I am so excited to tell you about something NEW that I am beginning to participate in starting today. A group of amazingly talented bloggers invited me to be part of a themed monthly blog hop. I was thrilled when I was approached to be counted among them as an equal and peer! If you aren’t familiar with all of their blogs yet then be sure to hop around and check out everything that they have prepared to share with you today. I know you will just as blown away by their talent as I am! This month we are bringing you Back to School ideas that embrace the chalkboard trend that is so hot right now. Are you excited? I am!
My tutorial idea for you today is simple and versatile. I wanted to create something simple and kid-friendly and very, very “back to school.” I used to teach elementary school, so I am very drawn to primary colors and apples and all things bright and colorful. Sadly, most chalkboards are black or a dull green. No thanks. Not really for me. Enter Americana’s Clear Chalkboard Coating. I got some in my swag bag at the SNAP blogging conference, but I had yet to try it. This was the perfect opportunity!
I decided that I wanted a place to display my boy’s preschool artwork, but I loved the idea of integrating a chalkboard into the project so that someday it can display his math or reading or science work as well. What I did was grab an old 8×10 frame from my dad’s closet and paint it. I like the size because it is close to the size of a normal worksheet, so it would need only a tiny bit of trimming to fit into the frame. I did what I always do with old or cheap frames: SPRAY PAINT! I started with a spray primer, which makes even cheapie plastic Walmart frames cling to paint color well so they look nice! It’s my go-to fail-proof frame painting tip. After the white paint primer dried I coated the frame with bright yellow spray paint and allowed that to dry.
While I was waiting for the paint to dry I decided to add a little detail to the frame with a felt apple. I grabbed some felt, sketched out an apple, cut, and stitched around the edges of it with some blue embroidery thread just to add a fun little detail and bring in the third primary color. I just used hot glue to attach the leaf and stem to the apple.
Lastly I painted the Clear Chalkboard Coating onto the frame to turn the entire frame into a chalkboard. I followed the directions exactly, which included drying time and painting in one direction and then the other. Be sure to do the same for best results. After the Chalkboard Coating dried I hot glued the apple to the frame and wrote “My Art” onto the frame with chalk. A few years down the road I will be able to switch it up as much as I would like to say “My Writing,” “My Math,” or “My Science.”
I hope you like my Back to School Chalkboard project, and I hope that you take a few minutes to visit all of the other fabulous Back to School Chalkboard projects from these talented bloggers!
That’s What Che Said: Free Printable Chalkboard Signs
Craft Quickies: Framed Fall Colors Art
Four Marrs One Venus: Magnetic Words
Giggles Galore: DIY Chalkboard Placemats
Crazy Little Projects: Lunch Box with Chalkboard
The Cards We Drew: Preschool Wreath
Dimple Prints: Back to School Chalkboard Decor
52 Mantels: Organizing with Chalkboard Labels
Designing, Dining, & Diapers: Back to School Chalkboard Sign
Smart School House: Welcome Back to School
Oooh oooh, and guess what?! DecoArt, the makers of the American Clear Chalkboard Coating, have decided to donate a fun prize package of chalkboard paints for one of our fab readers to win! So enter using the Rafflecopter widget below for a chance to win an assortment of chalkboard paint products! So fun!!
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Michele @ The Scrap Shoppe says
August 7, 2013 at 8:37 amI love the excitement my son has for going to school for the first time. He started last week and is loving it!
Emily T. says
August 7, 2013 at 9:04 amMy favorite part of the end of summer is letting go of our normal routine and taking life as it comes. My favorite part of back to school is getting organized and back into a routine.
sarah says
August 7, 2013 at 9:21 amTotally!!
debi m says
August 7, 2013 at 2:29 pmMy favorite part of “back to school” is having free time during the day – getting my craft on!
Mariah @Giggles Galore says
August 7, 2013 at 5:30 pmI have this same stuff and haven’t tried it yet either, but now my mind is spinning with projects I can turn into chalkboard art!
sarah says
August 7, 2013 at 5:59 pmYay! Enjoy!
Jen Marrs says
August 7, 2013 at 10:05 pmAlright..this is super super cute! What a great way to show off that fun art!
sarah says
August 8, 2013 at 1:41 amThanks, girl!
Janet Gavitt says
August 10, 2013 at 5:54 pmNew clothes, new shoes, new crayons. The promise of new!
Carli-DimplePrints says
August 11, 2013 at 1:10 pmGreat idea, my kids love when I display their artwork!