Ever since I read about Miss Mustard Seed’s new Milk Paint I have been dying to try it. I have never used milk paint before – until this week!
I bought a box of MMS Milk Paint in Tricycle Red and gave it a test drive by painting a piece of furniture that I’ve had for awhile.
I bought this sofa table on Craig’s list a few years ago and transformed it from a honey, yellow-ish stained color to this two-tone black and dark stain. I don’t really need it and am thinking about selling it. I thought it would be the perfect guinea pig.
Today, she is going RED!
Bold and daring…I like it!
What I discovered about milk paint is that it is not for everybody. And, although I like how my table turned out, I found that I had to let go of the conrol freak in me when using it!
When you watch Miss Mustard Seed’s “how to” videos, she tells you that you don’t always know what you’re going to get with milk paint and she’s right. Some places will peel off and others won’t, you just don’t know until it happens. Particularly when you don’t use the bonding agent. And, I decided I wanted to see what would happen so I didn’t use the bonding agent. So, even though I knew that going in, it still made me a little anxious and was a little hard for me to let go!
The top and the drawer (the previously stained areas) chipped and peeled, but nothing else did.
As you probably noticed, the color of the paint going on is nothing like the end result. That was hard for me too. The color was VERY different from what appeared on the box and what it looked like in powder form and when mixed.
That was after the first coat. The second coat provided even more bubbling and more paint was scraped off.
I finished the project off with two coats of Annie Sloan dark wax (I didn’t buy MMS wax because I already had AS wax).
Big difference, huh?!
And, again, here’s the completed project.
So, would the control freak in me buy it again? Yes, I will most likely buy more of this paint now that I know what to expect. The cons for me were that I don’t particularly like mixing my own paint and that I have to just let the paint do what it’s going to do. Having said that, however, it may have been a different experience had I used the bonding agent. The color would still be a bit of a gamble, but I did use red. And, red, no matter what the paint, is a bit of a gamble!
All in all, it was a fun project and I’m so glad I gave it a try!
Anyone else up for trying some Miss Mustard Seed paint? I’d love to hear about your projects!
Craft-o-Maniac
DIY Showoff
Keeping It Simple
Not Just a Housewife
Elizabeth & Co.
Savvy Southern Style
Southern Lovely
Somewhat Simple
House of Hepworths
The Shabby Creek Cottage
Thank you for posting the pros and cons of the new milk paint that is now out there. I used milk paint way back when and know it can be tricky. I love the result especially with the dark wax.
Distressed Donna Down Home
Thanks for your sweet comment — using milk paint was definitely an experiment!
Sounds like a big fun experiment! It turned out great, but to me it seems the wax is what gave it that great look! I’ve never tried milk paint either, but you have inspired me to give it a try!! =) Deanna
Yes, I agree…the wax is what really made it. This may not be true with other colors but for this one I don’t think I would have liked the result without the dark wax.
Glad you were inspired!
Nice! Love red!
JoAnn
Thanks! Me too!
What a transformation! I love the red!
Thanks!!
you did a great job! i love painting with milk paint and you are absolutely right, you have to let the control freak in you go a little. there is always a point where i look at a piece and HATE it, then if i can push myself and keep going it usually turns out.
keya
I’m glad you hung in there. Its turned out beautiful!
Me too! Thanks!
Loved hearing your thoughts on milk paint! Your piece turned out beautifully!
Thanks Sharon! It was a true learning experience. I’m excited to try it again in a different color!
Loved hearing your thoughts on milk paint! Your piece turned out beautifully!
Wow…It looks great but I completely understand how hard it must have been to just let the piece happen… I, too, I think have a little OCD going on and find it very hard to distress anything, even tho I love the look! Crazy, isn’t it? I have an old table I use as a desk that I need to do something with and want to thank you for the inspiration…..now to just do it!!!!
Julie, I’m not sure I would like mixing the paint myself either… or having no idea what it will look like in the end! I’m definitely too much of a control freak for that….lol. However your table turned out amazing so you must’ve done it right! Great job.
wow love love love that red!!! Your table is beautiful. Nice work!