Handmade Christmas Gifts - Kitchen Chalkboards

For my handmade gifts this year, I made my peeps kitchen chalkboards from upcycled cutting boards. I made myself a prototype earlier this fall. I also burned myself making it but I was extra careful making these.

I visited 11 thrift stores to find enough cutting boards. I can tell you where every Goodwill, Salvation Army and Savers is in the Rochester Area.

Tina's chalkboard (lower right) is actually a pizza peel which works out because she loves pizza.

Each board has the shape outlined with the wood burning tool and then the chalkboard paint inside the lines. I included a stick of chalk rolled up in craft paper with each chalkboard. This one was photographed in my friend, Paulette's, kitchen. I hope all my friends enjoy them!

Cutting Board Kitchen Chalkboard

My mom gave me an old cutting board and I had the idea to turn it into a kitchen chalkboard.

First I marked off a rectangle on the board and wood burned a border. Then Aaron sanded the rectangle until it was nice and smooth. I taped off the area with masking tape and painted it with chalkboard spray paint. It's my favorite way to create a chalkboard surface since it goes on so smoothly.

Chalkboard tip: Did you know that before you start using a chalkboard, you should "cure" it by rubbing chalk all over the surface and then wiping it off. If you don't, it will be really hard to erase the first thing you write on the board.

Now I have a really cute kitchen chalkboard. I can write grocery lists, holiday messages or my favorite... the dinner menu. Writing out the menu makes me feel fancy.

Start of summer chalkboard

I refreshed our foyer chalkboard with a theme of Fourth of July and strawberries for summer. Working our way through a summer bucket list.

Season bucket lists

At the beginning of summer my friend Patricia told me she had started a summer bucket list. I thought that was a great idea. I love lists! I put ours on the foyer chalkboard so I could chart my progress everyday.

The result? I addd a few photos of our successes as we went along. We picked a LOT of fruit! Add in peaches as a bonus! I was a little bummed we didn't get out camping this supper but hey... we got a boat! Can't really complain about our summer!

It went so well I started a fall bucket list.

Wedding favors/place setting chalkboard signs

My sister asked me to make her place settings/favors for her wedding reception. A crafter's dream come true.

She sent me a link to chalkboard signs and I decided to put my own twist on it by using wood spools for the base.

I was also very, very excited to use my new wood burning tool. Did I mention I was excited?

They were very simple to make. While I was painting all the plaques with chalkboard paint and wood burning the spools, Aaron cut dowel rods to size for me. Then I just used hot glue to attach the rods to the plaques and then pushed the into the spools.

I had a mass productiong going on. About fifty of these puppies.

I think they turned out really cute. Here is mine in action!

Chalkboard Ornaments

My chalkboard paint habit has leaked into Christmas. I made these chalkboard ornaments for my peeps.

I bought these bright pink ornaments on sale. They were pretty... almost hated printing over them.

I stuck kabob skewers in styrofoam to hold the ornaments while I sprayed them. I have found for some things chalkboard spray makes the smoothest surface.

With each gift recipient's name on an ornament it make a great gift tag.

They looked so cute under the tree.

What was in each gift box? A cuppow on a personalized mason jar with their favorite drink.

I think Tina liked hers!

Glitter and chalkboard pumpkins

I had to come up with Halloween party favors/place settings as good as last year's spooky black pumpkins.

That's where my two newest crafting supply discoveries came in. Glitter blast glitter spray...

... and chalkboard spray!

I got these little plastic pumpkins at The Dollar Tree for a dollar each and then spray painted my little heart out. More on that later. The glitter spray is tricky.

I think they made nice place settings.

And were something cute for the party goers to take home.

Drying herbs

Frost is coming soon so I cut my herbs so I could dry them for later. I didn't know where to hang them so I used some wire with an old frame to hold them.

It's been awhile since I've painted anything with chalkboard paint so I painted some little jars for my herbs when they are dry. Now to dig up some recipes to use the herbs later on.

Chalkboard frame

My latest chalkboard project. I had a picture frame decal I wasn't sure what to do with. So I painted a square of chalkboard paint on one of my kitchen cupboards then put the decal over it. It's a little spot where I can write shopping list notes.

Chalkboard filing cabinet

I have been working on organizing our office which involves filing away a lot of paperwork.

It's been a few days since I have painted something with chalkboard paint so the filing cabinet fell victim.

I think the cabinet looks cuter now and I like being able to label what is in each drawer. I can't believe I haven't polished off this can of chalkboard paint yet.

Summer to do list

My summer to do list.

Day 21: 30 Days of Creativity - Chalkboard candy jars

I made little goodies for my peeps that went strawberry picking. Chalkboard paint to the rescue!

Super simple. Painted the lids of some cute mason jars with chalkboard paint, filled them with strawberry candy, then drew a soggy looking strawberry on top. I wrote candy just to help solidify what was inside.

This is sort of retrospective but it's Day 21 of 30 Days of Creativity.

Day 17: 30 Days of Creativity - chalkboard kitchen jars

Now I am on a chalkboard painting rampage. I painted two more jars, for brown sugar and salt.

Looking for more things to paint. Considering Aaron's tool chest...

Chalkboard paint again the focus of Day 17 of 30 Days of Creativity.

Day 16: 30 Days of Creativity - chalkboard flower pots

It's been awhile since i have painted something with chalkboard paint.

I just moved my big pots of rosemary and sage outside for the summer and the kitchen counter seemed so empty. So I planted two smaller pots of rosemary and basil. I've been itching to paint more chalkboard stuff so I painted the rims of the herb pots so I could write down what was growing.

And that is Day 16 of 30 Days of Creativity.

Chalkboard Jars

I am truly obsessed with chalkboard paint now. I made these jars for my flour and sugar.

It was very easy. My mom gave me these big jars for terrariums, but I wanted to try this. I used the edge of label sticker paper to create a block.

Then I just brushed on the chalkboard paint with a sponge brush. Easy peasy.

Chalk art

My chalkboard obsession continues. Found this artist that works in CHALK! Dana Tanamachi's work looks amazing and it's in CHALK! As in walk a little too close and wipe away a masterpiece CHALK! So cool.

Chalkboard Easter Eggs!

Every year I try to top the Easter eggs I made the last year. After painting the chalkboard in the hallway, I had some leftover chalkboard paint and had a great idea for my eggs.

Chalkboard eggs!

The paint went on really nicely.

It's great for writing people's names and greetings on the eggs! Now I am wondering what else around the house I can paint with chalkboard paint!