Typical Tuesday: 6 Fun Ways With Chalkboard Paint

Update: Linking up this previous post with WhisperWood Cottage blogspot for her fun Chalk Talk party...cause you all know that I'm just nuts about chalk board paint.  Be sure to hop on over and check out how creative the other bloggers are and be sure to tell Amy that Roberta sentcha!

 

Chalkboard Paint has always excited me when it comes to organizing anything in your home, office, studios and, of course, classrooms.  How can you not get excited over a paint medium that can be used on just about any type of surface (metal, wood, cardboard and plastic to name a few ;) AND that offers a writing surface that is NOT permanent so that if you change the function of your objects! 

Over the years I find more ways to use chalkboard paint in many FUN and inspiring ways. 

For instance in my studio and home library bookcases I framed out the fronts of my magazine storage folders with some painters tape and then simply filled the inside of the frame with chalkboard paint...so now I can label these with which ever magazine subscriptions I am currently receiving.

This photo is an old magazine clipping that I had saved from Country Home magazine [no longer in print :] and I had saved it because I just loved the idea of filling in the framed out area above my old fireplace mantel with chalkboard paint.  I had visions of changing out the quote with the seasons ;)

Below are a few photos that I've also saved from on-line (sorry I don't have the link so if anyone has it, please advised and I will update my post with it). The one on the left shows how you can recycle a dresser and other office bins with some bright colors and simple black chalkboard paint applied to the fronts of the drawers and bins.  This is such a good idea because we all are always moving around our supplies, depending on what we have collected and/or are currently working on.

The photo on the right demonstrates how a little bit of chalkboard paint goes a long way to dress up some plain napkin rings which can also double as place cards when setting the table and chore cards when it comes to picking up the table.

Then there is Jen, from Tatertots and Jello blogspot, who has a tutorial using chalkboard paint on plastic chargers and glass ornaments...she just blows me away with her creativity!

In her tutorial, Jen used Chalk Ink Markers that she purchased at Michael's with a coupon and I keep looking for them every time I go into my local store and cannot find them...but I did find an on-line store to purchase them here and after the holidays I just might have to bite the bullet and order them on-line ;)

Chalk Ink® Markers produce a chalk look without a chalk mess.  They are versatile and write on multiple surfaces.  Non-toxic, water and pigment based.  They clean off most non-porous surfaces with water and a soft cloth.

 

Then this weekend while DH was driving us to our hair appointments I brought along a bunch of magazines that needed to be purged and found this lovely tidbit...

...AND it got me to thinkin...why do I need to BUY chalkboard labels when I have labels at home as well as cans of chalkboard paint?

So today I gathered my materials and got to work on making my own decorative, chalkboard labels:

A few weeks ago I found a roll of labels at Michael's in their dollar bins and there are three different sizes on the roll so I thought these would be great for painting.  AND I am always collecting jars and recycling them for left-overs or to give to my son because he never brings back my Tupperware ;)

So the first thing I did was to paint over the top of the labels with some Gesso...which is simply a primer for any surface.  It keeps the paint from soaking into your surfaces as well as helps your paints adhere to a slick surface which some labels might have if they are a gloss finish...best to be safe!

Once the Gesso drys then you can start painting with your chalkboard paint.  Now here's a tip: when using this type in a can (in lieu of spray paint) you will need to paint several coats because the first will be streaky.

JUST be patient and wait for the paint to dry in between your coats and you will get a wonderful, smooth finish!  I painted four coats and then I painted my kraft paper with the leftover paint that was in my brushes...I'm thinking about using this for book covers ;)  I have a few of those pocket calendars with the plastic covers and I think it would be great to adhere the chalkboard kraft paper to the covers so that they can be personalize...oh yeah!!!

THAT IS IT...it took less than an hour from start to finish and would have taken less time but I was writing this post as I painted and waited for the coats to dry...I do that a lot...multi-task ;)

The hardest part was getting the labels on the jars straight...lol  AND now I have that kooky commercial in my head...Crazy for Cocoa Puffs!!!   But it is not Cocoa Puffs that will be going into these jars...you will just have to wait and see on Thursday because December 16th is National Cocoa Day and I'll be back with another fun idea to share for the holidays.

In the meantime, I am linking up today with Toni of A bowl full of lemons. blogspot for her Totally Organized Tuesday link party so be sure to hop on over and link-up your blog posts and share your organization tips, get some inspiration and get a jump-start for your next organizational project.

Also linking up this post with Sandy's Organizing Mission Monday as she requested so be sure to hop on over and check out all the other fun organization ideas:

How about you...what are you crazy for?

 

Comments

[Organize with Sandy]

I wanted to let you know I am featuring this blog post and your other chalkboard label post on my Organizing MIssion Monday tomorrow (Dec.27th). Please stop by and pick up your "I'm Proud to Be Featured on Organizing Mission Monday" button.

[Organize with Sandy]

Thanks for linking to my link party!!

[Organize with Sandy]

I love this! I found your blog from Toni's link party. I would love for you to link this post and also the "more Fun Ways with Chalkboard Labels" up to my new Organizing Mission Monday link party. You can link up as many times as you'd like. I will keep the link open until next week's start.
Hope to see you there!! Thanks

[Deb]

I like this one - I'll have to use this for my boo-boo jars since I won't ever get them painted! LOL Love the ornament idea that is really cute!

[Donnie]

You are becoming an organizing Diva. Those jars look great and thanks for the tutorial. I probably would never do them-I'd be more apt to buy the jars. Take care.

[Rita Ackerman]

Thanks, as always, for visiting my blog and leaving one of your wonderful comments.
Now I have to say you have really blown me away. I've never heard of chalkboard paint, or if I did its use didn't register. This stuff looks amazing. And those markers. Wow. I've noticed different Michaels have different stuff depending on the size and age of the store. Do you have others you can check out near you?
How do you get the writing so neat on your magazine keepers and such? I am always so impressed with your organization.Thank you for the links.

[toni]

Im digging the chalk markers. Those are cool. And, wow you did an awesome job on the labels. Im adding that to my list! Thanks for your inspiration. ps. I love your magazine boxes. :)

[jen @ tatertots and jello]

Thanks for linking to my chargers. Those are all really fun projects!!

xoox
Jen