How to Make a DIY Chalkboard

Note: This is a sponsored post for The Home Depot Foundation. Every thought, opinion, and experience is 100% my own.

DIY gifts are pretty awesome, we just made Max a seesaw out of a tire! This DIY chalkboard is an extra special gift for my partnership with Team Depot’s Celebration of Service. Remember when I built Mr. Hutchinson a bookshelf out of crates? And I recently crafted up a giant paint chip flag art with 73 kiddos at a Veteran’s Day Home Depot Kids Workshop. It now hangs on the wall at a non profit called, Haven for Hope! So, what the heck am I doing with my extra large DIY chalkboard? Thought you’d never ask 😉

I’m delivering this DIY chalkboard to Heroes Night Out today! I’m pretty excited about how the project turned out, and I’m even happier that it gets to live in a non profit, here in Austin. We decided on this project together, I waned to make them something that they actually needed. I love that it is fun for holidays, but also handy to direct folks, make announcements, spruce up an event or use as a welcome board. It can easily be moved around and it stands on it’s own. I think I need one for myself!

Here’s what you’ll need to make this DIY chalkboard:

• Ply wood
• Moulding (You can buy pre-painted white moulding by the foot at Home Depot.)
• Nail Gun
• Rust-oleum Chalkboard Paint
• 2 Hinges
• Paint roller (or paint brush)
• Miter Saw

First, you’ll need to decide on the size of your new chalkboard. Since I knew I would be transporting the chalkboard in my small car, I made it as big as it could be, and still fit in my hatchback. The size of your chalkboard will also determine how much plywood and moulding you need to buy. Once that is settled, it’s time to really start building! Use a miter saw to cut the plywood down to size.

Step 1: Use a paint roller and paint your ply wood with chalkboard paint. I always like to give chalkboard paint 3 coats.

Step 2: Use the miter saw to cut 45 degree angles in your moulding so that it fits around your chalkboard.

Step 3: Use a nail gun to secure the moulding to the chalkboard.

Step 4: We used a scrap piece of ply wood to build a “kick stand” for the chalkboard. A simple one inch angle cut on the hinge side of the board allows the chalkboard to lean back just the right amount and be free standing. Secure the kick stand with 2 hinges, one at the bottom and one at the top. I also love that the hinges allow you to store this chalkboard flat!

It’s almost time for the good stuff (decorating your shiny new chalkboard!), but first like with any chalkboard project, you have to condition it. You can read more about it in my chalkboard wall calendar post, but basically you just need to go over the board with chalk, like so:

Then erase, and you’re all set to draw with chalk! Oh and I don’t suggest using orange chalk, like I did above. Use white, the orange gives your chalkboard a well, orangey tint. I ended up wiping the chalkboard down with a wet rag, and re-doing the whole thing with white chalk.

I know you want one now too, right?! It’s such a fun and functional piece!