Magnetic Chalkboard Makeover

I picked up this magnetic chalkboard for only $3, and I knew that I could improve it with a little paint. I got it at Joey’s booth at Vendors’ Village.

It’s not a fine piece of furniture, or that well-made, but I think this chalkboard still has a lot of years left in it and can be useful for a busy family.

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Make your own chalk paint

I recently bought some new paint for my diy portable wall to give it a fresh coat of gray. While painting it, I had some paint left over and poured it into a butter dish to save for a small project. You can see I added some plaster of paris to make this some diy chalky paint primer.

Tape off chalkboard and memo board

After mixing the paint, I prepped the magnetic chalkboard for painting with some blue painter’s tape.

You can see I used a cheap chip brush to apply this chalky paint.  I prefer these brushes because they are so quick and easy to clean. Many people like them because they are cheap and easily tossed in the garbage. I couldn’t disagree more! The more they are used (and washed) the better they get. 

I did two light coats of paint on the front and the back of the magnetic chalkboard (after removing all the hardware)

After removing the painter’s tape, I used a very fine sanding sponge to sand the chalkboard surface to ready it for a fresh coat of chalkboard paint.

But after sanding it, and wiping it off, I decided to leave it as it was. The sanding sponge removed the noticeable scratches on the surface of the chalkboard.

Add coat hooks to the magnetic chalkboard

After all that I replaced the original hooks and hanging hardware (on the back).

Cut Silhouette Vinyl

The chalkboard looked too plain to suit me, so I used my Silhouette Portrait to cut out the word Remember.

I used the font Baskerville Old Face on a very small piece of scrap silver vinyl.

Painter’s tape transfers small pieces of vinyl

You may have seen me use this trick before. Whenever I have a small piece of vinyl to transfer, I use painter’s tape. I like that it is already cut to size and easy to line up.

The tape easily removes the vinyl from the backing paper.

After laying the tape onto the magnetic chalkboard, I simply treat it as regular transfer tape by pulling it off by folding it over itself and peeling it back.

This was an easy project, but I think it turned out so much better than I expected, and I love the gray. I paid $3 for it initially and basically have no money invested in it—only my time.

I think it’s going to be very handy for a busy family. The magnet on the board is a repurposed advertisement that comes on phone books.

Be sure to visit my friends below to see what they have been up to with their Thrift Store Décor Makeovers.

PetticoatJunktion Upcycled Fabric Calendar

Bliss Ranch Reloved Mirrors

My Repurposed Life Magnetic Chalkboard Makeover

Domestically Speaking Kitchen Shelf to Coat Rack

My Uncommon Slice of Suburbia Shell Covered Pot

Our Southern Home Stenciled Box Makeover

I’m sure you’ll be inspired by something this month!

gail

See more of my Thrift Store Decor Challenge Projects below: