Y’all, I am zooming through this haul!! Sweet friends, I have a quick makeover for you today…this cutie pie standing chalkboard that I found at a yard sale in the spring for only $3:
It was marked $5, but it had blown over and part of one of the back legs had broken off, so I offered $3 and they accepted!
I glued the broken piece back on with wood glue as soon as I got home and it was good as new!
I’ve included a few affiliate links so you can find the products I love.
Clean
The first step to any makeover is a good cleaning! Once I removed the chalkboards by removing the tiny screws that were holding them in place, I mixed up some White Lightning into my tub (One TBSP in a half gallon of warm water). Then, I gave it a good wipe down using a terrycloth pad:
This thing was covered in webs and crawlies lol.
I used Dixie Mud to fill in where I had to glue part of the leg back together:
I sanded it smooth, and I was ready for paint!
This thing was pretty rough. The inside edge where it was recessed to hold the chalkboards was super splintery. One run down that with your bare finger, and you’d be in trouble!
I sanded it as smooth as I could, and to hide those imperfections, I decided to give it a really weathered look.
Creating a really weathered paint finish
To get a really weathered look for this chalkboard frame, I started with a coat of Cotton white, applied in a way that didn’t cover completely. I wanted some of that wood to show through:
Next, once that was dry, I layered Vintage Duck Egg Blue over the Cotton in the very same way, trying not to cover completely:
Once that was dry, I sanded liberally all over with 22o grit sandpaper:
As you can see, the result is a really weathered looking paint finish.
Seal
To seal, I chose Clear Best Dang Wax that I applied with the Best Dang Brush:
After applying the wax, I buffed it in with a clean, soft cloth.
Fixing the Chalkboards
The chalk board panels were in rough shape:
I was tempted to just cut new ones. I did try to paint the backside, but they were a bit rough.
Now this is a family friendly blog as you well know, so skip ahead if you don’t want to read any inappropriate content. (You’re intrigued now though, aren’t you??)
The ladies who sold me this chalkboard were nice as could be…super friendly. So, imagine my surprise as I was trying to decipher what had been written on this chalkboard in pencil, only to find that it stated Sean is a c@%$ sucker.
It’s hard to see in the photo, but can you imagine how embarrassed those ladies would be if they knew that is what was still written on this thing when they sold it ha ha!
I’m sure it was one of their kids that did it, probably to a sibling, but you never know. Anyway, it gave me a good chuckle!
Let’s cover that!
My go-to chalkboard paint is the spray version from Rustoleum. I used an entire can and went over both boards a few times, and it ended up completely covering anything that had been scratched into the surface:
Season the chalkboards
It’s said that if you write on your chalkboard without “seasoning” it first, that first writing will be faintly etched in there permanently. I haven’t tested that theory and chose instead to follow the rules lol.
To season a chalkboard, you just cover the surface completely in chalk:
Then, wipe away the chalk with a clean, soft cloth:
All that was left to do was add the chalkboards back to their frames with the original screws that held them in place.
The After
Here’s how this standing chalkboard, that once was used to bash Sean, looks now:
It’s hard to tell the size of it in the before photo, but it is quite a good size!
This finish was perfect to hide all the imperfections. There was a crack in the wood along the bottom there, and it’s hardly noticeable now…
I’ve shared before how to up your chalkboard writing game a bit.
How to Up Your Chalkboard Writing Game
First, write what you want in your best penmanship…
Then, using the worn-down flat tip of your chalk, accentuate every down stroke:
It just beefs up the letters a bit to make them a bit more fancy!
Super quick and easy, and that’s another piece done!!
Here’s everything I’ve completed so far from this haul:
$20 Yard Sale Drop Leaf Tables
Upcycled Tea Box (This is a can’t miss!)
$25 FARMHOUSE TABLE MAKEOVER
Painting the Smalls #22 (Six mini makeovers!)
Easily Paint a Silver Tray
Upcycled Sewing Machine Drawers
$5 Yard Sale Stool Makeover
$6 Mini Wall Cabinet Makeover
$4 Jewelry Box Makeover
Vintage Sewing Storage Table
Wooden Horse Redo TAKE TWO!
White Painted Drop Leaf Table
Unfinished Wooden Horse Makeover
Updated Candlesticks
Voodoo Stain and Stencil Bench Makeover
Drawer Organizer Makeover
Having a quick project to work on left me time to work on my Furniture Fixer Upper pieces for Thursday!
I’ll be back sharing what I did to bring these three pieces to life:
I hope to see you then!!
UPDATE: No need to wait, yay!! See how I rescued this ho hum set HERE now!
Have a lovely week!
XOXO,
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Mary Kaiser says
Oh it is so cute now! I have never seen a chalk board that size. It is so happy that you have repair it and now someone with love it! If I owed a small shop some where I would use it to advertise something on sale out on the side walk to get them into my store. That would be a cute way to do that! It turned out great!
Christy says
Thanks, Mary! It is such a good size for that! Enjoy your day! XOXO
Sue says
I have to admit, that made me chuckle. 😉
Christy says
Ha ha me too! XOXO
Cecilia says
Lol, oh my. I think I’d have laughed a bit too…maybe that’s why they were getting rid of it. 😳 I’m glad painting it covered up the uh, indiscretion. 😂
I really like the way you painted it – the rough finish looks perfectly worn. Turned out great!
😊Cecilia
Christy says
Ha ha it was really hard to see, but when I figured it out, I had to laugh! Those ladies had no idea! Thanks, Cecilia! XOXO
Janice Holt says
Such a cute chalkboard now. Never knew how to make your writing look better. Learn something everyday and such a good tip. You’ve got your work in store for yourself for Thurs.
Christy says
Thank you, Janice! It’s hard to write on a chalkboard sometimes, but that tip definitely helps. The pieces for Thursday turned out so cute, and I can’t wait to share! XOXO
Cheryl says
Poor Sean, lol! Love how it turned out! Love your backdrop and how you always show us styling options. Have a great day!
Christy says
Ha ha, right? Thank you so much, Cheryl! You’d never know my sink and stove are behind that backdrop lol! Enjoy your day too! XOXO
Tracy Martinez says
Turned out so pretty. And a much better saying on it, lol
Christy says
Ha ha for sure! Thanks, Tracy! XOXO
Sandra W Magle says
I can see you NOT selling this and using it in your shop to feature new products or funny sayings just to bring a smile to customers…ie and nothing about …..you know what. That gave me a laugh…fun fix! Sandi
Christy says
This would be awesome for my booth, Sandi…great idea! I couldn’t believe what it said…good for a laugh though for sure lol! XOXO
Cyndi says
This turned out so cute! Thanks for the tip about chalk-writing too! Looks great!
Christy says
Thank you, Cyndi! You’re so welcome! XOXO
Niki says
Now these are something I actually have had the opportunity to pick up at sales around here! So much more fun and noticeable with the weathered finish. Most people have better penmanship than I do so I’d probably have a friend do that for me!!
Christy says
Thanks, Niki! At first I thought it had some age to it, but it is probably a mass-produced piece from Hobby Lobby or something. I know many don’t do cursive these days, but it is fun for chalkboards! XOXO
Maia says
Poor Sean! You must have gotten quite the giggle when you saw that and thought back to the ladies who sold it to you! Nice end result.
Christy says
Ha ha, right? He probably didn’t deserve that lol. Those ladies would have been mortified, I’m sure! Thanks, Maia! XOXO
Sue Carole McCombs says
This is adorable. Really like the finish. Hope I can find one like it, or at least close to it. Great job
Christy says
Thanks so much, Sue! Good luck in your search! XOXO
Marcie Lovett says
It did have some potential before but it’s darling now, Christy! You could write messages for the booth or are you going to sell it?
Christy says
Thank you, Marcie! It would be fabulous for the booth…many people coming through think my paint jars are candles. I may write something about paint and put atop my display shelves! XOXO
Lizzy says
Super cute and great color!
Christy says
Thank you, Lizzy! XOXO
Michele M. says
WOW WOW WOW! That is soooooo awesome. And, of course, I learned something new about seasoning a chalk board.
Well done, Christy!
Christy says
Thanks so much, Michele! XOXO
Cyndy Cook says
Wow! And even your handwriting is beautiful! You are really an artist at heart; you have that unique ability to see things other people can’t.
Christy says
Aww I appreciate that so much, Cyndy! Thank you!! XOXO
Caye Cooper says
That is just too cute, Christy! Love how you blended the paints because now it has so much character. Well done!
Christy says
Thanks so much, Caye! XOXO
roe squire says
I love it! What a cool little accent piece! But poor Sean- what a way to go down in history.
Christy says
Thanks, Roe! Ha ha poor Sean indeed! 🤣 XOXO
Bonnie Hipps says
This was bigger than I thought at first. Great save on it and the saying 😋
See you Thursday!
Hugs
Christy says
It is big! It’s hard to tell in the before photo. Ha ha yes..poor Sean! See you tomorrow! XOXO
Nana Diana says
I love it! Naughty words and all! It IS true that you need to season the chalkboard or the first words written are etched into the board forever….I found that out the hard way. Anyway—lovely, lovely job! xo Diana
Christy says
Ha ha thank you, Diana! And I appreciate the confirmation on seasoning chalkboards…I was always too chicken to try it lol! XOXO
Sandra Klouda says
Christy, that chalk board really turned out great. Would be cool to set out at your booth advertising your goods.
Christy says
Thanks so much, Sandra! I think I am going to incorporate it into my booth somehow! If I do, I’ll share in my next booth update! XOXO