Have you ever wondered how to make a chalkboard
out of a window, then realized you didn’t have a
spare window on hand?
Once upon a time there was a gal who loved a good deal.
She found a ginormous poppy print at a thrift store,
and made her children (all three in car seats) hold the
poppy print in the back of the car on the way home.
It was about 90 degrees out.
And the print kept sliding around.
It wouldn’t have been so bad if they hadn’t had to hold
the poppy print above their heads, so it would fit in their
mom’s car. Yeah, she had issues….
Anyways, she grew tired of the poppy print and it ended up
in the stack of “stuff you could make more stuff out of.”
Fully intending to work on it very soon. It sat there a while.
*sigh*
Now she wanted to make a chalkboard out of a window.
Fate intervened and her cheap nature kicked in…why
buy a window when she could use something
that kind of looks like a window?
When you turn it over.
Enter chalkboard paint, some homemade
chalk paint, and a little sandpaper.
And the gal who made her kids carry
heavy lamps through thrift stores
discovered a window
on the back of the poppy print.
Here is how I made it…
Supplies:
- One print with a good solid frame that when turned over is made out of canvas or heavy-duty fabric that can be painted.
- Spray-paint chalkboard paint
- Homemade or purchased chalk paint (I used white, my recipe for chalk paint can be found here when I repainted my little white farmhouse table.
- Chalk
- Paintbrush
- Medium grit sandpaper
- Picture hanging wire and hooks for creating hanger on back
- Masking tape
Directions:
Using masking tape, turn your print over and cover wooden frame with tape. Apply
a few coats of chalkboard paint, allowing each to dry well in between coats to entire back
of print.
Once the chalkboard paint is completely dry, remove tape and using a paintbrush, apply
a coat of coat of chalk paint in desired color of your choice to the wood frame. This will
make the back of your print really start to look like a painted window now, and will
certainly make you the most crafty person on the block.
When the chalk paint is dry, use the side of a piece of chalk to prep your new
“chalkboard” for use by rubbing the side of the chalk all over the surface.
Sand, sand, sand, and once you are done, you can sand your wood frame a bit more for
good measure.
The beauty of distressed stuff, it looks better the more you work on it.
Using a clean cloth, wipe down the entire piece to free it of extra dust from
sanding and the chalk from the center too so it is ready for use.
Stand back with a cup of coffee and admire you handy work, you are fabulous!
Attach the hanging wire on the “back” of the chalkboard which is now the front
of the old print…does that even make sense? You know what I mean.
TA-DA!!!!!!
You are the proud owner of a new piece of farmhouse/shabby/
country/industrial/cool art for your wall. I like mine so much smeared with chalk that I
hung it up and added a vintage sheet music wreath (tutorial coming soon.)
If you are a renter like me, or you aren’t sure you want to commit to a chalkboard wall,
this is a great way to fill a large space without the commitment of painting an
entire wall.
Final step, enjoy. You are creative, artistic, and one project at a time
turning your nest into something amazing.
Thank you so much for creating with me today, and not turning me in to one of those
reality shows that makes people throw out their stuff. *shudder*
Hugs & blessings
Tanya
xo
Weekly Link Parties & Buttons where you can find me posting projects:
Friday
MyRomantic Home, Whipperberry, Redoux Interiors, Thirty Handmade Days,
French Country Cottage, Simply Designing, Tatertots & Jello,Chic On A Shoestring,
Shabby Nest, Simple Home Life, Create Craft Love, Liz Marie Blog (button below), Design, Dining & Diapers, The Humble Brag Link Party , Jennifer Rizzo, Tidy Mom, 504 Main
Saturday
It’s Overflowing, Your Homebased Mom
Funky Junk Interiors, Positively Splendid, I Heart Naptime, Family Ever After, Too Much Time, Be Different Act Normal, Power Of Pinterest Party,
Classy Clutter, Love And Laundry,
What’s Cooking With Ruthie
Sunday
Nifty Thrifty Things, Flamingo Toes (button below)
Cherished Treasures, Polkadot Pretties, Under The Table And Dreaming (button below)
Monday
The DIY Showoff
Between Naps On The Porch, Craft O Maniac, The Southern Institute, Keeping It Simple,
Skip To My Lou, Alderberry Hill (button below), Mad In Crafts, The Farmhouse Porch, The Girl Creative, Sumos Sweet Stuff, Mod Vintage Life, http://lechateaudesfleurs.blogspot.com
http://www.nap-timecreations.com/
Tuesday
My Uncommon Slice of Suburbia,Sugar Bee Crafts, A Diamond In The Stuff, Home Stories A to Z, Reasons To Skip Housework, The DIY Dreamer, The Winthrop Chronicles (button below), Today’s Creative Blog, House On The Way, Primp ,
The Blooming Homestead (button below), Made To Be A Momma
Wednesday
A Daily Cup Of Mrs. Olson
http://www.livelaughrowe.com
http://www.savvysouthernstyle.net/2013/03/wow-us-wednesdays-111.html
Savvy Southern Style, Someday Crafts, Ginger Snap Crafts, Clean & Scentsible, Uncommon Designs, Southern Lovely, Lil’ Luna (button below)Practically Functional, Vintage Gwen, I Gotta Create,
Sew Much Ado
Green Willow Pond
Rae Gun Ramblings
Thursday
http://www.gingerlymade.com
Delightful Order,The Shabby Creek Cottage House Of Hepworths, 52 Mantels, Beyond The Picket Fence, Crafty Scrappy Happy,Christina’s Adventures, The 36th Avenue, A Glimpse Inside,
Stone Gable
24 Responses
I love it! Your chalkboard window is great. I really like the sheet music wreath too. Have a great day! ~ Jamie
Thank you for this great tutorial:) Just the perfect time as I was looking for the window frame idea to place it on top of my mantel.
What a great idea, Tanya! You are always thinking outside of the box. 🙂
I guess it was your lucky day to find a window frame. Looks great witht he paper wreath
Wow! Genius idea
You are so funny, Tanya! I love your writing style! What dear children to help a mom out. Obviously, they are used to the drill. And the new project? Well, all I can say is that you're quite the clever girl!!
Love it! Very clever. I'm visiting from the blog hop; glad I did.
Terri
http://www.pushingonarope.com
You are a genius! I love this idea and will be on the hunt for my own artwork that I can turn into a chalkboard window!
Hi Tanya
that´s a really great job 🙂
and do not miss….
SATURDAY SHOW OFF
it is FUN 🙂
WELCOME
Håkan ( The Roseman)
Love this chalkboard window! So cute, thanks for sharing.
LOVE this idea! It turned out super cute! My girls have endured many a thrift store adventure themselves! Life to the full! Melissa @ DaisyMaeBelle
Tanya, That turned out so cute! I have a pile like yours too. : )
VERY Cute and VERY Creative and I wonder if the kids say to themselves " I hope Mom doesn't feel creative today ; it's too hot" LOL! funny story and post to enjoy! 🙂
What a great idea! Love chalkboards!
Thanks for sharing 🙂
Nancy
What an awesome idea! I love it!
Leslie
House on the Way
This is so cute! Love the look of it and I LOVE the wreath you put on it! Pinning! Would love it if you would link this up to Give Me The Goods Monday: 1 Party, 5 Blogs! http://www.rainonatinroof.com/2013/04/give-me-goods-monday-link-party-5.html
Jenna @ Rain on a Tin Roof
I love chalkboards and I love paper wreaths so the both of these put together is fantastic! Thanks for sharing on ITS PARTY TIME! HUGS!
wow, beautiful as always tanya! so pretty!
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