMS FOR THIS PROJECT TO THE PROTECTED AREA.

STEP FOUR: REMOVE PAINT LID

CAREFULLY REMOVE THE LID OF YOUR ACRYLIC PAINT.

STEP FIVE: REMOVE ACRYLIC PAINT FROM CONTAINER

I HAVE FOUND IT IS EASIER TO MIX MY PAINT BY REMOVING IT FROM ITS CONTAINER.
PUT YOUR PAINT IN A BOWL FOR MIXING WITH TALCUM POWDER.
HAVE A HANDY RECYCLED JAR WITH A LID THAT CLOSES TIGHTLY NEAR YOUR PAINT.
PUT ANY EXCESS PAINT INTO THE JAR WITH THE LID AND CLOSE THE LID TIGHTLY FOR FUTURE USE.
THIS IS IMPORTANT IF YOU ARE MIXING A CERTAIN COMBINATION OF COLORS FOR A PROJECT OR A BRAND COLOR>

STEP SIX: OPEN TALCUM POWDER AND PREPARE TO USE

PUT ON YOUR MASK TO PROTECT YOURSELF FROM THE LOOSE POWDER OF TALCUM POWDER.
OPEN YOUR TALCUM POWDER.
WITH YOUR SCOOP OR MEASURING SPOONS, SCOOP OUT YOUR TALCUM POWDER AND MIX IT IN YOUR PAINT WITH YOUR SPATULA.

STEP SEVEN: HOW TO MAKE MIXTURE SMOOTH

WHEN YOU ARE MIXING YOUR PAINT, WITHOUT A DOUBT USE YOUR SPATULA TO BLEND YOUR MIXTURE SMOOTH.
DO THIS BY WORKING IN SMALL AREAS IN YOUR BOWL AND INCORPORATE MORE PAINT AS NEEDED.

STEP EIGHT: CONTINUE BLENDING PAINT

CONTINUE BLENDING PAINT UNTIL THE ENTIRE BOWL IS BLENDED SMOOTH.
AT THIS TIME, LOOK AT YOUR PAINT AND EXAMINE THE THICKNESS.
IF YOUR PAINT IS THICK, YOU CAN ADD A DRIP OF WATER TO YOUR MIXTURE.
MAKE SURE YOU MIX THE WATER INTO YOUR MIXTUER COMPLETELY BEFORE ADDING MORE WATER.

WHAT TO DO IF TOO THICK?

IF YOUR PAINT IS THICK, YOU CAN ADD A DRIZZLE OF WATER TO YOUR MIXTURE.
MAKE SURE YOU MIX THE WATER INTO YOUR MIXTURE COMPLETELY BEFORE ADDING MORE WATER.
MOST IMPORTANTLY THIS PART CAN BE TRICKLY SO BE CAREFUL.

WHAT TO DO IF TOO THIN?

IF YOUR MIXTURE BECOMES TOO THIN, GENTLY SPRINKLE IN MORE TALCUM POWDER.
IF YOU DO NOT FEEL COMFORABLE ADDING MORE WATER, SET ASIDE YOUR MIXTURE FOR A MOMENT AND RECHECK ONCE THE MIXTURE HAS HAD A MOMENT TO BLEND TOGETHER.
NATURALLY IT SHOULD THICKEN.
REMEMBER TO STIR PERIODICALLY WHEN YOU REACH YOUR PERSONAL MIXTURE BLEND.

STEP NINE: IF YOUR PAINT IS PERFECT

IF YOUR PAINT IS A PERFECT MIXTURE, PUT YOUR PAINT INTO YOUR RECYCLED GLASS JAR WITH A LID.
YOU CAN USE YOUR SPATULA TO REMOVE ALL YOUR PAINT FROM MIXING BOWL.

STEP TEN: LABEL YOUR CONTAINER

WITH A SHARPIE, PUT THE NAME OF YOUR PAINT ON THE CONTAINER.
OR, PUT INFORMATION ON A PIECE OF PAPER AND ATTACH THE PAPER WITH TAPE TO YOUR CONTAINER.
BY USING A PIECE OF PAPER, YOU WILL BE ABLE TO USE THE CONTAINER AGAIN AND AGAIN IN THE FUTURE WITHOUT DAMAGING THE PAINT CONTAINER.
IF YOU DECIDE TO WRITE ON THE LID OF YOUR RECYCLED JAR, YOU CAN ALWAYS PAINT OVER THE NAME OVER AND OVER AGAIN IF YOU CHANGE THE PAINT IN THE JAR.
THEN WRITE YOUR NEW PAINT NAME ON THE LID WITH A SHARPIE.

STEP ELEVEN: WRITE DOWN YOUR FORMULA FOR MAKING YOUR COLOR AND MIXTURE

IF YOU HAVE MAKE YOUR OWN CUSTOM MIX OF PAINT COLOR, WRITE DOWN YOUR PERSONAL FORMULA FOR MAKING YOUR COLOR IN THE FUTURE.
THIS IS REALLY IMPORTANT BECAUSE I ALMOST GUARANTEE YOU WILL PROBABLY FORGET YOUR OWN FORMULA TO GET THE EXACT COLOR AGAIN.
KEEP IN MIND THAT YOUR COLOR MAY DIFFER IN THE FUTURE DUE TO THE PAINT MANUFACTURE THAT YOU ARE USING AS A BASE PAINT.
IT HAS BEEN MY EXPERIENCE THAT PAINT FROM MANUFACTURES CAN VARY FROM BOTTLE WITH THEIR TINT.
I RECOMMEND, TO MAKE THE BEST COLOR FOR YOUR PROJECT, TO TAKE ALL CONTAINERS OF PAINT AND MIX THEM TOGETHER BEFORE ADDING TALC TO FIND THE TINT THAT YOU WANT FOR YOUR PROJECT.

STEP TWELVE: CLOSE LID TIGHTLY

ONCE YOUR PAINT HAS BEEN REPLACED IN YOUR GLASS JAR.
PUT YOUR LID BACK ON FIRMLY AND SEAL.

STEP THIRTEEN: FOR YOUR PROJECT

REMOVE WHAT YOU NEED FOR YOUR PROJECT AND THEN PUT YOUR LID BACK ON YOUR JAR AND SEAL FIRMLY.

STEP FOURTEEN: APPLY TO PROJECT

APPLY THE PAINT TO YOUR PROJECT WITH A BRUSH OR ROLLER.

STEP FIFTEEN: DRY AND PROTECT

Allow the paint to dry fully before adding additional coats or finishing with a sealant.

PAINT DISCLOSURE: This DIY chalk paint recipe is based on my personal experience and preferences. Results may vary depending on the type of paint, talcum powder, and application method used. Always test on a small surface before applying to a larger project. I am not responsible for any unintended results, damage, or issues that may arise from using this recipe.

This is only a recommendation of how I mix my chalk paint; it is up to you to find your personal chalk paint mixture. Adjust the ratios based on your desired share and texture. Test a small area first to ensure the paint’s consistency and color are to your liking. For a smoother finish, sift the talcum powder before mixing.

RECIPE FOR ACRYLIC PAINT AND TALCUM POWDER MIXTURE

3 PARTS BASE COLOR PAINT FOR EXAMPLE 3 TABLESPOONS PAINT
1 PART TALCUM POWDER, SPRINKLED INTO PAINT UNTIL THE DESIRED THICKNESS
WATER (OPTIONAL, FOR DESIRED CONSISTENCY)

SOMETIMES, PAINT CAN BE THICKER THAN EXPECTED.

IF THIS HAPPENS, THEN I RECOMMEND SPRINKLING IN THE TALCUM POWDER A LITTLE AT A TIME UNTIL YOU REACH TO CONSISTENCY YOU LIKE.

THIS PART IS ALL ABOUT YOUR PERSONAL PREFERENCE.

CONCLUSION

Making your own chalk paint with acrylic paint and talc is an easy and affordable way to achieve that signature matte, vintage-style finish.

Whether you’re updating furniture, decorating small crafts or experimenting with new techniques, this DIY recipe give you full control over the color and consistency.

Plus, it’s a great way to repurpose leftover acrylic paint!

Give it a try!

ADDITIONAL HELPFUL HINTS

IF YOUR PAINT BECOMES THICK WHILE YOU’RE WORKING ON YOUR PROJECT, ADD WATER A LITTLE BIT AT A TIME WORKING IT IN UNTIL SMOOTH
PURCHASE PLASTIC DISPOSIBLE SPOONS FOR ADDING WATER AND STIRING PAINT
REMEMBER TO WORK QUICKLY BECAUSE YOUR TALCUM POWDER MIXTURE DRIES QUICKLY
MAKE SURE TO PROTECT YOUR FINISHED PROJECT
PURCHASE MEASURING SPOONS ONLY FOR YOUR CRAFTS
WORK WITH SMALL PAINT AMOUNTS ADDING TALCUM TO A SMALLER AMOUNT OF PAINT TO HELP CONTROL DRY TIME
STIR OR SHAKE PAINT TALCUM POWDER MIXTURE OCCASIONALLY TO KEEP PAINT FRESH AND MANAGEABLE
IF CREATING YOUR OWN COLOR, CREATE YOUR COLOR FIRST BEFORE ADDING TALCUM POWDER
IF CREATING YOUR COLOR FIRST, SAVE IN A RECYCLED GLASS JAR WITH A TIGHT LID
INVEST IN A CRAFT SET OF BOWLS, MEASURING CUPS, MEASURING SPOONS, SPATULA ONLY USED FOR CRAFT PURPOSES

AFFILIATE DISCLOSURE

Wild West Succulents participates in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, as well as affiliate programs with AWIN and Sovrn Holdings, Inc. These programs allow us to earn fees by linking to partner sites. When you purchase through our links, we may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you.

We only recommend products we genuinely believe will add value. Your support through these links helps us create more helpful content on gardening, DIY projects, and crafts.

Thank you for your trust!

For our full copyright and disclosure policy, please see our ABOUT PAGE HERE

JOIN US TODAY!

Connect with fellow succulent lovers at Wild West Succulents.

Let’s grow together!