Filed under: Before / After
Alternate Title: How I spent my evenings last week.
Alternate Title: I could totally be the Puffy-Paint Princess if Puffy-Paint was “in” again.
I’m stressed. Life is a bit crazy and I don’t particularly want to deal with it (note: this has nothing to do with taxes, which I finished weeks and weeks ago. If you are still in the throes of tax-stress, I can empathize) In lieu of “dealing with life”, I am keeping myself elbow deep in sandpaper and paint. So far, I am loving the results.
Project Number One: I was inspired by this photo and after falling in love with the whole idea of chalkboards and chalkboard paint, I decided that a framed chalkboard would be lovely in my standard-apartment, beige-ish/bland kitchen. I am slowly trying to vamp up the kitchen, so far I have this re-do piece and a bright red pepper grinder I found on clearance at Anthropologie. There is still so much that I could do, and I have all summer to do it. I’m stoked.
How to make a framed chalkboard message center:
Materials:
- sturdy wooden frame in size of your choice, glass removed
- painting supplies, brushes, sandpaper, etc.
- primer & paint for frame
- plywood, cut to size
- black chalkboard paint
- staple gun & staples, or hammer & nails.
Step 1: Find a pile of frames at a thrift store which will all be re-purposed into something lovely. For this project, I picked out a nice, thick wood frame with a heinous 1983 floral print inside; I trashed the flower thing and kept the glass for another project.
Step 2: Lightly sand the frame, wipe away dust and dirt with a clean cloth. Prime the frame and paint in the color of your choice. I chose fire-engine red. I primed with Krylon spray paint and then used the last of the red glossy spray paint from my lamp project. I figure because they are in separate rooms I can get away with using the same color, right? (Correct answer: right!)
Step 3: You need to get a piece of plywood cut to fit inside your frame. I went to Lowe’s and picked out a 24″x24″ piece of birch plywood for under $4 dollars. I asked the guy working in the lumber section if he’d mind chopping it down to size for me, which he did in about 37 seconds flat. I lightly sanded the wood, being careful to get rid of any slivery pieces on the edges.
Step 4: Purchase a pint or quart (or whatever) or chalkboard paint. This was $6.28 and I am a thousand percent positive I will use it until it is gone. Prime the plywood and paint a couple of coats of chalkboard paint, following the directions on the can. Let this dry overnight.
Step 5: I painted a thin border on the front of the chalkboard with white acrylic paint. Simply tape off a thin stripe on all four sides and fill it in, remove the tape before the paint dries completely. I may eventually add a decorative stencil, like a fleur di lis…who knows. To season the chalkboard you need to rub it with the side of a piece of chalk and then erase everything with a dry cloth or felt eraser.
Step 6: Staple, screw, or nail the plywood chalkboard into your frame on the back side, make sure everything is tightly in place, you don’t want things going skeewampus later. I may have gone a little crazy with the staple gun–I am quite confident that in 3,000 years future anthropologists will find this chalkboard in-tact.
Step 7: Hang on your wall and enjoy! Yes, that is my actual grocery list, and yes I am aware I should probably consume more than breakfast food and chocolate chips. Don’t judge–chocolate chips are their own food group.
Adding up the receipts:
- frame: $3.00
- plywood: $3.76
- spray paint, primer & red gloss: approx. $1.50
- chalkboard paint: approx. $1.50
- white chalk (box of 12 pieces): $0.69
Total Cost: $10.45
———- ———- ———- ———- ———-
Project Number Two: I am not a gardener, I do not have a green-thumb and have been known to kill a cactus because I forgot to water it. That being said, I absolutely love fresh flowers, love them! I have had various levels of success keeping house plants alive, and regardless of past fumbles I always purchase a couple of plants every spring to wake up my house. A few weeks ago I saw this post and started having dreams about polka-dotted pots. Seriously. And now I have two of these beauties sitting on my kitchen table, spouting ivy and pink geraniums.
How to make Polka-Dot Pots:
Materials:
- two terra-cotta pots & saucers
- paint–I used black and white.
- painting supplies, brushes, etc.
- circle-shaped brush, or circle stencil
- polyeurethane to seal pots
Step 1: Purchase or re-purpose two terra-cotta pots, mine came from the thrift store–one had already been painted black, sort of. There was orange showing through everywhere and it desperately needed a little love.
Step 2: Paint the pots how you like, I painted the small one black with white polka-dots and the larger one white with black polka-dots. I used two different sized foam circle-shaped brushes to make the polka dots. The base color took a couple of different coats, allowing for drying time inbetween.
Step 3: Seal the finished pots with polyeurethane so the paint doesn’t run when you water your plants. Let this dry for a couple of days before planting your new treasures.
Step 4: Plant, water, and enjoy. I love the pink geranium and the trailing ivy. I also love the bright yellow tray–another thrift-store find that benefited from some bright paint and a coat of gloss–this whole vignette makes me smile every time I walk past the kitchen table.
Adding up the receipts:
- 2 pots & saucers, from a thrift store: $3.00
- black and white paint: $1.18 for both
- circle foam brushes: $0.66 for both
- polyurethane: approx. $1.00
- plants: $4.73 for both
Total Cost: $10.57
27 Comments so far
Leave a comment
<a href="" title=""> <abbr title=""> <acronym title=""> <b> <blockquote cite=""> <cite> <code> <pre> <del datetime=""> <em> <i> <q cite=""> <strike> <strong>
especially love the chalkboard. we had some chalkboard paint around here somewhere, we once did a whole door in it, that worked pretty slick. but then the child thought she could write on all surfaces…with markers. oops.
Comment by julochka 2009 April 15 @ 5:40 amLOVE the chalkboard! Once again I’m bookmarking. Is the chalkboard paint magnetic? I’d like to make something similar, but instead of writing with chalk, I’d like a board where I can post pictures, wedding announcements, random documents that need to be in sight so that I’ll remember to deal with them, etc.
Comment by Melanie 2009 April 15 @ 6:22 amThat chalkboard project? So cute! Love the outcome. Am thinking it would be a fun Christmas gift for the little nephew. Must get cracking now if I plan to have it complete by then (because that kind of timeline is just how I roll … hahah!).
Comment by SoMi's Nilsa 2009 April 15 @ 7:08 amI think your grocery list looks just fine, especially on that elegant board
Comment by Trish Ryan 2009 April 15 @ 8:41 amStay away from the puffy paint, though. No good can come of that!!!
Excellent projects! I think I might need a chalkboard for my kitchen now, too.
Comment by Lara 2009 April 15 @ 11:27 amYou are a domestic diva. In the meantime I’m wondering what chocolate chip scrambled eggs would taste like.
Comment by Sarakastic 2009 April 15 @ 11:30 amI’ve pained pots before, but not tried the chalkboard paint. That could be fun…
Well done!
Comment by Angella 2009 April 15 @ 12:38 pmAwesome! I love your projects. Especially the polka dot pots. So cute!
Comment by Chiada 2009 April 15 @ 12:40 pmThey look FANTASTIC! Once again, you have inspired me.
Comment by Allie 2009 April 15 @ 12:48 pmThanks for the ideas! Both are very cute and easy ideas! If not for easy, they would be too much for me! Actually I’ve been wondering how to do chalkboard, now I know!
Comment by Jen 2009 April 15 @ 1:41 pmThe chalkboard is amazing!! You are so crafty. Lucky.
Comment by Jackie 2009 April 15 @ 1:58 pmDude – I am WAY into that chalk board. Yes I am. I will likely construct one… and will name it “Heidikins”
Comment by Andrea 2009 April 15 @ 3:30 pmI’m so going to make a chalkboard!
Thanks for sharing your craftiness. I’ve also been super-stressed and have taken to crafting as my way of dealing.
Comment by Erin 2009 April 15 @ 6:44 pmLove LOVE the chalkboards!
Comment by JYB Photography 2009 April 16 @ 3:03 amI LOVE THIS, and why am I not doing this with you?
Comment by Uzi 2009 April 16 @ 1:02 pmokay both of those projects are so cute. i love your craftiness
Comment by katelin 2009 April 16 @ 3:29 pmLong time no see, Heidi.
Comment by Thomas 2009 April 17 @ 12:36 amI’m so, so impressed ; ) My apartment is painfully ugly. Want to decorate it when you’re done with yours?
Comment by Kiersten 2009 April 17 @ 2:03 pmI love these crafty pursuits! Where are you doing all your work? That’s where I run into a problem… no workshop! I have an alley, it’s not exactly glamorous but it work… as long as it’s not raining. Or cold. Or really hot. Or mosquito-y. Or dark out. So, basically it sucks, is what I’m saying.
Comment by Operation Pink Herring 2009 April 17 @ 3:17 pmI love your craftiness. You are giving me good ideas. My next craft are some Magnet broads. I will show you when I finish them!
Comment by Lex 2009 April 18 @ 7:50 amCute ideas! We’ve done lot’s of magnetic boards in our house with painted frames and homemade magnets. Another fun thing to do with frames. Love the pots too! You’d love some of the ideas from my friend Mique’s crafty blog: http://thirtyhandmadedays.blogspot.com/
See ya later!
Comment by Megan 2009 April 18 @ 3:42 pmI LOVE those! They are exactly the sorts of projects I always intend to do but never get around to. I’m impressed that you did, though, and that they both look so good.
P.S. Your alternate titles cracked me up.
Comment by Caryn Caldwell 2009 April 19 @ 6:36 pmI am SO making that chalkboard! I love that! It’ll be perfect for our kitchen.
Comment by Ms. Argument 2009 April 24 @ 12:15 pm[...] How to Make a Chalkboard Message Center and Polka-dot Pots: Two different projects, both easy to make. [...]
Pingback by Crafters Medley: 26 Neat-O Projects To Make (April) : TipNut.com 2009 April 25 @ 5:34 amI LOVE your craft projects. I wanted to buy some chalk boards for our mud room but didn’t want to spend the money. I think I’ll give this a try. Do you think the chalk paint would work on metal? I might want to try a chalk/magnet board.
I had a blast hanging out with you and all the other ladies last week, we will have to do it again soon.
Comment by Monica 2009 May 19 @ 12:34 pmThanks for the tips on making the chalkboard, it was very helpful to me.
Comment by Evelyn Baker 2009 November 19 @ 7:48 amThank you for the info on the chalkboard…answered all my questions!!
Comment by Debbie 2010 August 26 @ 6:39 pm