I would love to say this chalkboard memo board made from an old storm door is an easy project, well in fact it IS an easy project, but this post is loaded with pictures. I think it is going to take me to the tutorial than it did to actually DO the project.
This is the second storm door I’ve gotten from my across the street neighbor. He has a cat that seems to be a little impatient when it comes to wanting indoors. I think she keeps tearing up the screens. By the way–if you don’t happen to have a neighbor giving you old screen doors, Home Depot has them for $22! That makes this a very affordable project even IF you have to buy your own door.
I repurposed the first door he gave me into a craft show display piece. That was a little over 2 years ago. I sort of knew what I wanted to do with this door, but the color (as usual) was a challenge for me. I started by painting it with French Vanilla from Heirloom Traditions Paint.
Then I did a “wash” over it with some green. Cousin Terry said it looked like something (I can’t remember what she said) threw up all over it. Algae? Something like that.
I went to my stash of paint, and found an oops color I had never opened. It looked to me (from that tiny little paint dot) that it was a gray. When I opened it, this is what I saw. I still wasn’t sure what the final outcome would be.
After stirring it, and pouring it into my strainer so I could use my HomeRight Finish Max
, I saw that it was a shade of purple. I intended for it to be a “primer” for the next color.
Now, you may wonder why I would get out an electric paint sprayer for such a small chalkboard memo board project. I had already painted it with a brush 3 times. So, I was over it. I knew that it would look good and go so much quicker with my best friend at the wheel.
After I did one quick coat, turned it over and did a quick coat on the back. Because I mixed the oops paint with some Plaster of Paris to make a diy chalky primer, the paint dried really fast.
I put another coat on the front—the paint covered really well using the Finish Max from Homeright.
I set the door aside, and got busy on the lower board that was to be a chalkboard. The last chalkboard I made, I brushed the paint on.
Not this time. This time I strained the chalkboard paint, and got busy.
I used the Finish Max with the chalkboard paint on a piece of underlayment.
You can see that it’s still in the process of drying in this photo. I did about 3 light coats with the Finish Max.
Then I stapled some hardware cloth over the center part of the chalkboard memo board door, thinking I could hang some baskets from it with “s” hooks. Not a good idea, I tried to use some white wax on the back of the top board, but I didn’t like how it looked. So I ended up painting over it with more purple chalky paint primer.
My Ryobi AirStrike was used to attach the chalkboard to the lower portion of the board.
I wanted to give the memo portion a nice clean look. I layered the fabric, batting, foam core board and underlayment. After trying to get it as straight as I could, I stapled it all in place ON THE BACK of the door in a few places.
With those staples holding everything in place, I worked on trimming the batting and fabric then folding it over the back of the board. I used my manual stapler to hold the fabric and batting.
You can see a little dip in the checkered fabric. After all that hard work, I wasn’t about to take it apart.
I thought I was calling the chalkboard memo board done except for finding some hardware to cover up the former handle holes.
I showed it to my neighbor (with the cat) and he said he thought it needed a shelf.
It got hot, I hauled it into the house, then I went on a little trip. It just hung out in the kitchen for a couple of weeks waiting for me to get back around to it. I cut a 1x scrap, including two little triangles off of the end to use as brackets. Using Gorilla Wood glue and my AirStrike, I secured it in place. I already like it a lot better!
Here is the chalkboard memo board hanging on the wall. I love the way the purple looks against the off white wall.
Isn’t it sweet?
That’s a Scrabble tile holder on the bottom holding the chalk. I haven’t attached it yet, I thought I would let the new family figure out where they want to put it.
I gave the old gal a few embellishments, including some small galvanized buckets and pushpins made from Scrabble tiles and vintage wooden checkers.
This extra large chalkboard memo board can be hung on the wall or leaned against the wall like it is here.
Did you notice the colors are Purple and Green—just like MRL?
gail
disclaimer: I am so happy to be a Homeright Ambassador. It allows me to work on great projects using the best products to make my life easier, and kicks my projects up a notch with a fabulous finish!
I just love the things you do and always click on the links that show up on Facebook to see what you’re up to! However, I have one small suggestion. At the top of your post could we see both the before AND after photos of your projects? I always end up scrolling down to the bottom first to see the finished project before I scroll back up to see how you did it.
Barbara,
It’s the old addage “you can’t teach an old dog new tricks”. I write chronologically from start to finish. I have a hard time remembering to add the beauty shot at the beginning of the post.
Please keep in mind that many of the projects I share on Facebook are projects from the archives, and it would be such a huge task to go back to change all of the thousands of blog posts I’ve written.
I appreciate your input!!!
thanks Barbara!
gail
This is so cute! I see your Finish Max is well loved too:) I meed to try making a chalky finish with latex to try! Have a good day:)
Oh my goodness what an awesome transformation and it turned out looking amazing! Who would have thought that a door could turn into something this cute?
Thanks so much Alicia! It was a fun and easy project, costing very little. 🙂
I appreciate you stopping by and taking the time to leave a comment.
gail
Love the memo board! The checkered fabric adds so much!
You go girl!
karianne
in my brain fog hadn’t had enough coffee yet i read the header as “my last week on mrl” and almost had a heart attack thinking you meant you were retiring whew xx
So cute and useful! I love the added shelf, it was the finishing touch! This would be awesome as a command center or in any kids room, and awesome colors too! 🙂
Gail-I like it leaning against the wall! But maybe with a couple of feet to boost it off the floor directly!
Catherine
I really like how this turned out. I made one of this with a 5′ antique window screen. The addition of the shelf
like how the colors match MRL!!! i know it will sell fast!
Love it Gail, those darn checkered fabric, it looks great!
Debbie
I love this!!!! Soooo cute!!
Love this, Gail!
Sandi
Holy Cow I love this Gail! That purple color is awesome and I just love message centers to begin with! Excellent beauty job!! 🙂
coming from the junkin’ queen herself, thanks Susan! I love your enthusiasm about my memo board! 🙂
gail