I love to use chalk paint for crafts. Thrift store frames and chalk paint was the perfect way to add color to my drab fence.

I was so happy when Dixie Belle Paint Co. asked if I wanted some chalk paint to make some awesome projects.

It had been a while since I had used their Chalk Paint products but I remember loving them when we made this dining room table and bench for Ian and Hailey several years ago.

It is a very high quality and goes on so nicely.

Don’t get me wrong, I love the paints I can get locally like the Rustoleum and the Krylon but it is fun to try out new brands to see how they compare. Dixie Belle did not disappoint. Just as before this paint was a dream to work with.

If you love Chalk Paint projects check out this round up post of 45 amazing projects.

Chalk Paint for Crafts – Fence Decor

Our fence and just about everything in our backyard patio area is very established. I think the fence has been there about 20 years. It is pretty gray and needed something to add color and brightness to it.

I started with Pinterest to look up Fence Decor Ideas. There was a great picture of some lime green painted picture frames that were in a cluster on the fence.

I knew that I could do that, add more colors and place them all the way down my fence.

Materials Needed

I have added some affiliate links for your convenience. You can see my full disclosure here.

• Thrift store frames in varying sizes
• Chalk paint in various colors – Dixie Belle
• Gator Hide clear sealant for frames
• Sanding block
• Paint Brushes
• Sponge Brushes
• Electric drill
• Drill bits
• Screws

These were the paint colors and transfers I received from Dixie Belle. I was so excited. I got to choose my chalk paint colors so I picked all of the bright colors to go with the existing backyard decor and some extras. They are the perfect chalk paint for crafts to go into my backyard patio space.

The transfers will be in a future post. So watch for those. They are a lot of fun.

Step 1: Chalk Paint Prep

There are a couple of things that help when using chalk paint. Chalk paint prep is one of them.

You are not supposed to have to do anything to the surface before using chalk paint but it helps to give the item a light sanding. This, as with any paint, will give the paint something to grab onto and help it to adhere better.

The other thing I sometimes do is prime the item. If I am painting a dark stained piece then priming helps a lot. I don’t like the stain to bleed through the paint. It usually takest many coats of paint to cover and I just feel like I am saving paint, money and time if I prime it first.

This time all I did was some sanding. It was a nice, easy prep project.

Step 2: Apply Chalk Paint

I have two really nice brushes that I like to use when brushing on paint. They work well so I grabbed them for these frames.

Open the paint and give it a stir. After that you are ready to apply the chalk paint.

Brush it on completely and let it dry. You will need several coats of chalk paint.

Maybe you are wondering how many coats of chalk paint do you need?

This was what these frames looked like after the first coat. Some of them will be ready after two coats and some may need a third but it will be a light coat and go on quickly.

You may also be wondering why I am painting a long bowl.

I ran out of frames and I had a couple of these wood bowls from garage sales that I thought I could throw into the mix as well.

Step 3: Seal the frames

These frames are going to be outside and I doubt I will be ambitious enough to take them down each winter. It just isn’t going to happen so I needed a good sealer that would be water resistant.

The Gator Hide sealant is just for that.

Gator Hide is a thick, clear sealant that I brushed on with a sponge brush.

In my opinion, it is the best way to seal chalk paint.

I added 2 coats of the Gator Hide letting it dry for at least 2 hours between coats. The instructions say 2 – 3 thin coats so you can decide if you want 2 or 3 coats on your craft project.

Step 4: Pre-Drill holes for hanging

Jeff helped me with this part. He pre-dilled holes in all of the frames on two sides. The put the screws in part way.

This made is super fast when we took them out to hang them on the fence.

Step 5: Hanging the frames on the fence

This step went really quickly that I didn’t even have time to take action photos. Jeff wasn’t wasting any time. LOL!

But I had this drawing that I made of the colors and the layout of the design.

So, don’t judge me. This is how all of my drawings look. Messy and terrible. But, I knew which frames went where and I was able to hand him each one in order.

The top is the long fence and the bottom two are the potting bench section.

Let’s compare the drawing the the finished fence.

I just love the entire thing. It makes our backyard space unique and colorful. It is my own little oasis.

The chalk paint worked out really well. So if you have ever wondered: Is chalk paint good for crafts? The answer is YES!

You should definitely give it a try. Whether you use Dixie Belle, Rustoleum or Annie Sloan. Just get out there and get some!

Here are some more photos of the fence and my space.

This next photo is the view from my back door. It is so much prettier than it was before.

This was such a great project for me.

I got it done in a weekend and I love the result.

Now I can’t wait to show you what I do with the transfers from Dixie Belle to add to the fence decor. I am so excited.

In the meantime here are some of my favorite fence or outdoor items that you can add to your deck or patio space.

Thanks so much for stopping by and happy crafting!

Michelle