Happy Friday!!

I have a really fun and easy nap time craft for you today!

I have been wanting a big chalkboard like Restoration Hardware carries for sometime.  I knew I wouldn’t be spending over $300 on mine… (yes, that’s 2 zeros!)

My ‘shanty’ version cost me just around $15, and I had the whole thing finished and stained in under an hour.  Here is how it turned out!

This really is super easy, and would be a great first wood project for those of you that are just starting out!

Here is how I made mine…

I found this chalkboard at Hobby Lobby and used a 40% off coupon to buy it.  It made the chalkboard around $5.  You can find these at most craft stores.  If you want your finished board stained like mine, just make sure your chalkboard is framed in unfinished wood like mine!

I bought 2 pieces of wood from the hardware store for this project.

1 – 1x4x8 furring strip or whitewood board ($2)

10ft of pine casing ($.98 per foot at HD)

Now to cut your wood… I used my miter saw, but you can easily cut the wood for this project using a miter box and hand saw like this one from HD.  This set is under $8 and you will be amazed at the number of projects you can do with it!

If you are buying the same chalkboard I did, you can follow my cuts exactly.  If not, you can easily find your measurements by measuring the wood that your chalkboard is framed in!  I measured mine using short point to short point.  The wood will be cut at an angle on each side and the cuts will not be parallel.  So, the ‘short point to short point’ measurements are the ones you see below!

 

Then, just use your miter box to make the 45 degree cut on each side… EASY!

I first built my frame with my boards.  I used Ashley’s famous method to attach mine!  Just use a little Gorilla Wood Glue and a cheap hand staple gun to attach your boards like this…

Next, I flipped the frame over (staples to the back), and attached my chalkboard using finish nails and wood glue.  The chalkboard lays right on top of it, so this part is easy!

Now to make it pretty… To add the casing around the chalkboard you will need to make 2 quick measurements.  Again… If you buy the same chalkboard I did, just use mine!

You need to measure the ‘long point to long point’ measurements of both sides of your chalkboard.  Here are mine…

So… These will be the ‘short point to short point’ measurements of your trim pieces.  Again… Easy!

To attach my trim I used Gorilla Wood Glue and finish nails.

That’s it!

Don’t worry about imperfections!  A little stain goes a long way!  I used the same stain I used on my $15 entryway bench!

Rust-Oleum Ultimate Wood Stain in Dark Walnut

wood stain

You can find it at Lowe’s!

I used painter’s tape to cover the edges of my chalkboard…

And gave it a quick coat of stain…

I knew I wanted to hang it somehow fun.  I found this chain at Lowe’s for another project I will be sharing really soon!

I just used some cup hooks like these…

I spray painted them black and screwed them in the top of my chalkboard…

Just use some pliers to cut the chain to size and you are ready to go!

A few more shots of mine…

 

Hope you love it as much as I do!  This would make a great weekend or nap time craft!  I would love for you to pin and share it below!

Thanks so much and have an awesome weekend!

~Whitney

 

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24 Comments

  1. Hi! I have a 2′ x 4′ chalkboard, minus the frame, that I would like to attach to the 1″ x 4″ frame. How much do you recommend that I overlap the chalkboard to the 1″ x 4″ frame? I will also be adding 2.5″ mdf molding to the edge of the chalkboard and leave about .25″ of the 1″ x 4″ frame exposed. Thanks.

  2. Hey! Love this! I’m about to make one. What size width and thickness casing did you use? I know there’s many different sizes. This is a perfect Christmas gift! Thank you

  3. Great job on the frame and the entire website! It’s amazing how trim can transform a piece into something so nice. If you don’t mind me asking, where would you recommend getting a variety of stainable trim pieces like the ones you use? Thanks for the help!

    1. Hey Chad! They are harder to come by than the standard primed MDF, but I find all of mine at either Home Depot or Lowe’s. The benefit to HD is that you buy per foot on most pieces, but I do think Lowe’s has a better variety. Hope this helps! You may check lumber yards in your area as well. I know here in DFW there is a place called ResDoor that stocks a ton of stainable trim. Thanks again!

  4. Amazing Whitney. The finish product looks way more elaborate than it really is to make. This is on the list for me! Thanks for sharing.
    P.s. Like Gayle also love to know where the hooks came from… I’m really hoping u say somewhere online that will ship to over here! 😉

      1. :'( unfortunately they don’t.. maybe since u r going to be ‘big time tv stars’ you could encourage them to start!!!!The shelf is awesome… my to do list is getting toooo long!!!

  5. I’m assuming those are 45 degree cuts into the trim board? Nothing trickier beyond that? Sorry, I’m new to cutting trim!

  6. I love this! Your creativity us impressive. How long until the kids erase your wording? I guess You’ll just have to put up other messages.

  7. Clever~Smart & Easy! Ya’ll are my kind of gals! Thank you for all your detailed tutorials and inspiration! I look forward to your posts.