Friday, March 4, 2011

58 Project Teal: Chalk It To Me! Again!

My first attempt bringing in chalkboard/chalk was a success!  Although, it wasn't all that exciting, I just snagged up some pre-made chalkboard labels and wrote on them with chalk....


This time, I decided to tackle my next chalkboard project, DIY style!

Ever since I have been watching everyone whip up their own version of a chalkboard memo board, I knew I had to get in on the action!  It would be the perfect addition to our kitchen, a place to write reminders and love notes and for the kiddos to draw pictures!

I searched for awhile for the perfect picture frame to turn into a memo board.  It had to be long and narrow since it was going to be placed in an awkward location...

Then, while perusing through our local Habitat for Humanity ReStore, I stumbled across a cabinet door, for $5!  And it was the PERFECT solution!


The edges were in great condition, they just needed a quick sanding to smooth them out a bit....


Then, I taped things off, and got to work painting the center with Rustoleum Chalkboard Paint .  I was surprised how easily and how smooth this paint went on!  And I risked using a cheapo brush because I wasn't sure how easy cleanup was either.  And even with an average brush, the streaking was minimal {you can't tell that from this picture, but it seriously dried with no streaks}!


I did two coats, just in case!


Then, I used a sample sized Behr Premium Plus in "Dragonfly", for the outer edges of the cabinet door.  {I forgot to photograph this part, but you guessed it, it's a tealish color!}.


Then, we just attached some large ring hangers to the back.... {we did use two screws... I was just making sure not to forget to photograph this part!}


And then popped it up onto the wall!


It fits perfectly in such an odd place in our kitchen!


And I just love how the chalk sits perfectly on the ledge!


But how does it work?

Fantastically!


Seriously, I have the world's worst phobia of chalk, it makes my hair stand and my teeth hurt, but other than that, the project itself it just wonderful!  I am so excited to check out liquid chalk and use this board for everything!  And it goes perfectly with my Project Teal challenge

The real pleasure is watching Parker enjoy it!


Too precious!


He drew me an elephant {in case you couldn't tell what it is}


Who else has been having fun with chalkboard paint?  I can't wait to use it again, this next time I am thinking the little boy's room.  My wheels are a spinning and because I have so much left over, I definitely have to use it somewhere!

What else have you been using chalkboard paint on?  Jar labels?  As art?  How about any good finds at your local Habitat ReStore?


Psssst!  Update!  Two days into this and I am not gonna lie... I am about to have a chalk breakdown... I don't know if my body can ward off the gross tingles much longer... but the kids are lovin' it!




58 comments:

  1. I love your blog! Where did you find the adorable two-tier basket you are using for fruit?!?!?!

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    1. I've seen those at HomeGoods and any other discount store like Ross or Marshalls.

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  2. love this! and the pop of color in there is great too.

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  3. Here is the link to the wire basket: http://www.pbteen.com/products/wire-beauty-storage/?pkey=cbeauty-storage-accessories

    You can find a good resource list for many of my storage items here:
    http://iheartorganizing.blogspot.com/2011/01/you-asked-basket-case.html

    xoxo,
    Jen

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  4. I love your chalkboard! I painted an entire wall in our office with chalkboard paint. It's about 7'x6'. I love it! I'm still trying to find the "perfect" holder for the chalk and eraser, but it looks pretty neat.

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  5. LOVE IT! Jen does it again! Honestly, I never would have considered a cabinet door. It looks great!

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  6. Love a good DIY project. Our decorating aesthetic is more clean-lined and modern, so I made my own memo board with IdeaPaint's dry erase paint. I have thought about painting the inside of the kids' bedroom door with chalkboard paint, though.

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  7. Your hyperlink to Project Teal brings me back to my blogger home page. I tried it multiple times, and still doesn't work!
    Jennifer B.

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  8. Love it!! As always your projects are marvelous and the colors a yummy! I always wanted to use the chalkboard paint but afraid the chalk would create a lot of dust once the kiddos start writing & erasing.

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  9. Thanks Jennifer - link is fixed!

    I agree Sharisse! It's not awful but I am absolutely going to give the pens a try. I will let you all know how it goes! :)

    xoxo,
    Jen

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  10. What a great idea! I recently found your blog and love it. I have some leftover chalkboard paint and this is the perfect project to try. Keep those great ideas coming!

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  11. Great find & transformation!!

    I also cannot STAND chalk and it will keep me from ever attempting a DIY chalkboard, even though I love the look of one, except... what is liquid chalk?? :)

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  12. I love this!!! I need to made one for just about every room in my house!!!

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  13. You have to get liquid chalk it is amazing. I used to work in a pub many years ago and we used liquid chalk for doing the boards each day. I love the stuff! I found it cleaned off easier than normal chalk and since I worked the early shift it was my job to clean and re-do the boards daily.
    I've not started work on my board (yet) I have so many idea's swimming round my mind I'm not 100% which I want to do. Who knows maybe like you I will find something thats perfect and not what I origianlly set out to do

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  14. So cute! We actually did this on the inside of one of our cabinets, so that there is a chalkboard available when you open it up. We looove it.

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  15. What a cute chalkboard! and I love the teal colour you used for the frame.

    We have those same white shoe racks in our back entry! With dark baskets on top for "stuff". But alas! No pretty wallpaper behind it.

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  16. What GREAT timing! I just purchased 29oz of Black Krylon Chalkboard paint last week! I found a small table that I plan on using as a toddler table and was going to paint the top using the chalkboard paint. Do you think using a foam brush will work just as well?

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  17. Love it, Jen! And I was going to say, "You didn't write on the chalk labels!" Hahaha. Though, I really do love this. The cabinet is perfect! Have you considered getting the chalk pens?

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  18. Love it! I wish I had a place in my kitchen for one of these, but I just don't. Great job Jen!!!

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  19. Haha - you are totally right Amanda, I had to use my little one's hands to write the labels, but this time, I had to tuff it out since they can't reach the top portion! It is pretty awful, chalkboard pens are absolutely in our future!

    xoxo,
    Jen

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  20. Hi Jen!

    I just found your blog yesterday and am in LOVE. I too blog about organizing - it is such a passion of mine! I just have a minute to stop by and say hi, but can't wait to sit down tonight when my little ones are in bed and browse through your past posts. SO FUN! Nice to "meet" you. :)

    Erin @ Sunny Side Up
    www.kennyanderin.blogspot.com

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  21. Um, I had no idea we had a "local" ReStore! Thanks doll, I'm going to have to swing by the next time we are headed up to the cabin!

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  22. Cute! I love it! What a great use for an old cabinet door! I think we've got an old one laying around somewhere I could totally turn into one of these!

    Great idea!

    ~Chelsea

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  23. I have a chalk-phobia too! It just makes me feel...tense? The sound of it and the feel and the dust... blech. I love the look of it though and it does fit so perfect in your space! Liquid chalk sound like something I need to look into.

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  24. i love your new chalk board and so clever to use a cabinet door! our downstairs powder room has beaded board wanescotting on the lower half but the upper half is black chalk board paint...on all four walls. it's so much fun. when we have guests they leave us notes in there. we have fun with it and write back and forth to each other, etc. we love it! i am thinking about investing in "dustless chalk" though. having chalk all over the walls creates quite a bit of dust. i've never heard of the liquid chalk. i'll have to check into that too. ;)

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  25. these are great! we made a huge one for the kids playroom a few years back and they still love it. i put magnetic paint under my chalk board paint so that it is a magnetic chalk board, cool huh? i wanted to tell you that i just ordered a erin condren life planner the other day and im soooo excited to get it in the mail. i have bought 3 planners already this year that haven't worked for me. i was too cheap to buy hers at first and know i realized i have spent more buy those instead of buying the one i wanted in the first place. should have listened to you in the first place:)

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  26. Your creativity amazes me! Well done!
    I am painting one wall of my 15 year old son's room in chalkboard paint and he is unbelievably excited about it!

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  27. The sound and feel of chalk gets to me too, but that is so cute and functional!

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  28. Love that you used a cabinet door! I, too, just recently used chalkboard paint for the first time on a project, & absolutely love it! I think it's partly because I LOVE labels, & it's an easy way to label containers, etc. If you're interested, you can check out the shabby chic chalkboard buckets I made at http://confessionsofadishaholic.blogspot.com/2011_02_02_archive.html. I always look forward to receiving your new posts in my inbox! Shae

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  29. Great idea using a cupboard door - Love the picture of your son on the stool drawing a picture. You are so creative and I always look forward to reading your blog.

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  30. I was going to make my own chalkboard menu board, but I feel the same way about chalk...and I am a teacher. Lol...
    I ended up printing a cute one week menu chart that I laminated and can use dry erase markers and then I have another magnetic dry erase thingy for notes like appts and such.
    Curious to know if you stick with the chalk. Makes my hands feel all weird.

    Your project came out really cute though.

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  31. Please do update us if/when you try out the chalkboard pens (liquid chalk). I have the same chalk phobia and hate the dust, but have been wanting to do a chalboard menu for our kitchen. I heard about the chalkboard pens and have read some mixed reviews, so I would love to hear how it works for you!

    Thanks for the wonderful inspiration, as always!

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  32. Hi Jen,
    I've been reading your blog through FaceBook and love your organizing skills. Moreso I love the enthusiasm you have for life and your family. I have to ask....what kind of camera/lens are you using for your photos. They are simply amazing and you have a great "eye" with each and every shot! Thank you for inspiring us!

    Renee
    Wisconsin
    renee.nlclaser@gmail.com

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  33. Love, love the pop of blue against the brown wall. Too cute!

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  34. Hi Jen! This is super great! I am working on 2 chalkboards for my kids rooms. I finished the one is my daughters room...with purple chalkboard paint :) They love it but the chalk dust is killing me! Office Max has dustless chalk. You should check it out!

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  35. OMG - I have the SAME chalk phobia. And when it scratches that awesome scratch, oh man...gie me a cliff to jump off of;) But, I too loved the idea of chalkboard decor in my house. I wanted to finish off an awkward-cant-move-it-at-all shelf in my work in progress craft room, so I nailed up some plywood, sanded it smooth and painted it with magnetic and chalk paint so I could write down all my crafty ideas on it! You can see it here:

    http://teebliterary.blogspot.com/2011/02/craft-room-projects-revealed.html

    I need to post more pics soon because now it has magnetics and writing and little mag holder jar things stuck on it. My stepdaughter wrote all our names on it (including the cat) and I imagine her or some other kids one day play school with it:)

    Our kitchen will eventually be "Tuscany" themed so I am now looking for something like you have, a board that I can chalkboard paint and write yummy italian recipes on!

    LOVE the teal border, btw! Ok, this is too long, bye!

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  36. Try chalk markers from Michaels. Might eliminate squeaks and dust, but I haven't tried them yet.

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  37. Love it! Liquid chalk is the best, use a Michaels coupon in your Sunday paper and it will be relatively cheap. By they way the teal really looks good with your countertops.

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  38. As a teacher, I suggest you check out some kind of chalkboard marker! They don't have the feel of chalk, they don't make the sounds or produce the dust, and they don't smear. YET, you can still wipe them off with just water. :) Here's an example:
    http://www.chalkink.com/ChalkInk.com/Homepage.html

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  39. Thanks for posting the Habitat for Humanity ReStore link! My husband is the Construction Coordinator for our Habitat affiliate. Profits from the ReStore go directly into building Habitat homes. Thanks for the plug and for giving folks a resource for deals and recyclables!

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  40. gahehahhdj .... that was the sound of my spine shattering and my teeth cracking and my neuroses twitching just looking at that. I cannot look at chalk, think about chalk, touch chalk without convulsing. I love the idea of chalk boards but there will NEVER be any chalk related craft in my house. I can't even be outside with my daughter when she uses sidewalk chalk on the driveway...that's daddy's department.

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  41. I LOVE your blog! I ran across this set while web-shopping and instantly thought of your Project Teal posts :).
    Thanks to your blog and inspiring ideas, our home has been turned upside down with fun projects! It is a wonderful thing!

    http://www.crateandbarrel.com/dining-and-entertaining/dinnerware-sets/max-teal-dinnerware/f38296

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  42. I know right Jen? Love it, in fact, I was totally eying up those mugs yesterday! Love!

    xoxo,
    Jen

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  43. I was going to say get some chalk markers but I see others already did. No dust! I couldn't take the chalk dust either.
    We do keep a small chalkboard in the kitchen but it rarely gets used now that my kids are older.

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  44. I thought I was the only one with that weird chalk phobia...I'm going to have to check out the liquid chalk you mentioned.

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  45. I made one of these per your inspiration. However I took the easy way out and use chalkboard vinyl to cover my board. Very fast and easy. I use chalk markers to write on it. I use mine as a menu board in the kitchen as well. When my son went to state for Cross Country we used the same chalk markers to decorate the school van windows and it worked really well, better than the window markers I had. The markers are pretty cool! And dust free!

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  46. @Marie, I am thinking of covering mine with the vinyl instead! Where is the best place to find it?

    xoxo,
    Jen

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  47. Jen,
    I love the idea of using an old cabinet door - it looks great. Did you know you can make your own chalkboard paint? This allows you to use any color paint you want which means you could paint your kids room with a wall of chalkboard paint and it doesn't have to be that ugly black paint. 1 cup of paint, 2 tbsp of unsanded grout, mix together until there are no clumps left. Love it!

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  48. Jen,
    I love the idea of using an old cabinet door - it looks great. Did you know you can make your own chalkboard paint? This allows you to use any color paint you want which means you could paint your kids room with a wall of chalkboard paint and it doesn't have to be that ugly black paint. 1 cup of paint, 2 tbsp of unsanded grout, mix together until there are no clumps left. Love it!

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  49. I got in on the chalkboard craze as well! Pics on my blog :) P.S. I looove your blog. You've really taken my OCD to a new level with all your organizing! Haha.. thanks! ;)

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  50. I bought a framed corkboard.. do you think I could paint the cork board with chalkboard paint and it would work? :)

    -Lizelle

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  51. Oooh, I am not sure on that one. My gut says no, but I would maybe check the paint can to see, or your local home improvement specialist.

    xoxo!
    Jen

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  52. Chalk is workplace hazard for me, since I am a teacher. It is gross. A few tips: use a chalk 'chuck', or holder. Rather than a nasty chalk brush that smears and leaves dust, use a microfiber cloth; your chalkboard will always have a freshly washed appearance.
    Chalk markers are about $25 CDN for a package of 4 at Staples. They remove with a wet cloth. I'm not sure how the chalkboard paint will stand up to repeated washings though?

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  53. I absolutely can't stand the feel either. For anyone that is part of the chalk/writing on a chalkboard phobia group, I would definitely recommend the chalk markers everyone has has mentioned. Also, my mom owns a sign shop and she just got in a roll of chalk vinyl!!! It is amazing. It's smooth, kind of feels similar to a dry erase board. I'm obsessed with it. Plus since it's vinyl, you just stick it on whatever surface you want, so it's easier than painting. They have lots of these products on etsy. Here is a link to one of my mom's chalk projects:
    http://www.etsy.com/listing/74912132/chalkboard-calendar-wall-decal

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  54. I first came across this project on Home Depot's website. I thought you got the cabinet door at Home Depot. $5 is a steal, but can I find a single door at the Home Depot? I also saw on the same blog that you used three smaller doors for your kids artwork display. Where did you find those doors? Thanks for the ideas and help. I would love to do this myself and not break the bank too.

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    1. Hi Kass!

      I find all of my single cabinet doors from our local Habitat for Humanity ReStore. You can find locations here: http://www.habitat.org/restores/default.aspx

      xo!
      Jen

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  55. What is the size of the door?

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