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~Jenni



Friday, November 5, 2010

From glass to chalkboard...

 UndertheTableandDreaming
{This chalkboard was featured here}

Hi everyone! I hope that your weekend is off to a fantastic start! I don't know about you, but I am SO glad it's finally Friday... :)
I want to share with you a little project I am very excited about...
I have been looking for a very large picture frame that I could use to make a chalkboard for the long, empty wall above the "island" in our kitchen. My intention was to take out the glass and replace it with the thin craft birch I use for my chalkboards...
Then about a month ago, I happened upon a blog (I cannot remember which one) where the blogger mentioned in passing a friend who had used chalkboard paint on the glass in a frame. Unfortunately, I also cannot recall the name of the friend. Alas, this means I cannot give credit where credit is due, which drives me crazy! I even googled it, but couldn't find it...but if I do, I will edit this post!
So anyhow, when I saw these frames for a steal at Goodwill a couple of weeks ago, of course I put all three in my cart!


I have plans for the other two, but knew right away one of the large ones would be a chalkboard! :)


After cleaning the glass, I placed it on my little painting table, spray priming it twice. {I used Valspar's grey primer; it is truly tough as nails!}


After the primer dried, I sprayed it with chalkboard paint. After two coats, I ran out of the spray paint and went to Michael's craft store to buy more.
Unfortunately, it wasn't until I got home that I noticed I'd bought green chalkboard paint.
{Please feel free to omit these past two steps. I wish I had.}
So, being rather in a hurry to complete this project, I brought out the brush-on variety...

{love this stuff!}

I did four or five coats of this, because I was putting it on glass, and wanted a strong chalkboard base.


I also primed and painted the frame white...


Carefully put the glass into the frame...


And finally it is up on the wall!


{Now when the kids wonder what is for dinner, they can look at the "menu"!}


I would ordinarily prefer it hang horizontally; however, I am working on something that will take up both sides of the chalkboard, and I need all of that space! Right now, it looks a little odd, I know- smack dab in the middle of the wall- but in the end it is going to look just perfect where it is...so stay tuned on this!


It is a little bit of a pain having to climb up on top of the "island" to write the menu, but not too much. It is worth it, because it is right where I always hoped to put a chalkboard...
And just a quick, little side note...I wanted to show you what I found at a garage sale this summer for just three dollars...


I thought my heart had stopped when I saw this metal basket. And the wood handle just about did me in. It is a reproduction, but oh how I love it!
Well, I hope you all have a fantastic weekend! Thank you so much for visiting!
Blessings,
Jenni
I am linking this to:

18 comments:

Tina said...

Jenni, your chalkboard looks fabulous! I think i read the same blog about putting chalkboard on glass, but can't remember whose it was either...You have done a brilliant job on yours and I love the frame white! We painted a panel of our kitchen wall with chalkboard paint and it is the handiest DIY job I ever did. We use it for communication all the time:) Can't wait to see what you are going to put either side of the chalkboard! Love your wire basket too:) Hope you have a fabulous weekend ~ Tina x

Simple Home said...

This looks great. I've wanted to do this for awhile. I'm glad to hear how well it worked on glass.
Blessings,
Marcia

Katie Olthoff said...

The menu is gorgeous! If you get tired of writing the menu all the time, you could do a pretty quote or something, too.

And I'm with you on that basket! Who cares if it's repro?!?! it's gorgeous!

Deborah@Green Willow Pond said...

Great job on the chalkboard! I can't even imagine what that would cost to buy. That basket is to die for! What a lucky find.

michelle said...

Love the chalkboard! I just "found" a large frame and glass that I don't use anymore and it will soon be a chalkboard as well! Thanks for the tips!

Love the basket, very pretty! Great find!!

Aliesha Caldwell | Feathers in Our Nest said...

Beautiful! I recently made a chalkboard menu too. http://feathersinournest.blogspot.com/2010/10/chalkboard-menu.html Yours is just gorgeous!

Robin Beck said...

Nice! And the chalkboard paint on the windows looks so smooth! It turned out really great Jenni!
I use mine all the time-We do art on it for the seasons or put Happy Birthday wishes on it etc etc.
I have never grown tired of it since we made it!

Robin~♥

Unknown said...

Your chalkboard turned out great! I made one for our new apartment and I have it hanging up. It's a perfect size.

Nancy

Erin said...

Jenni this looks absolutely fabulous!!! I love the tutorial, love the idea, love the results and I LOVE that basket you found. Great post lady!

About Southern Belle said...

Jenni {Sparrow}, this turned out beautifully. I really like that the frame around the chalkboard has a design. It adds so much to the chalkboard. Well done!

Robin Johnson said...

Great job. I love how it turned out.

Funky Junk Interiors said...

Wonderful tutorial and lovely results! Just curious if you ever worry about pushing too hard with the chalk on the glass? It's the first thing I think of. But wow, would that ever be the smoothest surface ever!

Donna

Ashlee Marie said...

This is great! I love this, it's so large, that's just wonderful! I'd love it if you'd link up to Topsy Turvy Tuesday's!

Unknown said...

Love the chalkboard and that metal basket is D.A.R.L.I.N.G.!

Anonymous said...

You did a great job! It looks so pretty! I love the metal basket!

Stephanie Lynn @Under the Table and Dreaming said...

Jenni - Love this! I featured this on the Sunday Showcase Round Up. Thanks so much for joining in the fun! Hope you are enjoying your week ~ Stephanie Lynn

Shaunna said...

LOVE! I'm sort of obsessed with chalkboards now, and am working on a couple for Christmas gifts too...I enjoyed reading about yours! Thanks so much for sharing at Style Feature Saturday ~shaunna :)

Kimberly said...

I love chalkboards, and especially when they are metal. my frame was from hobby lobby 36x48, it had it's glass broke out so i got it for $20, had a piece of sheet metal cut, $30 and the chalk board paint $10. my husband added an outlet with a timer switch to it so i could add lights when ever I wanted. love decorating it for every holiday and birthdaty, we write each other love notes, just because with it being in the hallway we walk by it all the time. you can see my creation here.
http://kimberlycb101.blogspot.com/2010/12/lights-action.html