Still snowed in? Here’s an activity that might be fun (but it does require a trip to your local home improvement store). Check out my DIYY (do it yourself yogini) post…
Greetings from a do it yourself yogini! I like to think that I am handy person. After all, I am pretty much filling the roll and providing general handywoman, plumber, cleaning and painting services at extendYoga on the daily. You name it; I am your go to maintenance person.
Most of the time, I actually enjoy fixer-upper projects, rolling up my sleeves and getting crafty. I especially like to paint, so when I came across a photo of a giant chalkboard online, I thought that it would be a great idea and fun addition to the studio. Originally this idea was added to my “summer projects” list, but it wasn’t actually completed until early November 2013 (you know how that goes).
After researching online and grabbing all the supplies, I got to work. If you are interested in this easy, fun and affordable project, check out the step by step below.
Supplies needed:
Chalkboard paint*
Paint rollers
Paint brush
Painter’s tape
Pencil
Tape Measure
Level (or the iHandy Level app on your smartphone)
Chalk
Depending on how big your chalkboard is going to be, the approximate cost for the project should be between $30-$50. The paint is the most of it, about $10 per pint.
*There are various brands of paint, make sure to read the directions before you get started. 1 pint of paint is probably enough unless you are painting a large wall. You’ll need several coats (2-3), so make sure you get enough paint and account for keeping extra for future touch ups. I used almost 2 full pints and kept a 3rd unopened pint for future touch ups, in case I need to paint a new coat or start a new project.
Chalkboard location selection:
When choosing your new chalkboard location, keep this in mind:
-Make sure the area you are painting is flat, smooth and clean
-If you are painting directly on drywall, prime the area first
-If the area is already painted, you can paint right on top, but make sure to sand down any bumps, rough spots— it’s very important to have the surface as smooth as possible before applying the chalkboard paint
-The paint works great on pretty much any surface, but check the back of the can for specifics
Fun places to paint on:
-In your kitchen
-In kids’ rooms or on top of a kids’ table
-On a door
-On the glass of a large picture frame
Once you have your wall/surface ready, use your pencil, ruler and level to tape off the area. Once you tape is up and firmly pressed down, you’re ready to paint!
Make sure to paint in even coats and paint in once direction and smooth (avoid globs, streaks, etc).
You’ll want at least 2 coats. The paint dries pretty quickly, but in order for the paint to set and work properly, you should let each coat dry for 24 hours before applying the next coat. I painted 3 coats on this board.
After your final coat— the most important step is curing the paint. Do not start to write/draw on your chalkboard without completing this step.
Take the side of chalk (I would recommend white chalk for curing) and rub the entire painted area. This is what breaks the board in and will allow you to be able to erase the board without leaving behind marks. Note: there will be a good amount of chalk dust that will accumulate from the curing process (you might want to put something on the floor for easy clean up).
After curing, you’re ready to erase. Most paint manufactures recommend you do not use regular chalkboard erasers on the paint. I use either a large slightly damp sponge or old t-shirts (something not super abrasive).
Once you have erased— you’re ready to go! Get creative and have fun!
Chalkboard paint versus chalkboard spray paint:
If you are looking to add a chalkboard indoors, and on a fairly large area, I would recommend chalkboard paint. I have used chalkboard spray paint on the top of a small children’s table. If you are able to take the object you are painting outdoors, spray works nicely, but for larger areas that require a little more durability, I’d go with paint.
Happy crafting!