Rock Chalk!

Do it yourself magnetic chalkboards

 

I've been a little hyper focused on chalkboards of late.  They are a dramatic and dynamic piece of art for so many spaces.  I'm not alone in this little obsession.  They started popping up as trendy menu sources at many of the boutique restaurants that we frequented several years ago.  You can find a wide array all over Pinterest, Etsy, home decor sites and design sources.  Personally, I'd been circling the chalkboard sections of my favorite discount retailers hoping for huge savings.  That's not really what I found and the quality ranged significantly as well.  I did find All manner of colors, shades, textures.  My brain was on overdrive with how I could use them for parties, events, and home decor projects. 

The first phase of my chalk board fetish involved chalkboard contact paper.  My objective was to use it as a versatile party decoration and I still love this item.  You can reuse it over and over.  I've used it for banners, table runners... all kinds of things.  Sky is the limit.  I graduated from contact paper to the "real deal" immediately.  One for every room!  Okay, not really.  After I bought one, I was immediately disappointed because the pretty packaging ripped the finish off of the chalkboard.  Ugh! I had an event the next day and this didn't fit in the plan timeline very well.  Back to using contact paper.  I took the damaged board back and they acted as if I deliberately scratched a streak from side to the other.  Uh...yeah...because that's so useful to me.  That's another story, but the "fragile" nature of the chalkboard finish put me in planning mode.  It was at that point that I decided to do my own and one better it with adding a magnetic primer underneath.

Here is the process.  Everyone can do it.  It takes about 48 hours from start to finish and even the worst painters can get the job done.  Promise.  Plus, the nice part about DIY is that you can completely customize.  Sometimes that can be a bad thing.  What's in your head doesn't always translate, but for the most part with this sort of project you can nail exactly what you want.

Materials:

paint brushes (one for polyurethane)

Paint for frame

metallic primer (have your paint store shake the can for you)

chalkboard paint (you can tint the chalkboard paint)

tape

drop cloth

chalk, chalk pen, magnets

Couple tips:  

Keep the room well ventilated. 

Don't skimp on number of coats

Get frames on sale.

I painted directly on the glass.  You can use old painting or unwanted prints for this as well.

Not all magnets work.  We had to try a few before we had success.

Be prepared for this to be at least a 2 day project.

Gather supplies: Paint, Paint Brush, Magnetic Primer, Chalkboard Paint, drop cloth, tape, frame

You can mix your own paint or pick something up at a paint store.  I mixed my own for this one.  Best way to make sure you have a truly unique end product.  My son has loved green since he could speak, so we went with green.

I bought my frames very cheap at Micheal's.  I lucked out.  They clearanced these huge frames with beautiful grain exactly on day that I got the bug to do this project.  I checked local thrift stores too.  They were more expensive and not as nice!

Tape around the inside or use the inside packaging to help you keep control of the paint.  Keep your paint relatively thin.  You want to see the grain of the wood. Paint with the grain.  Let it dry thoroughly.  Repeat if you think it needs it.  I wanted mine to be thin so I could see the character of the wood. 

Here is a detail shot.  I think it's beautiful!

The frame portion is complete.  Now, you need the magnetic primer.  This can be a little messy.  Make sure you are ready for it.  Have the paint store shake the can for you.  Everything tends to settle toward the bottom.  I was advised to use a roller.  I opted to brush it on instead.  I'm very happy with the results.  You'll want to do a minimum of 3 coats or you will be disappointed with the strength of magnetism.  (Trust me!)

Here is the lavendar version that I did for my teenage daughter.  She loves it.  She has soft greys in her room, so the lavendar was a perfect choice.  You can see the brush strokes on this one.  Make sure you are even with the paint distribution.  Let it dry for 4-6 hours.  Tip:  It has very high fumes.  Make sure you have ventilation! Whew!

You need 2 coats of the chalkboard paint waiting 4 hours between each coat.  Tip:  You can have chalkboard paint tinted.  I like the classic black, but there are many other choices.