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Free Desk Makeover Using DIY Chalk Based Paint {& $100 PayPal Cash Giveaway}

This desk has a long story to tell…

It has, in fact, been lurking around our house for a couple of years now.

In fact, this entire makeover took place almost two years ago.

I know, right?! Bad blogger!

Originally a freebie from my parents, I gave it a quick makeover with some home-made DIY chalk based paint not long after I got it. Since then it has been moved around to several rooms in our house before finding it’s final resting place in my craft room.

Is it the perfect little spot to keep my sewing machine set up all the time, or what?

Free Desk Makeover using DIY Chalk Based Paint at thehappyhousie.com

Here is how this little free beauty started out. Not exactly solid wood, and it doesn’t exactly have great lines. So perhaps it didn’t have many redeeming qualities…except that it was small (only about 24″ wide) and I knew it could be cute once freshened up…

Free Desk Makeover with DIY Homemade Chalk Based Paint at thehappyhousie.com-4

I haven’t made this paint in a long while now because I have been painting mainly with Country Chic chalk paint instead, but this is how I used to make my own chalk based paint- and I have tried it out with success on several pieces.

Free Desk Makeover with DIY Homemade Chalk Based Paint at thehappyhousie.com-22

I used some leftover Ash Blue – a Benjamin Moore colour – that I had on hand from our Ensuite bathroom. I gave the desk two coats of the Ash Blue DIY chalk based paint…

Free Desk Makeover with DIY Homemade Chalk Based Paint at thehappyhousie.com-11

Then gave it a light sand. I found my home made chalk based paint to be less smooth then the store bought paint, but I think that was just because my Plaster of Paris was a little old.

Why didn’t I just buy some new plaster? Yes, that is a valid question.

Free Desk Makeover with DIY Homemade Chalk Based Paint at thehappyhousie.com-12

Next I mixed up a little more chalk based paint using a Benjamin Moore colour called Fresh Mint (you may have seen my tutorial for my free minty chalk painted chair? Did you know that project is IN PRINT?! True story…)

Free Desk Makeover with DIY Homemade Chalk Based Paint at thehappyhousie.com-14

So if you have been reading for a while then you know I am a big fan of dry brushing. I love the textured look it gives… and that is exactly what I did to this piece. Kind of using the same technique I used on our Ikea Hack Faux Linen Tarva Dresser

Free Desk Makeover with DIY Homemade Chalk Based Paint at thehappyhousie.com-15

After my dry brushed top coat in mint was all dry, my little helper and I used a palm sander to give the whole piece a little bit of a distressed look all around the edges… it helped add some dimension to an otherwise quite flat piece. This picture makes me tear up – he is so much bigger now! Keep your eye out for an updated pic of him just below…

Free Desk Makeover with DIY Homemade Chalk Based Paint at thehappyhousie.com-19

Sanded edges…

Free Desk Makeover with DIY Homemade Chalk Based Paint at thehappyhousie.com-21

Done! And it has finally found a great home and a perfect use in my craft room. I LOVE being able to have a spot to keep my sewing machine set up all the time…

Free Desk Makeover with DIY Homemade Chalk Based Paint at thehappyhousie.com-31

Free Desk Makeover with DIY Homemade Chalk Based Paint at thehappyhousie.com-30

Free Desk Makeover with DIY Homemade Chalk Based Paint at thehappyhousie.com-29

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Oh, hey. There he is!

Free Desk Makeover with DIY Homemade Chalk Based Paint at thehappyhousie.com-28

I know I am pretty fortunate to have a craft room. And even more fortunate to be able to keep my sewing machine set up all the time. And how great it is that this little desk was free? There’s one more point for the fortunate side…

This is awesome! Pin it to remember it!

Free Desk Makeover with DIY Chalk Based Paint at thehappyhousie.com

 

And guess what?!?

This Sunday is the Get Your DIY On Challenge: $10 Thrifted Challenge.

I LOVE making over old thrifty stuff. Even better if it was FREE!

May Theme Challenge

Have you seen what my cohosts came up with for this challenge??

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Piano Bench Makeover at House by Hoff / Insulator to Candle Holder Upcycle at Just a Girl and Her Blog / Flower Mason Jar Gifts at The Hankful House / 10 Thrifty Projects Under $10 at Confessions of a Serial DIY-er / Free Desk Makeover with Homemade Chalk Based Paint at The Happy Housie (you are here!!)

Have you had a chance to enter the Giveaway I have going on right now?? 

For $100 PayPal cash?!

$100 paypal cash giveaway at thehappyhousie.com

 

a Rafflecopter giveaway

If you’re a fellow blogger, then come back on Sunday at 7pm EST to share your $10 or less thrifted projects with us! I can’t wait to see all the makeovers. And if you aren’t a blogger, there will be plenty of amazing inspiration to take in! Hope to see you Sunday!

 
 
 

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14 Comments

  1. Ohh, I love is little desk! Thank you for sharing, and thank you for listing your paint colors! This is something I might have to do this summer.

  2. I love the way it turned out it looks great. I use BB Frosch chalk paint powder to mix and make my own. I love it because I can use later whatever I don’t finish on on project or do touch ups later, it doesn’t get hard like the ones I made with plaster of paris did. I love painting with Chalk paint, its addicting. lol I just re did a hutch and a dresser and Im in painting heaven. It gives it such a fun new look. 🙂 Thanks for sharing.

  3. I love FREE! You are so lucky to have a dedicated craft space. I’ll have one too…when my oldest moves out ha ha. He’s only 12 so it will be a while. Perfect project for this challenge! XO

    1. I love Free too! I am the worst mom ever… I made my boys share a room so I could have my space. LOL! But they are only 3 years apart and I think it has brought them closer together. When the oldest is 10 or so he can move down to a room in the basement if he wants. I wonder if he will?

  4. Love it!!!! I have done several pieces with another name brand chalk paint. My MIL Honey oak buffet turned into media cabinet. (My husband really liked it when I finished it, and even painted the hutch)
    Chalk painted a honey oak bookshelf orange, for my son’s room, and particle board filing cabinet, along with a few other pieces. Love changing pieces up

    1. Sounds like you have tackled some awesome project Dawn! I have only made my own chalk paint and used Country Chic quite a lot- which is a great brand. I am curious to try some others though as well. I need to find some more furniture to paint…

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