never slap the gift donkey » 2009

and here’s how to make a chalkboard, just in case you were curious.

Tags: artsy-fartsy, get-crafty-bitches, homemade, recession-reschmession, your-walls — by meredith on March 29, 2009 @ 11:14 pm

Hello. After spending much internet time trying to find affordable already-made chalkboards and failing miserably. I would like to share with you my rainy weekend project:

DIY CHALKBOARD

what you need (only if you want to make your own chalkboard, obviously)

an empty frame (I found mine on the street)
a piece of plywood cut to fit inside your frame (I went to a local hardware store, showed them my frame and they cut some leftover wood for me… cost $8 total)
chalkboard spraypaint (on amazon for $5.50, I only needed one can, twas enough for 3 coats)
sandpaper, cardboard and duct tape
wood screws that are shorter than your frame is thick
picture hanging gear (hanging wire, those picture hanging wall mounty thingers)
hammer/screwdriver
a wall

what you need to do

1) Choose the side of your board with the least flaws and sand it down – it’s no fun drawing on a not-smooth chalkboard.

2) Take it outside and spray paint it (I did 3 coats, 5 minutes drying between each).

3) After it’s dry, it is time to attach it to the frame. I used four 1 inch wood screws (one per side): hammer them in for a bit, then screw them in enough to hold the wood in place:

4) I covered the back in cardboard to protect the wall since the screws protrude out of the back and might poke holes in your wall, which would be very sad. If you hate your walls anyway or own a spackle factory, you can skip this step.

5) Now it is time to make the frame more framely. Screw in 2 more of your wood screws on either side of the frame, but not all the way.

6) Wind the wire around the first screw a few times, but make sure to leave about 5 inches on the end that you can twist together with the other end (otherwise, it will come undone when it is hung), then do the same with the second screw on the other side. Finish screwing it in. There should be enough slack so the wire can be pulled up toward the top of the frame, but not go above it.