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Mixing Milk Paint Video Tutorial

I made several videos on using milk paint when I first launched the line, but they could use some updating.  First of all, it was just me in my basement with a camera on a tripod.  While I think there’s something approachable and real about those, you can’t always clearly see what I’m doing and that’s the whole point of a video tutorial!  I was also very loosey-goosey about my instructions.  That’s just how I am, but I know a lot of people need specifics and, when it comes to using milk paint for the first time, specifics are very helpful.

So, we’re in the process of remaking our videos (and we’ll get to the slipcover videos and new upholster videos soon, too!)  We now have a camera man, Jeff, a beefy camera, mics, lighting and a second camera to capture overhead detail shots.  We also have Kriste.

As crafty and creative as she is, she has never used milk paint.  Mwa-ha-ha.  A guinea pig.

So, we came up with the idea of “Kriste’s Milk Paint Journal”.

I’m going to teach her all about milk paint and teach other new milk paint users in the process through videos and posts.  And, she’s going to write regular posts for the MMSMP blog, sharing her thoughts, apprehensions, surprises, failures and successes with MMS Milk Paint.  I think this will be an excellent resource for people who are just starting out or those who are thinking about starting out.

Last week, we made our first video to launch the Kriste’s Milk Paint Journey series.

I showed her how to mix milk paint using the two most common methods – stirred in a cup with a stir stick or spoon and shaken in a lidded jar.  And here’s the video…

Kriste’s going to share her impressions of mixing milk paint for the first time in an upcoming post on the MMSMP blog, so you can hear things from her perspective.

In other news, the milk paint Look Book One is being printed!  It’s been months in the making, so it’s so fun that our work is done and it’ll be shipped to our retailers soon.  I’ll tell you all about the look book later this week.

And, I have an update on our house buying/house hunting journey…

Marian Parsons 

Paint Enthusiast | Writer | Artist | Designer

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22 Responses

  1. I really enjoyed the new video and love the fact that Kriste, like many of us, is new to milk paint. Her shared experience will be valuable part of learning about your products.

  2. Can’t wait to hear your news on your house journey. I know we are all anxiously on the edge of our seats. Hope it is great news.

  3. Yay! I just bought my first package of milk paint (flow blue), and I’m planning to try it out on a thrift store dining chair. Can’t wait! 🙂

  4. This is great! I just found a piece I want to use your Milk Paint to add a little personal touch. I’ve never used it before, so Kriste’s perspective would be very valuable! Can’t wait to hear more about your house hunting! xx

  5. Thanks for the informative video. I do have a question. In regards to the water does it matter what kind you use because our tap water is very hard water and I didn’t know if that would affect it any. Should I use distilled instead?

    1. I know some people with water problems in their home will use bottled water, but I have “normal” water, so I’ve always been able to use it right from the tap. I would suggest trying the water from your house first to see how it works. If something seems off, try bottled water to see if that fixes the problem.

  6. I just used your paint for the first time last night, and then sat down and saw that you had posted this video. I wish I had seen it before because my paint just did not seem to mix correctly. I mixed and mixed the water and powder with a paint stick (at least 5 minutes), and I could not get it to all combine (I was using boxwood and it looked quite blue). I then transferred it to a mason jar and shook it. While painting, if I did not stop every couple of minutes and shake the jar, a large amount of “sludge” would collect at the bottom of the jar. Thus my paint was very watery the whole time (I was afraid to mix in more powder to thicken it because of the sludge problem).

    What do you think I did wrong? Thanks! Amy

    1. Amy, I’m so sorry you’re having trouble! Perhaps there is something in the water you used? Or the paint clumped in a funny way when you added the water? There are so many variables when it comes to using the product that it’s hard for me to pinpoint the exact issue, but what you’re describing is definitely not normal! I would suggest mixing up a new batch to see if the same thing happens. You can also press out the clumps with a fork to work it back into the water, but again, that shouldn’t be happening at all.

      I’d be happy to send you some new product as well, so you can successfully finish your project. Keep me posted!

      1. Thanks for your response.
        I ended up throwing away all of this first batch. I mixed a smaller 2nd batch and it also didn’t mix well. But I did try painting again and would mix it almost every time I took my paint brush out. It really wanted to settle and clump at the bottom.
        So I’m not sure…
        Amy

        1. Try using bottled water, just to rule that out. It’s really not normal for there to be sludge at the bottom, so something isn’t right…

  7. Are the on-line shop and Mustard Pages defunct? I wanted to see if you were selling the bread boards that I believe your husband makes but could not find any reference for shopping. Have I overlooked it somehow or missed an announcement? Would really like to have one of the bread boards. Thank you.

  8. I am having the same problem as Gina, but with tricycle. I have really hard well water and I think that may be the problem (it has a lot, and I mean a lot of iron in it). I am going to try bottled water to see if that helps. I stirred for 10 minutes because I know the darker paint is harder to get thoroughly mixed, but I kept getting sludge and bubbles, lots and lots of bubbles. I didn’t shake the jar or stir real aggressively, but I could not get rid of the bubbles. If I let the paint sit, it would sludge up again. I threw out the first batch and created a newer one, it helped, but not nearly enough. Still got the bubbles. Do you have any suggestions?

    Thank you for Kriste’s journey with milk paint, it will be very helpful! I am very new to milk paint, but I cannot wait to see what I can create with it and her trial and error will be very informative.

    1. Since you know you have a problem with your water, I would try using bottled to see if that fixes the problem. Tricycle is one of the hardest colors to mix (those red pigments resist the water as you stir it), but it should come together and you shouldn’t have any “sludge”. I use tap water and have never had that problem. Let me know how it works with the bottled water. Thanks!

  9. Awesome tutorial! I’m new to the world of milk paint…so I need all the help I can get! Where did you get the measuring cups used in the video?? They are awesome! They remind me of the kind we had at our ranch house growing up, and I want to find a set.

  10. Hi, I’m just wondering if you have ever used MMS paint on kitchen cupboards or is it unsuitable?

  11. Hi – I’m new to milk paint. I’ve never tried it but I’m curious does it take more milk paint to cover a project than regular latex paint??

I’m Marian, a painter, writer, and lover of all things creative. From art and antiques to home projects and everyday life, I share my journey in hopes of inspiring you to embrace your own creativity and make beauty in the spaces you live.

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