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How to Make Your Own Chalkboard

by Jean Van't Hul
June 15, 2016
How to Make Your Own Chalkboard for the Backyard

In which I discuss how to make your own chalkboard and pretend it was two years ago (when I actually  made this particular outdoor chalkboard) or six years ago (when I made our big indoor chalkboard)…

Ready for some time travel?

I have wanted a large outdoor chalkboard ever since I saw one on Angry Chicken years ago. I had made an indoor chalkboard for my kids with a couple coats of chalkboard paint, so I knew how easy it would be to make one.

I bought a square piece of wood from Lowes. Or maybe it was Home Depot. I don’t remember at this point. And don’t really think it matters. They both have big squares of plywood, right?

And I bought some chalkboard paint.

The rest, as we say, is history.

Wood + chalkboard paint = chalkboard.

Oh, wait. I was going to write up an actual tutorial… Okay, here we go…

How to Make Your Own Chalkboard for the Backyard

How to Make Your Own Chalkboard

MATERIALS

  • Plywood, 4 x 4 feet (or whatever dimensions you want for your chalkboard)
  • Sandpaper
  • Wood primer
  • Chalkboard paint
  • Chalk

INSTRUCTIONS

  1. Sand your wood.

    I didn’t do this, but wish I had. The paint sticks better to wood that has been sanded.

  2. Prime your wood

    Cover the entire board with wood primer and let dry completely. (I used tinted primer I had made up for my house walls but regular primer works, too, of course.)

    Prime wood for DIY chalkboard

  3. Add your chalkboard paint

    Paint with two coats of chalkboard paint, letting the paint dry completely between coats.

    How to Make Your Own Chalkboard - Applying chalkboard paint

    You can use paint in a can or spray paint. Both work, although I like the paint you can apply with a brush better.

    How to Make an Outdoor Chalkboard - Paint Types

  4. Rub in chalk

    Finally, rub chalk all over the new chalkboard…

    Rubbing a new homemade chalkboard with chalk

    …and rub it in with an eraser or cloth…

    Priming a new chalkboard for use

    …like so.

    Preparing a new chalkboard for use

  5. Use your chalkboard!

    Now, make your chalk masterpieces!

    Drawing on the new diy outdoor chalkboard

And play your chalk games!

Drawings and Games on the Homemade Chalkboard

More DIY Chalkboards for Kids

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How to Make Your Own Chalkboard for the Backyard

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