This large chalkboard shelf is so different than anything I’ve done before, and I love it! Staging it was a lot of fun too, be sure to read all about it at the end of the post.
If you’ve been a friend for a long time, you probably have seen this picture before. My friend Shannon for Quarry Orchard gave me her stash of cabinet doors a few years ago. I’ve been working my way through them, one by one.
I’ve had these $5 spindles for a couple of years now, and I’ve only used a few of the bundle. Then I saw this in a roundup I’m included in , and knew I needed to make it.
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Large cabinet door chalkboard shelf design
This is how this large chalkboard shelf came together. Using one large cabinet door, two thrift store spindles, a 1x4, and a scrap piece of wide tongue and groove, I started designing my new project.
I used Gorilla Glue Construction Adhesive to attach the spindles to the cabinet door and the shelves.
Glue and clamp chalkboard project
I had used the tongue and groove on a red chair bench seat, with one lonely piece leftover. That is what I used for the bottom shelf.
Paint cabinet door shelf
I used some diy chalky paint primer with some purple oops to do the first primer coat on the large chalkboard shelf. No need to waste my black paint as a primer when I have some $7 oops paint, right?
I used my Homeright Finish Max and semi-gloss Behr (Beluga) to spray the front and the back, but skipping the part that would become the chalkboard.
Easy DIY crackle finish
I’ve used diluted glue as a crackle medium before, and thought I would give it another try, but with a different twist. I brushed it on with a cheap chip brush.
I’m not sure if I diluted the glue too much, or if I didn’t let it set up enough, but it didn’t turn out quite like I had hoped.
Paint sprayer paint over crackle medium
Here’s the twist! The key to getting white glue to crackle is to NOT overwork the topcoat of paint. What better way to not do that, than to use my Finish Max to spray on the topcoat of Polished Pearl.
Some of the paint crackled better than other parts. Again, I didn’t bother painting the portion that would be the chalkboard.
Here’s another view of the crackling process.
d rings for hanging
I used my favorite d rings on the back for hanging. You can see in this picture that I left the back black instead of crackling it.
Not shown: I brought it in the house to paint the chalkboard using a sponge brush and Rustoleum Chalkboard Paint.
Cabinet door Chalkboard Shelf
Each of these boards is 5.5 inches wide, so overall this large chalkboard shelf measures almost 40” across!
Here is the cabinet door chalkboard shelf all decked out with some of my old teacher memorabilia from back in the day!
These items resided on my desk for many, many years, including the little frazzled lady that says “My Class did this to me”. I felt like that many days teaching four year old pre-school for 19 years!
I have many more cabinet doors and spindles, so I may be doing another version of this in the near future. After I finished it, I already had ideas of how I would change it up if I were to do it again.
How to make a chalkboard shelf out of an old cabinet door, vintage spindles and scrap wood. Easy weekend project shows you how to use white glue as a crackle medium. MyRepurposedLife.com
There are a lot more cabinet door projects here
Gail Wilson is the author and mastermind behind My Repurposed Life. She is obsessed with finding potential in unexpected places and believes that with a little hard work and imagination, any old thing can be made useful again, including herself!
Gail reinvented herself during a midlife crisis and has found purpose again. She hopes you will find new ideas for old things and pick up a few tools along the way.
Tammy P
This may be a silly question, but where do you find all of those old spindles?
gail@myrepurposedlife.com
No silly questions, ever!
I lucked in to these at a local Peddler's Mall. The ReStore (Habitat for Humanity) generally has them for 1-2 dollars.
I hope you find some soon.
gail
Paula
Great project! I didn't know that you were a teacher in the past. I'll be on year 26 starting in August.
Debbie-Dabble
Gail,
I am totally amazed at this project and all your other fantastic cabinet door projects!! Amazing!!
Thanks so much for stopping by!!
My former blog, Debbie-Dabble was hacked through my Face Book Debbie-Dabble Page. I created a new blog, Debbie-Dabble Blog and I invite you to please follow me on my new blog.
http://www.debbie-dabbleblog.blogspot.com
Hugs,
Deb
gail@myrepurposedlife.com
Oh, sorry to hear about your blog being hacked! I wish you lots of luck with the new blog Debbie.
Thanks for stopping by to check out my chalkboard project. I LOVE using old cabinet doors.
gail
Julie @ follow your heart woodworking
LOVE your chalkboard shelf! I have a photo of one on file from years ago, very similar with the spindles on each side. So many ideas, so little time... you did a great job on yours.
gail@myrepurposedlife.com
Thanks Julie! I use to save files to my computer all those years ago, now I use Pinterest!
gail
Wendi @ H2OBungalow
I love the finish and you are right, spraying on the top coat is the perfect solution to not overworking the glue crackle! You're giving me inspiration for my extra bed spindles that are left over from my pedestal bowl project. As always.. I want to come out and go shopping with you! I never get those kind of deals here!
gail@myrepurposedlife.com
Thanks for checking out my latest chalkboard Wendi. I LOVE using bits and pieces... on anything I can. I still want to do a pedestal bowl, and am constantly looking for some wooden bowls. š
gail
Mindi
Oh I LOVE it with the spindles! I remember seeing that round up, you did a great job Gail, and the crackle finish looks awesome!
gail@myrepurposedlife.com
Thanks Mindi! It was fun doing something a little different, and using up another cabinet door.
gail
girlfromwva
awesome!!!