picture frame chalkboards

I've heard that chalkboard paint is so 2008, but if you, like me, have decided to live your life blissfully free from the crushing responsibility of being a pop-culture elite, you can continue to enjoy it.  :)

Our house is full of chalkboards.  A very fast and easy way to make your own chalkboard is to use a picture frame. 

You'll need these things:

• A picture frame with glass
• A paint brush or small roller
• A can of chalkboard paint
• A plastic trash bag that is a bit bigger than the picture frame glass

Remove the glass from the picture frame.  

Lay a plastic trash bag out on a work surface.

Put the glass from the picture frame on it.

Clean it well on both sides with glass cleaner, and give it a few minutes to dry completely.

Brush the chalkboard paint onto one side of the glass and allow it to dry to touch.  (It won't take long. Ignore the directions on the can. Paint on glass dries really quickly.)  

Give it two or three more coats, until it is opaque. (It doesn't need to be perfect, because the back of the picture frame will make it darker.)

Put the glass back in the frame, and voila! Instant chalkboard.

The chalkboard paint instructions will tell you to "season" the paint by rubbing all over it with the side of a piece of chalk and then erasing it, but you really don't need to do this when you use the paint on glass, because glass is not porous. Just write on it with chalk when it's dry, and erase it when you want to write something else.  (Don't use a wet cloth or paper towel to wipe it off for a week or so.)

If you saw Ramona and Beezus, you might remember that when Ramona got her new room, there was a window on the inside wall, because her room was an addition and they were trying to save money so they didn't remove the old window.  They just painted the panes of glass with chalkboard paint, so she had a chalkboard window. It was so cute.

If you get bored of using your chalkboard as a chalkboard, the black is a nice background to tape cute pictures to.  

You could also add a little vinyl decal to it from Shanna Murray. :)