When I was fourteen, Rachel Ashwell started her television show that introduced me to the Shabby Chic aesthetic and I was hooked. Juxtaposing elegant antiques with worn finishes, she celebrated the beauty in imperfection. While not as popular as it was in the early 2000’s, we still see homages to it in Joanna Gaines’ wildly popular Fixer Upper and the farmhouse trend that took over a few years ago.
Personally, I am a still a huge fan of shabby chic furniture. Approximately 90% of the furniture in my house was found at yard sales and in thrift stores; initially this began out of necessity as a poor twenty something who could barely afford my apartment, let alone have the money to furnish it, but now it is just principle. Big box furniture really isn’t that well made and it is SO overpriced- I refuse to pay $1000.00 for something I could find and customize for $50.00. I always keep an eye out for quality pieces with detail that is difficult or incredibly expensive to find in traditional stores. With F.B Marketplace and most thrift stores advertising online, this has become even easier.
Utilizing a shabby chic design is a simple way to fix it up those treasures with some chalk paint and sand paper. Because shabby chic celebrates imperfections- it doesn’t have to be flawless either. If you mess up, scuff it with some sandpaper and call it deliberately distressed.
I could probably write an entire sonnet on my love of chalk paint but I will spare you the mushy stuff and just give you the top three reasons I choose chalk paint over a traditional satin or enamel:
- It sticks to almost anything: seriously I am not exaggerating. I have painted wood, plastic, leather- you name it! I chalk painted my bathroom vanity three years ago and it is still going strong.
- It is self leveling: this means sanding in most cases is optional. Did I mention I am a lazy D.I.Y’er?
- It is washable: until you wax it, chalk paint just wipes up. That means when I am too lazy to use a proper drop cloth or tape off correctly (see number 2), I can just wipe up the mess with a paper towel.
There are a ton of different brands of chalk paint on the market and they call come in at different price points. Lately, I have been using Jolie Chalk Paint which I purchase at Brookbend Interiors in Havre de Grace. Yes, it is on the higher end when it comes to price but, it offers superior coverage and their pigments are stunning. If you are going to be painting a large piece of furniture, then it is totally worth the splurge. I also recently purchased their gilding wax. Its a nice way to add a little “extra” to a piece.
So now that I have explained my love of chalk paint and shabby chic, I will get to the point of this post. A few weeks ago I saw a pin where a blogger used fondant molds and clay to add embellishments to furniture and I had to give it a try! This, to me, is a game changer. Why spend forever searching for that piece with the intricately carved details, when you can just make your own? After purchasing the clay and molds, I decided to make a chalk board for my kitchen out of some old MDF I had lying in my shed and leftover chalk board wall paper. I love how it turned out. If you want to make your own, read below for directions!
D.I.Y Chalkboard Tutorial
Supplies
- MDF board in a size of your choosing
- Chalkboard paint or wall paper
- Chalk Paint
- Fondant/clay Molds- I used these
- Air dry or paper clay- I used this
- Chalk paint
- Clear wax
- Gilding wax
- Burlap ribbon
- Washers
- Grommet backers
- Drill
- Spade bit
- Wood glue
- Cornstarch
- Water Mister
Step 1: Design Your Board
Using a pencil or painters tape, map out where you would like the chalkboard and border to be on your sheet of MDF. This will give you an idea of how many clay embellishments and border pieces you need to create.
Step 2: Create Your Embellishments
Sprinkle cornstarch into the cavities of your molds. Trust me- DO NOT skip this step or you will regret it. Breaking off small pieces of clay, roll them in your hand until they are soft and pliable, and then begin to pack into the mold until the cavity is filled up. Spritz the clay with a little bit of water and use a spatula or old credit card to smooth the back top of the mold. It needs to be as level as possible to lay flat on your chalk board. Finally, flip your mold over and slowly peel back the mold while keeping the clay on the table to avoid breakage. This was tricky for me at first, but this video really helped. Lay your clay pieces on a flat surface and allow them to dry overnight.
Step 3: Apply Chalkboard
Apply the chalkboard to your MDF. I used chalkboard wallpaper because that is what I had. Honestly it was PIA due to the imperfections in the surface of the MDF (talk about bubbles) and next time I will use paint.
Step 4: Drill Your Ribbon Holes
If you are planning on mounting using a hook on the back, you can skip this step. Using a sharpie, mark where you would like your ribbon holes to be placed. Drill a pilot hole in the center of each X and then using a spade bit attachment, create two holes that are large enough to loop ribbon through. My spade bit was 1/4 inch, but I probably could have gone smaller.
Step 4: Glue Embellishments
Once your embellishments have dried, map out where you want them on your MDF and glue them with either wood or hot glue. As soon as the glue has dried, you are ready to paint!
Step 5: Chalk Paint
Tape off any areas you do not want painted, wipe the piece down, and get to work. I recommend a smaller brush depending on the intricacy of your molds. My piece took 3 coats to get the look that I wanted, but depending on how distressed you would like your piece to appear, you can play with this.
Step 6: Get Your Glow On
Using a clean dry cloth, rub a small amount of the gilding wax on the raised portions of the embellishments. This pigment is buildable, meaning you can start out subtle and go back and add more if you decide you want a little bit more sparkle.
Step 7: Apply your Clear Wax Coat
Using a clean dry brush, apply a clear wax coat over all of the chalk painted surfaces. Allow this to dry before you thread your ribbon.
Step 8: Thread Your Ribbon
Cut a long piece of burlap ribbon and thread one end through the hole of the chalk board. I wanted mine knotted at the back for a cleaner look. Apply a grommet backing to reinforce the hole and then a large washer before tying the ribbon in a knot. This will prevent the weight of the board pulling your knotted ribbon through the hole. Repeat on the other side.
Step 9: Put a Bow on It
Using the same ribbon, tie a large ribbon and taper the ribbon tales with a pair of scissors. Hot glue the bow to the center of the center of the ribbon and hang your new chalkboard!
There you have it. Easy, inexpensive, and it looks cute. If you decide to make one, tag us on FB or Insta and show us how it looks!
