DIY Chalkboard

I was perusing a little antique shop and spotted an empty frame.  It was out of reach and on top of a tall cupboard.  Not being one to put a shop owner out (even if it would mean a sale), I kept browsing around the little shop.  That frame kept calling to me  look, look at me – wouldn’t I make a great chalkboard?  I finally gave into its pleas and ask the shop owner if I could look at the frame.  I loved its beautiful chippy-ness and layers of paint (gray, white and light blue).  This frame had history.  It was $29.  I didn’t negotiate (I’m not good at that either).  SOLD.

Chalkboards are so popular right now and there are lots of tutorials on how to make one.  I won’t bore you with the details.  I’ll just share a few tips I learned along the way.

1. I used birch plywood.  I measured the opening of the frame and then brought the measurements to Lowes.  You have to buy a whole piece of plywood for about $8.00, but they will cut this piece down to any size you want for free.
2. The plywood has a finished side and unfinished side, so you want to be sure you paint the finished side with the chalkboard paint. It is a good idea to sand the plywood with 150 – 220 grit sand paper, before painting.
3. I used Rust-Oleum spray chalkboard paint in black.  It took almost the whole can to paint this board.  I sprayed a light layer, let it dry and then sprayed it again.  I did this 4 times.  Maybe if I primed the board I wouldn’t have had to spray so many layers.
4. After the chalkboard dried overnight, I took a piece of chalk turned it sideways and rubbed it over the whole board.  This step keeps letters from permanently etching the chalkboard.
5. Glazing points were used to hold the chalkboard inside the frame.