Our studio sells two lines of paint - Miss Mustard Seed Milk Paint, and Fat Paint which is a chalk-style paint.
Milk Paint
One quart of milk paint covers approximately 70 sq. feet. Simply mix this powder with water- it’s that easy! A Milk Paint finish is unique and can range from a solid color to a stain, it all depends on how much water you add! It can be used on any porous surface without a primer. It will never chip or peel on porous surfaces as it soaks in and binds with the substrate.
Mixing: Mix approximately 1 part water to 1 part milk paint powder with a blender (strictly used for paint), by shaking in a lidded container, by hand with a whisk or stir stick or with a motorized paint mixer. Add tepid water to container first, then add milk paint powder slowly and mix for 3-5 minutes. Paint a test swatch to make sure desired consistency has been achieved. If the paint is translucent or runny, it is too thin. If it the brush drags and the paint appears gritty or chunky, it is too thick. Add more water or powder accordingly and mix again. Once satisfied with the color opacity and consistency, pour out paint into a wide mouth container. Apply paint evenly in long, smooth strokes with a brush or roller. Stir paint occasionally as pigments may settle at the bottom of the container. Drying time is approximately 30 minutes. Two to three coats may be necessary to achieve your desired coverage and possibly more when applying a light color over a dark surface. Lightly sand with a 220 grit sandpaper to smooth surface. Remove dust. A top coat is required to protect the paint and bring out the richness and depth of the color. We recommend MMS Hemp Oil for a natural finish or MMS Furniture Wax for a hand-rubbed appearance. A polyurethane or varnish of your choosing may also be applied.
Fat Paint
FAT Paint is a latex-based paint “FAT'n” up with a little bit of chalk. Hence the clever name. It has great adhesion. It easily affixes to most porous surfaces, such as wood, glass, metal, plastic and fabric. FAT Paint is naturally smooth and creamy; it covers most projects with just a couple of coats.
Step 1: The “Once Over” & A Good Clean
Prep is the key to success! Give every piece a light scrub with a sanding sponge before you start: all sides, corner to corner. Wipe off excess dust, dirt or grime with a tack cloth, then wash with warm soapy water, a degreaser or heavy-duty paint prep cleaner (on kitchen cabinetry, for example). Finish with a good water-wipe to remove any residual soap/product.
Step 2: Feeling Unsure? Do a Test Patch
FAT Paint has great adhesion, but some surfaces may need a little extra care. Apply paint to a discreet area, let it dry then scratch it with your fingernail. If the paint peels, you’ll definitely need to give the piece a heavy sand and/or apply a quality adhesion primer.
Step 3: FAT’n it up
FAT Paint’g is easy! Grab a good quality brush or low-nap velour roller and apply away, layer by layer. Let dry thoroughly between coats, approximately 20-30 minutes. Most projects will cover seamlessly with just two coats. Highly pigmented colours may require more than 2, so consider using a complementary colour as a “primer” coat… for example, we like to apply a coat of “Tuscan Sun” under 2 coats of “Shop Door”.
Step 4: Sand it aka The Creative Part!
Sand all FAT Paint’d surfaces with a sanding sponge or medium/fine grit sandpaper to achieve a smooth-to-the-touch finish. For the distressed look, pay extra attention to corners, details or areas that naturally would have more wear n’ tear. Dust with a tack cloth.
Step 5: Seal it
With FAT Paint, you have two amazing options to seal your work: FAT Wax (natural/clear) or CLEAR Top Coat. The traditional method for sealing chalk-style paints is wax. A waxed finish is silky soft, with a subtle sheen. It can hold up to average household wear, however some pieces – like a kitchen table for example – need more durability. Our CLEAR Top Coat is the perfect option! We’ve formulated CLEAR to closely replicate the subtle sheen of FAT Wax so that makes it ideal for those projects where they’re used side-by-side. Opting to use CLEAR Top Coat isn’t always about durability though; sometimes it’s just a preferred method to seal a FAT Paint project, and that works for us!
