Make Your Own Milk Paint
Milk paint, also known as casein paint, has a long and fascinating history. In fact, the first known examples of milk paint - cave paintings - actually date back some 20,000 years. Here in the United States, milk paint is most often associated with antique Colonial-era and Shaker furniture, but due to its ease of use and resilient finish properties, milk paint is enjoying something of a revival. Because it is solvent/fume-free, it is considered an eco-friendly, no-VOC alternative to oil and latex paint.
If you're in the market for a ready-to-use, fresh-from-the-can version of milk paint, you might look into Anna Sova's line in delectable sounding colors such as Raspberry Custard, Crushed Pineapple and Vanilla Milkshake. Or, if you're feeling more adventurous, companies like Real Milk Paint and the Old Fashioned Milk Paint sell powdered, ready-to-mix versions of this old stand-by -- just add water and you're ready to paint. But for all of you die-hard DIY-ers out there with an adventurous spirit (and a bit of extra time on your hands) you can always just make your own. Numerous recipes can be found online, but here is a pretty basic old standby.
