Playroom Addition !
Writing on a vertical surface is very important for fine motor development. It works out the developing muscles in the arm and wrist that are used for writing. Your child’s hands/wrists naturally go into the proper position when writing vertically so easels , white boards and chalkboards like this one are invaluable! I have been wanting to make my son one for ages, and I finally bit the bullet. It was insanely easy and inexpensive too!
* Updated to add this super cool link to another chalkboard at infarrantly creative that blows ours away! don’t miss it! *
Cereal Box Mosaic
- Gather your materials. I used Benjamin Moore chalkboard paint, a roller, paint tray, painters tape, an old picture frame, an old sheet, 4 nails and a hammer.
- Start by deciding where you want the chalkboard. Have your child show you how high they can reach so that it’s all usable space. I’m no good with measuring tape so I just eyeballed it and thumb tacked it to the wall to decide. You may want to measure where on the wall you put it.
- Tape off the area to paint.
- Apply your first coat. Wait 4 hours or more and add a 2nd. Let dry.
- Take off the tape.
- Place your frame on the wall so the painted area is centered, and secure it to the wall. I nailed mine but depending on your walls you’ll want to use the appropriate fashion. I particularly liked using a frame because it creates a ledge for the chalk as well.
- Add chalk and child!
27 Responses to “DIY Framed Chalkboard !”
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wow thanks for this tutorial! i dont think i can have a permanent chalkboard on the wall directly but if i do ever do this or adapt it to be removable i'd love to try this
Thanks for a great idea… Nadia – you could paint a canvas and hang it… or a baking/cookie sheet can also be painted to be both magnetic and chalk board.
Thanks for the idea and pictures. I have been wanting to do this, but I was concerned about a few things. Does it seem like you could actually paint over the chalkboard when your children grow out of it? Also, does the chalkboard provide the same level of resistance that a standard chalkboard does?
Congrats on being Mommy Blogger of the Year!
Great idea, I have been thinking something like this would be good in our playroom.
Oh, and Congrats on winning over at Project Mommyhood!
This is really cool!!! I think once we take E's crib down, we'll do this in their room!!
We love our wall chalkboard – only ours is made from chalkboard contact paper that I ordered from Amazon. It works great and is easily removable too!
Nadia- the paint works on any flat previously painted surface according to the can. If you wanted it removable I would get some canvas, or even left over gyprock and paint it and frame it.
Cyndi- have you done a cookie sheet? I think I may test that theory out , I have a lot of paint left!
Abi- Yes you can paint over it , I will be using a few layers of good quality primer I am guessing but yes the paint guy ( at a BM store) said it is no harder than any dark color.
Also re resistance – on our walls I think there is even a little MORE resistance. Our walls are slightly textured and they provide lots. I am not sure how it would be on a untextured wall but from feeling the paint on my own walls I would expect it to have similar levels.
Thanks for the congrats, I am thrilled
i was {this} close to putting chalkboard paint on my shopping list today and then i came to your post. and that's it! it's on my list now! there are so many COOL things to do with chalkboard paint and this is one of them! thank you for the nudge
congratulations, Mommy Blogger of the Year!!
We have had our chalk board set up for two years now and it has provided hours of play and learning. It's a good investment.
I'd be curious for more information how this works on a cookie sheet — how one would hang it, etc.
We did this in our playroom and I LOVE it!!
oooh I love this!!
I am SO using this idea when she's old enough for chalk!
I just want to tell you again that you have one of my very favorite blogs. I can always count on finding just what I need here. You have such great ideas and have helped me so many times! Thank you for all the work you put into your blog so many others can benefit!
Hmmm…I think *someone* has been inspired by the new Pottery Barn Kids catalog, no? wink
I spied the BM chalkboard paint and lots of cute rockets. totally made me think of your awesomely cool blog!
BTW, cool idea to paint directly on the wall and use an empty frame around it!
Awww Amber thank you, that makes me feel so good to hear that! You are very very welcome.
Tanya you just made me laugh so hard because yes I am sure there were some subliminal messages coming from it. How cute is the girls bedding- the ones with the owls? I would have that as my bedding if my husband was game.
I love this idea! I also have a textured wall, but didn’t think chalkboard paint would do well on it. Do you (or your son) have any problems w/ the texture?
Nope neither of us have a hard time with it. we were coloring on it today, it’s just not too smooth. I could have probably sanded it first to make it smoother. I don’t plan that far ahead though.
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that is super neat! thanks for sharing!
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I was thinking about doing this with my son, but was wondering how it would be adjusted to his growing height. It may be his size now, but in a few years, it will be too low. Any suggestions? Thanks!
I’m glad to share that I love this idea so much, I have finished doing one in my child’s playroom!!! Yay for me! Thanks so much for the idea!
[...] *Make Your Own Chalk Board [...]
Love this! So important to have a place for kids to be able to draw/create on a whim. Wonder if it also works (the paint) outside?? I’ve been thinking about how to improve our playset fort area and this might be it.
I just checked the can and the paint I got said interior only but I bet you can get outdoor chalkboard paint, that would be so fun!