Gina at the Shabby Chic Cottage is hostessing a Crazy About Chalkboards party. I've never been to a blog party, but I always enjoy clicking through the links when I come across them. So, I finished a project, took some pictures, gathered my courage and emailed my information to Gina.
Welcome! I'm Jen and I am indeed, Crazy About Chalkboards!
Let's have a peek...
Our first chalkboard was 2 houses ago, in our basement playroom. It was my first time using chalkboard paint and I painted right on the ugly faux wood grain paneling. The hubby took care of the trim work--that may have been the last time he mitre cut 4 pieces of wood to fit together. The painted wooden disks served 2 purposes: to disguise defects in the wall and tie in with the theme of the room. The plastic basket screwed to the bottom frame worked well for holding chalk and an erasing cloth.
At our last house Ebby was far more interested in whiteboards than chalkboards. It was a dark time, with no chalkboard anywhere in sight.
That all changed when we moved into our current home last year. So far I've used chalkboard paint in 4 different places, and there's still plenty left in the 1 qt. can ; - )
Fortunately, while Ebby still loves her whiteboard, she has once again learned to love the chalkboard. In fact, she has one in her room. Yep, I painted nearly this entire awkward entry wall with chalkboard paint. I thought myself so clever adding the ribbon and ball fringe along the top. I felt it need a border and I glued it right to the wall with tacky glue. It's holding up just fine a year later. I love the tin wall pocket as well, works great for holding chalk and an eraser.
I didn't take pictures (because our basement is not at all ready for its close-up) but I used chalkboard paint on 2 projects down there. I painted a small magnetic/bulletin board from IKEA with chalkboard paint. I have it in my studio space and use it for displaying favorite magnets and writes notes to myself. I also have a door down there that I bought at the Habitat for Humanity ReStore for $5. I use it as a noteboard and an inspiration board. I painted it with the chalkboard paint and now leave messages for my cherubs' friends that come to hang out in our dungeon basement. Very welcoming.
Finally, my pride and joy.
Our kitchen chalkboard.
This project took for-ever. When I painted the kitchen last August I taped off the space and also painted in the chalkboard. And that's how it sat for 8 months, waiting to be framed out. Note how the wall used to be white and the masking tape created a faux frame effect ; )
We used it, of course. It just wasn't as pretty as it could be. Bit by bit, I gathered the trim. Most of it I found in the garage, scraps from another project where we had taken down some trim around a doorway. Love to be able to re-use stuff (!). I had to buy one piece of baseboard molding and one piece of cove molding (for the chalkboard ledge), but that was it. A couple of months ago I finally painted all the molding and with the help of the hubby, installed the chalkboard frame.
And it looked so much better. Yet my vision was not complete. I wanted to put some words on the wall above the chalkboard. Deciding what those words would be sparked a great debate here in Bowlesville. Among the contenders: to do, notes & chalk it up. The hubby (or BGD as we like to call him) was quite enamored of 'Thingz + Stuff'. See photos.
I did not share the love. Instead I favored 'Write On'. I scavenged through my collection of letters (I have a great love for letters and several projects in the works...) and found most of what I needed. The rest I purchased over the past several weeks. Overall the letters are from several different sources including Hobby Lobby (oh how I miss you!!), Michaels, AC Moore, Paper Source, Pottery Barn outlet (oh how I miss you too!) and the flea market (old movie marquee letters). I decided on colors. I painted. I distressed. Finally, I hung. The letters. More like rested on the top ledge and secured with Fun-Tac, but whatever.
I've loved our kitchen chalkboard from the very start, now that it's finally finished, I love it even more.
Now, if only it were bigger...
Thanks to Gina for hostessing the Crazy about Chalkboards party and for providing me with a much needed deadline. Now do go and soak up the inspiration all over blogland at the Crazy About Chalkboards party!
Thanks for stopping by, come by anytime you like : )
