DIY Chalkboard Tutorial

Chalkboards are super popular right now and I am loving the trend! I wanted to make a chalkboard for my kitchen specifically to write our Bible memory verses and holiday/birthday greetings. I went thrifting in search of a cheap picture frame or mirror that I could transform and I hit the jackpot with an 11x14 wooden frame for $3. Three dollars, y'all!

$3 thrift store frame

My first attempt at the chalkboard was horrendous didn't turn out so great. I used the chalkboard spray paint and I got little droplets all over the glass that I couldn't get rid of. It was quite possibly user error, but I had to start over.

I sanded over the chalkboard spray paint to get back to a smooth finish. Then I used some gray tinted spray primer I had on hand to prime the glass. Next I used a small foam roller (used mostly for cabinets and doors) to apply 3 coats of the regular chalkboard paint (the kind in a can). While rolling the paint on, I noticed some little bubbles forming, but once I primed my chalkboard (more on that in a minute) they weren't noticeable.

Patience is not my strongest feature, so I didn't wait the full 24 hours for the paint to dry, but I did wait a good 6-8 hours before priming the chalkboard. To do this, I rubbed white chalk over the entire surface of the chalkboard, then erased it all. After that my chalkboard was good to go!

For the frame, I used CeCe Caldwell chalk paint in Memphis Blue. I am in love with this color and it goes fabulously in my kitchen. 

CeCe Caldwell chalk paint

I used a cheap foam craft brush to apply the chalk paint to the frame. The beauty of chalk paint is that no sanding or priming is required! Just put it right over the existing paint job. I am not a huge fan of the distressed look so I used 4 coats to get full coverage. Even then, I still can see bits of the original frame color peeking out, but my perfectionist self decided to let it go (not something you hear me say very often).

After my paint was dry I applied a VERY light coat of polycrylic over the top using a higher-quality brush. If you are working on a piece that will get a lot of wear and tear, definitely follow the recommendations on the back of the can and do 2-3 coats (sanding in between coats). However, since my project won't get a lot of hands-on use, I just did one coat to give it a little sheen and seal it. The polycrylic looks milky white in the can, but don't worry, it dries clear.

Polycrylic (clear satin finish)

Once everything was dry I reassembled the frame and it was ready to hang! I had a lot of fun with this project (minus the spray paint debacle) and I have a ton of leftover paint. Hmmm...Christmas gifts? 

Finished product!