4/11/2016 Update! Baby rocker to Big Boy Rocker
Chalk Painted Fabric Rocking Chair
So my grand baby boy is now a toddler and he is obsessed with trains. Specifically Thomas the Train. It was time to redo his room and to kick the renovation off, I started by repainting his fabric/tapestry rocking chair. (See the original, nursery rocker how to below)
One of his favorite Thomas the Train engines is HIRO, so he was my inspiration!
Step 1 Clean
Step 2 Choose your paint color and mix. I choose Licorice (black). I find for most fabrics a 50/50 water/Chalk-Acrylic paint mixture works best. You can test on a pillow or fabric swatch from a thrift store with the same type of fabric to get a better idea what the final result will be for your fabric.
Step 3 I painted two coats of my Licorice mixture onto the fabric. Make sure to cover every thread and lightly sand after each coat has dried with fine grit sandpaper to ensure a smooth finish.
Step 4 I painted all of the wood parts with Betsy Ross Red.
Step 5 To make it look like HIRO I added a gold stripe, number 51 and the name HIRO using Vibrant Gold Shimmer Glaze.
Step 6 Finally I protected the entire piece with Shabby Sheer VAX using a VAX applicator sponge. It has a very soft aged leather feel. He loves it!!
Original Nursery Chair Makeover
Easy Rocking chair makeover. Use Shabby Chalk-Acrylic Paint to update outdated fabric for a fresh new look. Strong but flexible!
Sorry this will be Short and Sweet guys.
Sprayed the fabric with a fine mist of water. (keeping the fabric slightly damp will help it stay softer than it would if you painted over it dry, just a mist or it will delay dry time!)
Painted with 1/2 water 1/2 Peppy Peacock chalk-acrylic paint mixture. Only needed two coats…there is no reason to mist for the second coat because the first coat of Shabby Paints has already completely covered the fabric.
Sanded after the first and second coat lightly with a fine grit sandpaper to make it nice and smooth.
I used Shabby Shimmer in Pearl White for the stencil, stripe and as a glaze on the wood. That’s it Easy Peasy!!!
Sooo comfortable! Not sure if this will be for Grandma’s nursery or moms 🙂
Inspiration-Blog
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Shabby Paints blog post may contain affiliate links to products we use or think [...]
This looks wonderful but my question is will that paint come off on the clothes of someone sitting in it (if it is hot) ?
Good question. 🙂 Once it is on there is is on. It is flexible so it gives with the under fabric so it doesn’t chip or peel. I’ve tried to scrape it off with my finger nails and it won’t budge, it has formed a complete barrier around the fabric underneath.
Shannon
Shannon
Amazing, and the shimmer certainly adds a very interesting dimension.
Pleas let me know when you begin talks with Amazon to carry it globally, and I’ll be the very first in UK to use it.
Regards
Rhianne
Apple Blossom Artisans
I can’t wait..I hate saying no. So I look forward to going yes yes yes we are coming to YOU! 😉
How much did you thin the chalk paint? How many coats did it require? I’ve got an antique loveseat that I’m wanting to paint and give a new life to! I don’t want it to cost me more than buying a slipcover though!
Samme, I used a 1/2 Shabby Paint and 1/2 water mixture and that took two coats…so that would be like one coat of full strength paint.
Beautiful! Where did you get the crown stencil?
Thanks Dana 😉 Wallmasque.com
What colors did you use on the wood? This is so beautiful!!
Deb I used the water downed peacock left over from the fabric and then used the pearl white shimmer. Thanks 😉
Did you do the material on the chair first or the wood. I have a chair with material in between pieces of wood so I can’t take it apart but would love to paint the wood and the material two different colors. Thanks
Hi, I painted the whole chair at the same time, but you can do it how ever you like. Maybe tape off the wood then paint the fabric, after that dries tape off the fabric and paint the wood. Hope that helps..best of luck..share your projects 🙂
Shannon
Gorgeous chair
Lovely! I’m doing some dining seats now and wondered if I could finish with a poly/glaze? She wants the fabric to look antiqued and thought I could just add glaze to my clear coat?? I can’t wait to try your paints and Vax by the way 🙂
I’m so looking forward to trying the chalk paint on my dining chairs & an old french sitting chair. Do u plan on continuing to add colors? I’m looking for more of an old brick color (rust) & am concerned about mixing my own.
Gail we are always working on adding new colors. But for now if you need a rust or a barn red try mixing buffalo brown and betsy ross red. Should be a few months. Thanks Sha
Really wonderful job!! Great eye!
You have made a light bulb go off over my head!! Gotta order some of this product! I’ve heard such great things about it! Can’t wait to try the VAX also!! A bought to spend some bucks!!
So no VAX or Varnish on top of the fabric?
Because fabric is far more porous that wood, the color absorbs into it differently. Should you want to seal it with VAX or Varnish, you’re welcome to do that- it will be very easy to clean and will give you a different “hand” or feel to the end result- much like that of leather. If you choose not to, and do a slight smoothing with some damp 400-600 grit sandpaper, the end “hand” would be very soft and smooth- much like a baby’s behind. You can always VAX or Varnish later if you like.
The best part of the artistic process is the individuality- Enjoy and send us pictures!
Can you paint over a chalk painted fabric to change the color?
Sally as long as it hasn’t been waxed it can be repainted. 🙂