I’ve talked about how my awesome neighbors give me their goods before they haul it off to the dump or donation center. My family is the same, they know I love trash to treasure projects. My uncle recently renovated his kitchen and gave me his old cupboard doors, all 45 of them. And I’m not talking old junky doors, his house is less than 15 years old. Can you say SCORE?! Whoop! I got his chalkboard clear coat from DecoArt and have been waiting for the right project to use it on. I have to say I was very skeptical of how well it would work. It claims it can turn any surface chalk friendly. Uh huh, yep…I had to try this out and see for myself if it was true. Uhm, I love it!! Here’s how easy it to chalkboard any surface in any color.
This is the E A S I E S T process known to man. I took 5 cupboard doors from my new stash and picked fun colors of Americana acrylic paint to test this process out. First step: paint. I used cheap foam brushes and gave each door two quick coats.
When it was dry, I brushed on a chalkboard coat going vertical, going with the wood grain pattern. After a couple hours, I coated it again but this time I brushed it horizontally. I got distracted from the process so the next day, I gave it a final coat..going vertical again just to be safe.
A couple days later (real life happens, people) I used a piece of chalk and coated the whole board. I wiped off the dust then was able to use it like a regular chalkboard! I even took the green one along on my news segment this week where I shared St Patrick’s Day crafts!!
Whoop!-easy, right?? I was so excited to know that this stuff is legit! Think of the possibilities! You can chalkboard wood, walls, doors, flower pots, mailboxes, your dog…okay not your dog but you get the point (; Fun! I love it!! I added some dollar knobs from Home Depot and hung chalk with coordinating bakers twine. I’m going to offer these bad boys on my Instagram account when I get around to it, look for #lollyjunk, I sell random home decor goodness that I sell from time to time. Check out all our tutorials and we’ll see you this weekend for some yummy St Paddy’s treats! Pin this so your friends can share the fun too!
Be sure to check out all of our DIY DecoArt ideas like our chalkboard mouse trap calendar,
Home is Where the Heart is pallet art.
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Melanie says
03/15/2013 at 4:56 pmWow, these turned out so cute! I love their bright colors, bonus for being chalkboards too!
Michele @ The Scrap Shoppe says
03/15/2013 at 5:10 pmToo cute!! I love the bright colors. It is SO you girls. 🙂
[email protected] raisins says
03/15/2013 at 5:13 pmWhat a great idea. I love all the different colours.
Jaime Costiglio says
03/15/2013 at 5:16 pmKelli those are the bomb!!!! That would make a great Easter basket addition (obviously not IN the basket) but my kids go crazy for chalk so they would love those fun colors. What a great product, I will definitely be getting some.
Capturing Joy with Kristen Duke says
03/15/2013 at 6:16 pmThis is so stinkin cute, I love the spring colors you chose! Clever to hang the chalk on the knob, too! You girls are so crafty, I’ll take one in each color!
Kimberley says
03/15/2013 at 8:18 pmWOW, I am LOVING those colors, so bright and cheerful!! I had no idea that product even existed……oh the opportunities!!
Kat M says
03/15/2013 at 11:17 pmWow. Good to know you’ve had success with this. I tried it on some metal platters and didn’t have too much luck. I’ll have to try again.
Kara says
03/16/2013 at 2:31 amThinking awesome! Love these!! I’m def making one…or 45 😉
[email protected] says
03/16/2013 at 7:11 amthis is golden! i can’t wait to try it; the colors you chose are lovely, and i just love how you strung the chalk to the knob. such a clever one you are 🙂 thanks for sharing!
Leigh [email protected] says
03/16/2013 at 8:07 amTotally love – I want them all!!
Sydney says
03/16/2013 at 8:11 amSoooo Cute! Love the bright colors too. I think I may have to make one up for my kitchen as a menu board.
Suzanne says
03/16/2013 at 8:46 amHoly Cow! I love this!! Thanks for sharing! Now to find something fun to paint on!
April says
03/16/2013 at 2:37 pmI’ll have to try this-our Habitat for Humanity restore sells cabinet doors for $1 each! I love the chalkboard clear coat-I’ve only used it on wood, but it works great.
Crystal says
03/16/2013 at 3:48 pmAbsolutely fabuluous!! Love the colors!! Great idea on using them as chalk boards. Thanks for sharing 🙂 Pinned it!
Jean Bullock says
03/16/2013 at 3:59 pmThis is so cool. I didn’t chalkboard paint could be clear. Great tutorial by the way.
brianna says
03/16/2013 at 5:30 pmThese are brilliant.
Debbie says
03/16/2013 at 6:20 pmHow cute these doors ended up! I’m going to have to look for this clear chalkboard coating, I’ve never heard of it before, hopefully I can find it in Canada. Thanks for sharing this awesome product!
Debbie 🙂
Meghan says
03/16/2013 at 6:51 pmSuper Duper Cute!
Chelsea @ Making Home Base says
03/16/2013 at 8:15 pmLove it lady!! I need to get some of that chalkboard coating!
Katie says
03/17/2013 at 8:42 amHow cute!! I love how easy that is! Love the chalkboard cupboards too – so clever to use the handle to tie chalk to!
kelly thompson says
03/17/2013 at 7:14 pmI love this and did not even know it existed- it keeps things clean since you dont need the grout or plaster of paris
Laura B says
03/18/2013 at 1:51 pmSo cute!
Randi - Dukes and Duchesses says
03/18/2013 at 6:10 pmThose look so awesome! That chalkboard coating is my favorite craft product ever … it’s SO fun!
Wanda Ann @ Memories by the Mile says
03/20/2013 at 6:41 amHi Girls,
Thank you so much for coming to my party. OMG I love these cabnets and paint. Such a cute post. I want to do this in my laundry room. I pinned it!
Happy Spring,
Wanda Ann @ Memories by the Mile
Janet Brown says
03/20/2013 at 11:10 amlove the chalk paint
Two Broke Wives says
03/25/2013 at 11:45 amThese are fantastic — wanting to do my laundry closet doors so bad, but hated the idea of being tied to a single color. Perfect!
Jessica @ Mom 4 Real says
03/25/2013 at 5:58 pmOh girls…you are speakin my language…I have a slight chalkboard obsession! Featuring at the Knock Our Socks Party! Thanks so much for linking up!
Jenna says
04/21/2013 at 3:37 pmWow these are terrific, great colors! Love the door look and the knob! Pinned!
Cathey E. DeRosa says
04/22/2013 at 3:26 amI am so into chalkboard paint right now. I had the coolest old frame that was an ugly color. I paint taped the blank area of the frame on my paneled wall. Primed once with Kilz Latex and 6 coats of Garnet colored chalkboard paint I’ve had awhile and paid quite a bit for it and who needs a whole pint?
Treated it, spray painted the frame a satin Caramel Latte and it turned out gorgeous. I write sayings in it every couple of days. It looks very classy. Now I am trying to find a chalk marker as chalk doesn’t look as neat. These doors are a new love for me. I’m getting this done ASAP. Thanks!
Anja says
04/26/2013 at 7:39 amThis is so great, I really have to check out if this chalkboard coat also exists in Germany. Love them!
PS And my family also keeps their old furniture for me… my husband is not too happy about it, but at least he doesn’t complain that I spend too much, right?
Sue {munchkin munchies} says
06/30/2013 at 1:49 pmFunctional and gorgeous! Love this so much…such great colors!
lollyjane says
06/30/2013 at 5:29 pmThanks, Sue!!
Deanna says
09/21/2013 at 12:38 pmThe only thing missing from your site is a take out menu because it’s gonna be a long time before I leave here and the kids are gonna need to order something for dinner for a while!!! 😉 LOVE THIS!!!!
lollyjane says
09/21/2013 at 1:31 pmHahaha! We’ll see about adding one on the site. LOL! THANK YOU for staying around to glance into our little world 😉
Jacquelyn says
07/01/2014 at 10:21 amI am SO GLAD I found this!! I bought some of the chalkboard finish today ON CLEARANCE and was checking reviews (which are few & far)..
I think the reason that chalkboard paint gets so many mediocre reviews is that most people do not read & follow the directions! It’s a little time consuming but to be able to have my own monogrammed chalkboard that I can have in 500 different colors…worth it.
Love your blog! Thanks!!
lollyjane says
07/01/2014 at 10:54 amAwww thank you Jacquelyn!! So happy you love it!! (:
christine mcveigh says
07/24/2014 at 2:54 amI love these chalk board doors.. what did you do with all of them?!! I also haven’t heard of Americana.. are they as expensive as Annie Sloan? Always on the hunt for great products.
lollyjane says
07/24/2014 at 9:56 amWe kept one and sold the rest! Americana is wayyyy cheaper than AS, plus you can pick these up at Michaels or Home Depot and not a fancy boutique! 😉
Megan says
10/20/2015 at 2:22 amJust created my own in the turquoise blue! I absolutely love your post this is great!! I will forever continue to keep pinning your amazing tutorials. Thanks for being awesome! (:
Deb Hains says
02/06/2019 at 9:04 amIs the chalk easy to clean off ?
Lolly Jane says
02/07/2019 at 9:06 amHi Deb, yes it is! AS LONG AS there is a wax or poly finish/sealer 🙂 I would not recommend it alone. Thanks!