Sometimes a Girl Just Wants a Chalkboard

When you were in elementary school, was one of the “helper jobs” in your classroom to “dust” the erasers? It makes me want to sneeze just thinking about it, but this was pre-whiteboard era, so we all had to sneeze one for the team.

I had some teachers that would allow us to write on the board before it got washed at the end of the week. Maybe that should have been a clue that I was going to be a teacher…how many 9-year olds are giddy about using the chalkboard? Whelp, I was, and you know what? I still am.

Only let’s fast-forward “just a few” years…since (ahem) I’m no longer nine. Let’s face it, there aren’t THAT many perks to being a grown up (not nearly as many as you thought there would be when you were a kid). My daughter told me recently that she was excited to grow up because then “she could make all the rules”. Bless.her.heart. (Yep sweetie! Rule-making AND driving a car. Can you even believe it?!)

But every now and then I can create something that makes me feel like I am #winning while #adulting. (It’s not often, so surely we should memorialize it HERE in cyberland.)

So that’s where this blog post comes in….I now have my own chalkboard. (And I don’t have to wait until the teacher says it is ok to write on it!)

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I have wanted to add a chalkboard to the side of my refrigerator for a while now. First I thought I would DIY one with some chalkboard paint, but then I spotted one at the craft store. It was $14.99, but the number one rule at a craft store? Use a coupon! Never ever ever buy anything full price. (Well almost never, silly exclusions….) I ended up paying $8.50 for a large-size chalkboard. (I couldn’t buy the board and the paint for that price!)

I used “milk paint” for the unfinished frame that was around the chalkboard. I had never used this paint before. It was recommended for use on natural wood and was a much thinner paint than I am used to. If you want a paint with lighter coverage, where you can still see the grain of the wood, this might be just the right paint for you!

All I did to prep the chalkboard was to paint 2″ish” coats to the frame (I used some masking tape all around the blackboard so I wouldn’t have to worry about rogue paint.)

To hang it to my fridge I used some 3M Velcro Hangers. (I love these! They are wonderful! Can you tell I’m a fan? Ha!) They are perfect for this job because hammering a nail into your fridge would be a “no-go”….)

Once the new chalkboard was up it was already so.much.better to look at that then the side of my big ol’fridge. But it was a little neked and needed something on STAT!

I went with a spring quote, but I can also see myself using it for to-do lists, birthday parties,menu planning, kid chore charts, etc. I made a template, but then just looked at it and free-handed it. (It’s in the Free Printable Resource Library if you are interested in snagging it!)

One of my goals this year is to work more on my hand lettering. (Because that seemed much more attainable than “run a marathon”….Side note: if you ever see me running, then you should start running too because it means something is about to be after BOTH of us. Just saying.)

It took all of 5 seconds for my kiddos to ask if they could write on the chalkboard too (maybe chalkboard love is genetic?). Why is the new thing so much more “fun”??…They have an easel that has a chalkboard….One of the mysteries of motherhood.
But for the moment, it is Mommy’s chalkboard. (My childhood dreams have become a reality. Wink.) I’m already thinking of things I can write on it for different seasons! (Yep. I’m pretty happy with it!)