Renewed Upon a Dream: Building a Magnetic Chalk Board

Once my desk was built, I realized I really wanted a chalkboard as well. I thought about purchasing one off etsy, but once I found out about chalk paint, I figured I'd just make one myself. I also decided that I wanted to have my chalkboard be magnetic. I had heard about magnetic paint as well, and thought I'd use that method, although from what I had read, I'd have to use a number of coats to get the desired effect.

I was on a constant hunt for a large frame or mirror to make into my creation, until, when telling my parents about my plans one day, they suggested I use a giant mirror that used to be up in their house when I was a child. It had been sitting in the basement unused for years. I agreed, it would be perfect! So, I went that very day to Home Depot to gather supplies:

First I found some spray paint in the color I wanted, then I grabbed the spray chalk paint. The yellow I used was Rust-Oleum Painter's Touch Ultra Cover in gloss warm yellow. I also grabbed some magnetic paint, which was way more expensive than I was expecting. I then went to find particle board to use for the back board. While getting the particle board, I was busy wondering if I really needed it to be magnetic, since the paint was so expensive & I wasn't even sure if it would work. That's when a brilliant idea was formed (in my humble opinion) sheet metal! I replaced the particle board, replaced the magnetic paint & went to find a large sheet of sheet metal. MUCH cheaper! Nice!

I gathered all of my supplies at home. Sorry I don't have pictures of the whole process, as I did this a few weeks ago, pre-blog- I'll get better at it. Well, the mirror was easy enough to pop out of the frame (my parents kept it for possible future use). I then used the mirror to measure & mark what I'd need to cut from the sheet metal, then cut it down to size with scissors. If you do this, BE CAREFUL! Sheet metal edges are SHARP! You should probably use gloves to do it. There might even be a better way to do this (if you know of one let me know!) but scissors was the only way I knew of. Then I brought the frame & cut metal outside for painting.

Brendan signed his name there to show me that my cursive r's are wrong... whatev...

A couple coats of yellow on the frame & a few coats of chalk paint on the sheet metal & it was ready! This project was so easy & inexpensive!

Hum... it looks a little crooked here... must adjust...

I popped the new chalkboard into the frame and stuck it on the wall. I LOVE it! It is just the right size for the space & it's so helpful that it's both a place to leave notes to myself & stick up papers with various notes as well. I'd like to get/make some new cuter magnets for it, but for now, the ones I stole from our fridge work. Make sure that once your board is up, you run the side of a piece of caulk around the whole board & wipe it off so that it's a little broken in, and your first words on the board wont "burn" into it.