Chalk it up
Upcycle an old picture frame into a shabby-chic blackboard to give your kitchen an instant vintage touch.
Make a shabby-chic blackboard
INFORMATION Materials
* An old frame
* Piece of plywood * Chalkboard/blackboard paint
* White paint (Dulux Made by Me in Cool White Satin)
* Undercoat/primer paint
* Decorative moulded hardwood bead (from DIY store)
* Shabby Toulouse Rose Cluster Swag & Bow Drop, chicmouldings.com
* Panel pins
* No-nails glue
* Framer’s tape
* Pencil
Size: Varies Skill level: Easy
Old picture frames make fantastic upcycling projects and can be easily found in junk shops, car boot sales and charity shops. Just add shabby-chic mouldings and some paint for a quick transformation into practical, pretty homeware. You can even try something similar with cupboard doors, especially ones with ornate features for extra character.
How to make the framed chalkboard
1 Measure the inside of the frame and cut a piece of plywood to fit inside the aperture (remember to get wood that is slightly thinner than the rebate inside). Measure across the width of the aperture – this will be the length of moulded bead you’ll need. Use a small hacksaw to cut a length of the moulded hardwood bead to the correct measurement.
2 Apply an undercoat and primer to one side of the plywood, the moulded bead and the frame. Once dry, apply a second coat and then a third if required. After the primer has dried, work out the space required for the chalkboard by positioning and attaching your decorative mouldings. Mark the line of the bead to separate the chalkboard area from the decorative top section.
3 Paint the frame, bead and marked-off top of the ply in white paint. Paint the bottom part of the plywood in chalkboard paint. Wait for these to dry, sand down with sandpaper, then apply a second coat.
4 Assemble the board by putting the plywood into the frame and adding small panel pins around the edge, being careful not to split the plywood or the frame (only do this on wide frames – narrow ones will need to be glued into position). Now tape around the edge with framer’s tape.
5 Glue the bead to cover where the chalkboard and white paint meet. Glue the moulded decal in place according to the instructions supplied with it.