Sep
13
2010
chalk it up
I finallly finished our chalk board wall. It was a bear to photograph…a teeny tiny hallway with really bad lighting. So I laid on my back in our teeny tiny laundry room. It looks like we have 20′ ceilings. It’s like living in the Taj Mahal around here – HA! Just kidding. Despite the crummy snapshots it really did turn out pretty darn cute!
After getting the paint up and letting it cure I re-hung our original cork board (high enough that little hands couldn’t reach it). The frame was originally black which just wouldn’t do so I spray painted it (and half my yard) aqua…much better! I wrote one of my favorite scriptures at the very top which I will leave visible as a daily reminder during this excruciating wait time. Below the cork board is a free for all. I commissioned it with a count down to holding my sweet boy (acutally 66 days now but who’s counting?) It looked clean and neat for about 30 seconds. As soon as I hunted down some white chalk my girls were ALL over it!
I can’t ever go back to teaching because I CANNOT write nicely on chalk boards. It didn’t help that I was standing on top of the “do not stand above this line” sticker on my ladder and could barely reach! Once I finished I realized the whole scripture drooped a bit to the left…but that just adds to the homespun charm, right?
If you live nearby you should really stop by and see it in person…I’ll even let you leave a message 
It is much more fun in person!
And a few tips if you want to try this at your house:
• I used Sherwin Williams chalk board paint because I have a crush on that brand. I did not prime the wall at the ill advise of Mr. Williams in the store. He was wrong. Definitely prime.
• Use a foam roller. I used a mohair roller that the afore-mentioned “expert” recommended and it yielded unsightly roller marks that I had a hard time covering.
• Purchase white chalk before you begin the project (especially if you live in Kansas City) because there is apparently a chalk shortage here and your children will drive you crazy wanting to try out their artwork on their newly renovated canvas.
• If you get over ambitious and think about using magnetic paint first so that you have a magnetic chalk board…just move on. I researched this heavily and the research was not kind to the magnetic paint manufacturers.
• Chalk board paint is OIL based and incredibly stinky. So use proper ventilation. Probably best NOT to paint when it is 112* with no fresh air in the same room as your children are eating (not that I did that or anything).
• Due to the condition above…make sure you have paint thinner on hand BEFORE beginning unless you like having black sticky hands.
Go forth and chalkboard. And then come back and share!!
I love it! And that is my life verse! God has brought it to me over and over again… it was especially poignant when I glanced up at it over dinner while 2 weeks overdue and waiting for my first baby to be born. God is SO good and He is SO faithful! Can’t wait to see that baby in your arms!
I love it! I will now be stealing your verse and writing it on my own chalkboard. Someday I will come and write a message on it, oh how I wish it was today!
I love it!!! So sweet – that is a great scripture!!
I am praying for little Daniel!!
I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE it! I’m getting so many awesome ideas for our new (new to us) house! KEEP ‘um coming!
Love it! I’ll be writing my message on there in a couple weeks! Can’t wait. Praying for Daniel and for your family during the waiting game. – Love, Kass
i had NEVER read that verse before and God literally gave it to me right before leaving for uganda. love.
love this wall!
Just did a post on some projects around the house and one of them was a framed chalkboard on our dining room wall. I love yours with the frame in the middle of it! I’m on my second can of aqua spray paint. I think I’m a little obsessed with it lately. And my lawn is a beautiful shade of aqua also:)Blessings~ Shannon poulincrew.blogspot.com
Oh what a perfect verse for you! And love the new chalkboard wall. Great place for your countdown. Have you heard of the chalk pens? They might be fun to buy too. I think it was the Nester that blogged about where to buy them on-line.
Love the verse. Love the chalkboard wall. Your home update is adorable! I’m in awe of your talent.
Ok! I don’t know how you do this ALL!!!! You must be exhuasted at the end of each day! I was reading your blog after work on Mon night, as I was trying to get tired from my ramped up day in Seattle all day, and MAN! I certainly felt tired after reading/seeing all these projects!!!
Your house is totally inspiring:) I think I need to hire a personal organizer, decorator as my brain just does not think along those lines!!!
Can’t wait to see you next Friday! Did the shirts come?
looks GREAT!! but a little fyi … i have 3 chalkboard paint areas in our house, and we used the home depot kind (not sure the brand) and it is not oil based .. it’s just latex normal black as ink chalkboard paint — went on like a dream
the kids have used and used and used and cleaned and cleaned and cleaned it and it’s hanging in there 
also, colored chalk is too fun for the kids’ “art” 
xoxo
whit
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