milk paint chalkboards.

Published on by Quandie

Did you know that you can make a chalkboard using milk paint?

Yep.  No need to buy special chalkboard paint.  Plus the sky is the limit color-wise.

First, the technique.  It’s super simple.  Mix your milk paint as per usual (equal parts water and powder).

Let your paint sit while you prep the surface of your chalkboard by sanding it well, then cleaning it with TSP Substitute.  If I’m using new hardboard for my chalkboard I skip the TSP and just wipe it clean with a damp rag.  Remember, you don’t want a chippy chalkboard so be sure you’ve given your surface plenty of gripping power with good prep.

Give your paint another good stir or two and then brush one coat onto your chalkboard surface.  Once dry, lightly sand with 220 grit sandpaper.  Normally I don’t sand between coats of milk paint, but in this case sanding between coats will help keep your chalkboard super smooth.  Paint a 2nd coat of milk paint.  Once dry, sand again.  The final step is to season your chalkboard by rubbing chalk all over the surface, then wiping it away with a dry cloth.  No other sort of topcoat is needed.

And voila, you have a chalkboard.  Keep in mind that freshly applied paint is always easier to scratch than cured paint.  I’d wait a day or two before drawing on your chalkboard.

Black is a no-brainer and probably everyone’s first instinct for a chalkboard, but I’ve done several green chalkboards too.

I like the look of a green chalkboard with a white painted frame.  This is one of my favorite ways to re-purpose a dresser mirror.

I’ve used a recipe of 3 parts Miss Mustard Seed Boxwood mixed with 2 parts Miss Mustard Seed Artissimo to make a green chalkboard.  But I’ve also discovered that Homestead House milk paint in Bayberry is the perfect chalkboard green.

But you don’t have to stick with just black or green chalkboards.  I’ve also painted a chalkboard using Homestead House milk paint in Laurentien, which is a pretty aqua color.

I make a lot of chalkboards.  In addition to re-purposing a dresser’s mirror frame, it’s also a great way to use a picture frame that no longer has its glass.  I even like to turn unconventional items into chalkboards like small folding chairs …

 or washboards …

I always keep a packet of milk paint on hand for whipping up a quick chalkboard.

By the way, not sure what to do with your chalkboard once you have it painted?  I’ve used a few different techniques for drawing on a chalkboard.

You can use chalk to transfer a printed design onto the chalkboard and then fill it in (more details on that here), you can use a stencil (more details on that here), or you can just work on practicing your chalk lettering skills using the book that comes with today’s giveaway.

Speaking of which, it’s time for the fun part!  Today’s prize:

Includes: the Complete Book of Chalk Lettering, 4 colors of milk paint perfect for chalkboards, and a lovely Miss Mustard Seed paint brush for a smooth chalkboard finish.  Thank you to Homestead House, Miss Mustard Seed and The Real Milk Paint Co for providing items for today’s giveaway.

The basic rules:  to be eligible to win today’s prize leave a comment on this blog post telling me whether or not you have at least one chalkboard in your house (I have five!).  Your comment must be left on the blog, not on Facebook.  You are not required to follow my blog, although it would be awesome if you did!

Normally I make a point of answering every comment left on my blog.  If someone takes the time to leave a comment, I like to acknowledge that.  But I usually only get 10 to 20 comments so it’s easy to fulfill that promise.  But I’m guessing that I’ll get many more comments on these posts so I’m going to warn you up front that I won’t be answering each one.  That helps make it easier for me when it’s time to pick a winner too, so I hope you guys will cut me some slack on that this week.

I will randomly draw the name of a winner for today’s prize from all of the comments left on this post by Saturday, April 7, 2018 at the stroke of midnight.  You are eligible to win each day, so if you leave a comment on each day’s post, your name is eligible to be drawn for each prize.

The fine print: no purchase necessary, you must be 18 years of age or older to win, void where prohibited by law, the number of eligible entries received determines the odds of winning, approximate retail value of prize is $122, if the prize is not claimed by Friday, April 13, another name will be drawn at random to win, blah, blah, blah.

Be sure to check back tomorrow for the next segment of milk paint madness, and in the meantime remember to pin today’s post for future reference.

 

126 thoughts on “milk paint chalkboards.”

  2. Well yeah, I made one green chalkboard with a huge old frame which I really like and then a smaller black one with a left over old lentil on top and and a beautiful old scrap for the bottom,no sides. I like that one, too. And,I actually FINALLY have the frame of a dresser mirror to convert!…….left over from a beautiful old dresser I refinished for my son. Soooooo, I’d love to win this prize! I’d be using it for sure!

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  3. I have a large chalkboard and would love to jazz it up a bit with milkpaint. I’ve never tried milkpaint, so I would be excited to be a winner of some! Thanks for your many helpful hints!!

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  6. I have the solid end panels of a vintage crib that would make awesome chalk boards!. I’ve never used milk paint as chalk board paint but I’d love to give it a try!

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  8. I do weddings so I have several vintage framed chalks boards. In my work room I actually have clipboards that I’ve made into chalk clip boards. They are fun to change out sayings or just hang inspirational pictures for projects to do. I even went so far as to make the shiny clips rusty and crusty.

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    1. That sounds like a fun project! I’ve got a stash of old clipboards that I’ve picked up at garage sales and one of these days I want to paint them up.

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  9. I have one authentic classroom style chalkboard in my studio and one I made with chalkboard paint and a frame I picked up at Goodwill. I like how the chalkboard I made turned out but chalkboard paint is pretty much only good for chalkboards! Having some paint that is multi-purpose like the milk paint appears to be would be handy!

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  13. I have made a chalkboard from what we think was my great grandmothers old mirror frame! Some day I hope to post a lot of the pics that I have saved of my husbands hand crafted wooden creations and my finishings over the years! Love to see your pics and tips!! Keep them coming!

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  15. Yes, I have two hand made chalkboards in my house. One I made from an old 6 pane window, and it’s fabulous! I used magnetic chalkboard paint, which I don’t recommend, nor will I ever use it again. Way too toxic. Another chalkboard is framed with a large gold frame I found at a reuse it center. It’s very pretty and I typically hang a wreath that I swap out for the seasons with a nice handwritten message. I’ve yet to try another color, which would be so fun! 😀

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  17. I don’t have any chalkboards in my house, but my sister and I had one in our room when we were young which we used daily. That was back in the 50s and 60s. My kids had portable chalkboards with compartments underneath to hold supplies. They enjoyed those.

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  20. I have 2 chalkboards but they were purchased. I love yours especially with the alphabet lettered. I do have some frames & mirrors that would make great chalkboards. Can you have too many? Not sure I could give them up.😃

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  21. I have no chalkboards either. Pathetic I know. I would love one in my kitchen but I have an open floorplan so wallspace is allocated to cabinets and appliances. I do adore the masterpieces you churn out.

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  25. I have two chalkboards, I’ve never thought of decorating them my self! Duh! The lettering book- who knew such things existed!?! Thank you for sharing another detailed informative creative article.

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  27. I have one string of 7 individual chalk plates that spell out “bonjour” that I purchased from the paris flea market this winter. Would love to learn how to make my own ♡

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  28. I love all of the chalk boards, but the aqua one is swoony. Your lettering is beautiful, I think I would need a lot of practice to come close.

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    1. If you’re looking at the lettering on the aqua chalkboard, I cheated on that one and used a stencil to get the basic lines in place then went back and darkened it up by hand.

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  30. Hi,
    I love that book. I got it for Christmas a couple years ago after you recommended it. I wish I could add my picture of some of the lettering I did. I love, love, love it. I have a black board stand near my door that I used for seasonal decorations along with the lettering–skates, ball and bat, flags for the 4th, antlers/leaves/feathers for fall. I also found the old childhood desk that we had and took the top half part that opens and had a chalkboard on the front, repainted it and added foam core and pins inside for earrings/necklaces.

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  32. Although I have made chalkboards before as I walked around I was surprised to learn my house is chalkboard free.

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  34. Wow! These prizes just keep getting better every day! I currently have just two chalkboards in my home…big ones made from vintage frames painted white. I’ve also made lots of little ones to sell, using Rustoleum chalkboard paint. Had no clue I could use milk paint instead. This opens so many possibilities! Thanks again for your fun and informative post, and the opportunity to experiment with the goodies in this prize package!

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    1. It was an eye opener for me too. Especially since I always seem to have lots of partially used bags of milk paint on hand. No need to also have chalkboard paint!

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  35. Love these!!! I have so many things out in the junk shop that I could turn into one! You’ve really got my creative wheels turning with this post! I have one small one in our house, but out in the shop I have two very large ones that came out of a Sunday school classroom. But my goodness they are soooo heavy that I just have them leaned against the wall until I sell them.

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  36. Welllllll….I currently have four chalkboards and one chalkboard bunting. But, with your amazing tips there will be soooo many more now! Thanks!

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  39. I don’t have a single chalkboard in my house but I have 2 outside..lol…I turned a stainless steel table into a chalkboard for my kids…first time making my own chalk paint. They love it. Then I did an old piece wood that was on its way to the trahbin. Painted it and hung it up on the garden wall..Kids would do their lessons on it too!

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  40. Wow do I feel sheepish today..I did not ever think of using chalk paint to make a chalk board..I have 1chalk board but do plan on making many more now..thank you for all of the great posts..truly inspiring

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  41. I have made one chalkboards using chalk paint in black color. But never thought about trying different colors like teal – how cool.

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  42. Love all yourchalkboards & I am excited to try making my own if I win! My favorite is you white with the green!

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  43. I don’t actually have any chalkboards, but we are building a house and I may need one or two for our new place. 😉

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  45. I do have a few chalkboards in my house and I have sold some in the past. I’ve never made one with Milk Paint. I’ve only used chalkboard paint but I’m definitely going to try this!

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  46. I had no idea you could use milk paint for a chalkboard! Now I will be looking for things to make a cool, colorful chalkboard with an inspiring message of the day! Thanks!

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