Color swatches never match
I decided to repaint my daughter’s room. Right now it’s toothpaste green because it was originally the nursery for both kids. Green=okay for both genders. So, I went to the paint store and stared at all the color samples until I narrowed it down to a few choices. My goal was a soft buttercream. In my head I had visions of Laura Ashley prints, a soft feminine room straight out of a catalogue.
The fellow mixed up the paint, which mysteriously looked chalk white to me, but I figured–it dries darker, so it’ll work.
I prep her room, taping the molding, and I spread the first layer of paint. It does nothing to cover the toothpaste green. Crest green blazes through in all its glory. So I finish one coat on the wall (I want to see how it goes before I do the whole room) and then start on the second. Visions of buttercream dance through my head. 
Nope. Still green.
I paint a THIRD coat on top of that. Guess what? Still green. I swear the guy mixed up a batch of toothpaste green without telling me because you CANNOT TELL I PAINTED. It looks exactly the same. 
Two hours worth of work and $25 on paint supplies and it doesn’t look like I did a thing. 
Furious and vowing I’ll never buy that brand of paint again, I stalk into my son’s room….only to find that he colored a gigantic letter H on his wall. 
You know how Crayola boasts that their crayons are washable? Yeah, not so much. With SANDPAPER maybe. But that crayon is NOT coming off. Not without acid and flames.
Maybe I’ll just paint it toothpaste green.
Michelle posted in Writing @ 6:24 am | Viewed 1359 times
Bonnie Ferguson Says:
:headspin: Sounds like you had a bad day of it, Michelle
Margery Scott Says:
Hugs, Michelle. Paint is always mixed so it’s not the colour you envision. That way you go back and buy more. It’s an evil plot.
kacey Says:
LOL. My son once drew a stick figure on the wall over his bed…it stayed there for years. Would NOT come off…
Paint is NEVER the color of the paint chip they give you. NEVER. I usually think I’ll buy just a quart and try it out…but the quarts cost barely less than the gallons…so it seems like such a waste.
Rene Says:
Uhh…you didn’t use a primer like Kilz first? Go get some Kilz, paint the wall then try your buttercream. To get the crayon off the wall, get a Mr. Clean Magic Eraser. It will take the crayon right off. Hope today goes better.
Mary Says:
I hate decorating. I just keep it very Zen, simple and pray my best friend will come over and help me–she’s a decorator. However, one time she was stressed and I went to her house and she’d painted her living room brown and moved her dining room into the living room and her living room into the dining room. See what decorating can do to you.
Caro Says:
Rene — thanks for the mention of Kilz. We’re about to do some painting on some of our rooms and it doesn’t hurt to be reminded to use primer (which was apparently not used the last time the place painted — by my b-i-l).
Michelle — I feel your pain. Paint colors are concening me right now because we definitely want some strong colors, but since paint chips don’t always match the actual result, there is definite nervousness.
Have you ever seen Mr. Blandings Builds His Dream House? There’s a moment when Myrna Loy is telling the painters how she wants to rooms painted. She’s very specific as to what shades, complete with swatches or where to find the color (”Go to the store and buy a pound of fresh butter and you’ll have the yellow”). The job boss keeps saying “check” and when she’s gone, turns to his painter and asks if he got that. “Red, blue, yellow, white,” the painter replies. “Check,” says the boss.
Michele Says:
The suggestion for the Mr. Clean really Works!! I’ve gotten crayon off a wall in 10 seconds that 20 minutes of scrubbing couldn’t budge. I had a crayon ghost on my wall 3 years before Mr. Clean created his magic. However, Mr. Clean Magic sponge does NOT work on Pencil…..go figure. Good luck on painting.
If nothing works (of course it will) try panelling *grin* covers up most sins…..including holes in the wall….but that’s another story……:wink:
Jessie Ferguson Says:
Sounds like the little buttweasel at the store was doing a little too much
because he obviously doesn’t know paints!
:confused: You think? hehe
Melissa Says:
Ugh. Painting. We’re going to have to do that before we sell the house we’re in. I’m not looking forward to it. Hope you get the crayon off the wall!
Amy K. Says:
What Rene said…Mr. Clean is my hero. Although if it’s black crayon and he pressed hard, it won’t get rid of it completely.
Good luck!!
Tori Says:
Hugs on the paint color problems!
Glad you got the Crayon off the wall, though.
MaryF Says:
Michelle, I’m in a painting mood, too. Glidden worked well for us. My friend swears by Ralph Lauren paint.
Danica Says:
See, that’s why all my walls are white. Oh, and I have absolutely no decorating sense, but it’s also handy to just paint over everything on a regular basis.
Michelle Says:
Rene–I had painted the walls only about two years earlier, so I was just going to paint over the old color. Problem is, the guy mixed toothpaste green instead of vanilla white. I discovered this after it dried. No wonder it didn’t look like I painted! Must get a refund.
Thanks to all for the suggestions on how to get the crayon off. Fingers crossed!
Jill Says:
One time I found crayon all over the kitchen wall. My youngest SWORE batman did. Batman flew in the window and painted on the walls.