How To Instructions and Frequently Asked Questions

General:

Carts & Millie is proud to be owned and manufactured right here in Waterford, Queensland. 

All of our products can be purchased right here at CartsandMillie.com. They are also available through approved retailers; to find a retailer near you, please view our Retailer Locations.

Yes, we currently ship to the USA, UK and NZ

Yes, we offer a full set of painted swatch sticks (per paint line) for $10.00 each, here.

Carts & Millie Headquarters are not currently offering classes or workshops.
We are busy creating video tutorials as well as downloadable guides to help you through the painting process. Subscribe to our YouTube Channel to be notified when new videos are released.

We are looking for applicants that have a physical retail presence and value great customer service. If you are interested in becoming a Carts & Millie Retailer, you can find our Retailer Agreement and Application Form here. We will be in touch within 3 business days to discuss your application further.
 

Product Safety:

Carts & Millie takes health and safety very seriously; our paints are non-toxic, very low VOC, and allergy and asthma friendly. For more information on each of our products, visit About Our Productsor Product Safety to download the Safety Data Sheets. 

Yes, Carts & Millie Boutique Hemp Oil and Hemp Salve are considered food safe once cured.

Yes, Carts & Millie Paint and Finishing Products are water-based, very low VOC so it is not necessary to complete projects outside. It is important to avoid painting in extreme heat or cold, so painting indoors is a great solution. 


Boutique Furniture Paint:

Instructions:

Ensure your surface is clean and free of dirt, dust and grime. Shake the bottle well to ensure dispersion of pigments. Once shaken, simply pour the desired amount into a cup or bowl. Using a good quality paint brush, dip the tip of the brush into the paint. You don't want to overload your brush with excess paint. Doing this, you will avoid applying too much paint to your surface giving you an even coat, more control and less drips and clumps. Once you have applied the first coat and if you require further coats, let dry for at least half an hour, or longer depending on climate, until touch dry. Any further coats, simply apply this rule also. For further information, please read on.

Carts & Millie Boutique Mineral Paint is a water-based, very low VOC, mineral paint suitable for furniture and home decor. It is the perfect blend between desirable chalk and durable, self-sealing mineral paint. It has superior adhesion properties, excellent coverage and requires minimal surface preparation.

It was important to us that our paint is allergy and asthma friendly, as we believe that our health and well being is important when it comes to decorating our homes. Read more about our products, here

While Carts & Millie Paint requires minimal preparation to adhere to many surfaces, we firmly believe your finish is only as good as your foundation. We recommend ensuring your surface is free from grease, dirt and dust, as these impurities can taint your paintwork and cause adhesion issues. Use a solvent-free degreaser with a cloth or brush to clean your surface, rinse well and allow to dry completely.

For more information on painting slick surfaces, metal, plastic, kitchen cabinets and laminate, see the relevant FAQ sections below.

No, unless it will need extra protection; like dining chairs, tabletops and coffee tables. Boutique Mineral Paint is water resistant and self-sealing, and once cured (up to 30 days) it will form a hardened, durable protective layer. With so many different options to choose from when sealing your furniture, its no wonder it can get confusing. From waxes, polyacrylics and oils, your choice will be determined by how much use you anticipate your piece of furniture will receive and whether you will need to clean the item in the future.

For high traffic use items, we recommend using a water-based varnish. For low-to-medium traffic use items, a hemp oil or wax works best. The hemp oil will provide 1-2 years of protection, as opposed to wax which will need re-coating after a year.


Carts & Millie Boutique Mineral Paint is suitable for many surfaces, including raw and stained timber, painted surfaces, MDF, fabric, glass, ceramic, plastic, melamine, laminate and metal. Some surfaces, however, require a little extra preparation to ensure perfect adhesion. For further detailed information, see the relevant FAQ sections below.

With a little extra prepartion, Carts & Millie Boutique Mineral Paint will adhere to slick surfaces such as metal, plastic, melamine and laminate. First, ensure your surface is clean and free of oils, grime and dirt, then sand with a fine grit sandpaper (180-240) and wipe free of dust. You can then choose to apply a coat of Boutique Primer and Adhesive Bond, or begin painting with the Boutique Furniture Paint in thin coats, allowing each layer to dry completely. Use gently for two to four weeks as the paint has time to cure and adhere to your surface. 

Of course! To paint upholstery like chairs and lounge suites, you will need to water down your paint in a separate container, and it is handy to have a spray bottle or misting bottle to dampen the surface. Apply thin coats, allowing each layer to penetrate the fibres and allow to dry. Sand the surface between coats with fine grit sandpaper (180-240) to prevent the paint stiffening and cracking under load. Once the desired coverage has been achieved, finish with Boutique Furniture Wax.

To paint or stencil on decorative fabrics such as pillows, curtains and napkins, there is no need to dilute your paint with water. Simply tape off your stencil and pounce away as you would for regular stencil application.

Yes, you can. Carts & Millie Boutique Mineral Paint with its self sealing and water resistant properties makes it a perfect candidate for cabinets. Surfaces such as timber, lacquered, oil-based paint, melamine and laminate cabinets can be refinished successfully with a quick sand (180 grit) and an optional coat of Boutique Primer and Adhesive Bond. Dark timbers may require a coat of clear shellac to block timber oils and tannins from coming through your paint. We highly recommend a strong degreaser to thoroughly clean your cabinets before painting. This will ensure you have the best surface adhesion and a durable, long lasting finish.

Carts & Millie Boutique Mineral Paint is fast-drying, so you don't have to wait to get your piece back into action in your home. Each coat will take 20-30 minutes to dry, but can be force dried with a hair dryer or heat gun within minutes. If using a heat gun, however, pay close attention as to avoid heating in one spot too long, as you will burn your paint. Higher humidity, cooler temperatures and thickness of coat may also affect dry time. 

Carts & Millie Boutique Mineral Paint is sold in three convenient sizes: sample (125ml), 375ml and one litre. Our paint will cover approximately 14-16 square meters per litre Light colours, such as white, beige and pale blue will require more coats than dark colours, so keep this in mind when calculating how much paint required for your project.
An example of coverage for each size:
  • 125ml: a stool, chair, shelf, coffee table legs, handful of picture frames or signs,
  • 375ml: table legs and four chairs, buffet, small cabinet, sideboard
  • 1L: large buffet and hutch combination, seven or nine piece dining set

Avoid extreme heat or cold temperatures when storing your paint, so keep it in a cool, dry place. Paint spilt over the bottle top thread can harden and cause your bottle to not seal correctly. After each use, ensure you wipe the thread with a clean cloth and replace cap to prevent your paint drying out.

Carts & Millie Paint offers 41 gorgeous standard colours, but you can mix two or more together to create the exact shade you are looking for. We are currently working on a custom colour chart to bring even more stunning blends to you!

Yes! A distressed or layered look is easy to do with Carts & Millie Boutique Mineral Paint. For a distressed finish, its easier to achieve this before the paint has cured (up to 30 days). Distressing and layering are methods used to give the appearance of age and wear, to an otherwise new or refurbished piece of furniture. It takes off the top layer to reveal the layer or colours underneath, so it is important that the colour underneath (whether timber colour or paint) is the colour you wish to reveal. You can either stain or paint your piece with a darker (or lighter, if using a dark final colour) colour first, to achieve the best results. There a few ways to distress; sandpaper, wet sanding and wax resist.

  1. SANDPAPER: After you have painted your final colour (with contrasting colour underneath, if applicable), make sure your coat has dried completely. Start with a fine grit (240-400) sandpaper and rub gently on the areas that would naturally get worn first, such as corners, raised areas, and edges. You can use a sanding block or electric sander on low speed. Seal as normal once you are happy with the level of distressing.
  2. WET SANDING: This technique combines sealing and distressing in one step with Boutique Hemp Oil. Adding hemp oil gives a natural weathered look, rather than an intentional ‘scratched’ look. The oil also stops the sandpaper from digging into the surface. Complete the same process as the sandpaper method, wiping excess oil and dust once you have achieved your desired level of distress.
  3. WAX RESIST: Adding a layer of beeswax between two layers of contrasting paint (or between timber and colour), it gives areas where the top coat has “resisted” the paint. This method is a great way to achieve that perfect aged, layered paint look. Start by painting your base coat if you want contrasting colour, or if you want the raw timber coming through, skip straight to applying the beeswax. Rub the Beeswax Distressing Block along the edges and naturally wearing areas as usual, then apply your final coats in a colour of your choice. Once your paint has dried, take a fine grit sandpaper and gently rub over your piece. The areas where you applied the wax will have resisted the paint, allowing you to effortlessly reveal the base colour underneath. Repeat this process as many times as you like to create beautiful, layered chippy finishes, allowing paint to dry at least overnight before adding the Beeswax.

Washed Away Stains:

Instructions:

WASHED AWAY will work best applied over raw timber. The bottle of Washed Away will need to be shaken very well to ensure all ingredients are thoroughly mixed. When left to sit over time the ingredients can separate. Once shaken, pour desired amount into a cup or bowl and apply even, thin coats with a good quality paint brush. Should you want a darker or opaque finish, simply apply further coats once touch dry. 

Carts & Millie Washed Away Furniture Stain is a water-based colour and sealer combination available in ten shades. It is suitable for any bare timber surface, such as table tops, stools, chairs, dressers and shelves. Its concentrated formula delivers a brilliant colour in just one coat. Washed Away dries to a matt protective finish, or can be coated with a non-yellowing top coat for a glossier sheen.

Our Washed Away range is proudly manufactured right here, in Waterford Queensland.

Use the natural tones to enhance the grain of your timber, or create a layered, weathered look with the coloured stains. Most surfaces will only require one even coat, but for a more opaque finish, apply a subsequent coat.

Boutique Hemp Oil:

Carts & Millie Boutique Furniture Hemp Oil is made from 100% natural hemp seeds. It is a high-grade, chemical free, VOC-free, biodegradable finishing product that nourishes raw timber and protects painted finishes. It penetrates deep into the grain or paint and once cured it is a hardened layer resistant to chipping and cracking. Use to rejuvenate tired dry cutting boards and utensils, as it is food-safe and does not contain solvents, additives or preservatives. It has a yellow-green tinge, but dries completely clear. 

Our Boutique Hemp Oil is sourced from a legally-grown, certified supplier in New South Wales.

Simply apply with a lint-free cloth or soft bristled brush and leave for a minimum of four (up to 12) hours. Wipe and buff excess oil from your piece with a clean cloth. Complete drying may take a few days as deeper excess oil rises to the top, wipe further with a cloth if necessary. It will be cured in 30 days, so until then use your furniture gently.

Boutique Primer and Adhesive Bond:

Carts & Millie Boutique Primer and Adhesive Bond is a white, water-based primer; combining the functions of primer, adhesive bond, minor stain blocking and undercoat in one convenient product. It ensures great adhesion between the surface and your paint, so it will not chip or flake. Paint slick and shiny surfaces like glass, metal, plastic, laminate and melamine with a quick undercoat of Boutique Primer and Adhesive bond, which dries to a matt finish ready for your paint colour of choice.

Our Boutique Primer and Adhesive Bond is proudly manufactured right here, in Waterford Queensland.

Carts & Millie Boutique Primer and Adhesive Bond is very easy to use, simply brush on just as you would for paint. Allow the first coat to dry completely, then apply a second coat after one hour. Cure time is 48 hours.

It is useful when going from a dark base to a light paint colour to help with the number of coats required. Coupled with Carts & Millie Boutique Furniture Paint, you can paint items like vases and not worry about the paint running when coming into contact with water. As a water-based product, clean up with warm soapy water, but do not pour down drains or wash brushes in sinks that lead to waterways.

Brushes:

Our Paint Pixie brushes are made from a 60/40 blend of natural and synthetic bristles, with the exception of the Oval #10, The Turquoise Iris Collection and the Pennelli Giuliani Collection which are fully synthetic.
Our Carts & Millie stubby cutter brushes are made from 100% synthetic filaments, timber handle and stainless steel ferrule.

Clean your brushes after each use with warm, soapy water (eco-friendly kitchen detergent works well) and swirl the bristles until the water runs clear. Hang to dry with the bristles facing downwards, or wrap in a paper towel to help keep the bristles in shape.

If your brushes become dry with paint, don't panic. Heat a cup (250ml) of vinegar on the stove until almost boiling, and pour into a durable, heat-safe container. Soak the bristles for 10-15 minutes, and once the paint has softened use a hair comb or wire brush to gently work the paint loose. Rinse with water and hang to dry.

Troubleshooting/Problems:

Boutique Paint adheres to many surfaces, but sometimes certain pieces need a little more preparation than others. Laminate, plastic, glass or slick lacquered surfaces will need to be either primed or scuff sanded to give the paint some 'tooth' to grip to.

Make sure you have thoroughly cleaned, degreased and wiped your piece free of dust, as oils and dirt left behind can resist paint and cause it not to adhere. Remember, your finish is only as good as your prep, and a strong foundation will ensure your piece will stand strong for generations to come.

If you are using a polyacrylic (rather than a polyurethane), chances are the yellowing is not from the clear coat. Timber contains naturally occurring resins and oils which release into your paint, regardless of the paint used. This becomes more noticeable in lighter colours like white and pastels. To prevent what is called "bleed through", we recommend using a stain blocker, such as our Boutique Primer and Adhesive Bond (for minor stain blocking) or Zinsser B.I.N. Shellac-based Primer available from any hardware store. Sometimes the piece may not look affected by bleed through until the paint is sealed; this is because sealers such as a polycrylic tend to draw the tannins out of the timber through the paint.