DIY Chalkboard and Chalkboard Art

I’m sharing this DIY chalkboard and chalkboard art project with you so that you can make your own chalkboard customized to whatever size you want. I had searched for a specific-sized chalkboard without success for months before I decided to make my own. It was much easier than I thought it would be. I’m also sharing my favourite method for creating customized chalkboard art and the transfer method. Best of all, you can change up your chalkboard whenever you want. The result is a new look for each season or month. The finished size of this piece is 22.5” wide by 19.5” high, but you can make it any size you like.

Supplies For Sign

• 21” wide by 18” high (¾” thick) wood board for chalkboard main piece (I used an old laminated shelf- the smooth surface was an advantage and didn’t need to be primed since it wasn’t raw wood)
• Eight foot long 1 by 2 pine trim piece (1 by 2 translates to ¾” thick by 1½” wide)- to cut into 4 trim pieces
• Sandpaper (220 and 320 grit)
• Chalkboard paint (Benjamin Moore BEN chalkboard paint in colour “Racoon Fur”, 857 mL)
• Homestead House Stain & Finishing Oil (I used a 50/50 mix of “Driftwood” and “Cappuccino”, 237 mL tins)
• Wood glue
• Paintbrushes for paint (high quality 2” synthetic brush) and stain (inexpensive 1” chip brush)
• Mini roller (microfibre is best) and tray for chalkboard paint
• Lint-free cotton cloths to wipe stain

Supplies For Chalkboard Art

• Kraft paper (same size as chalkboard main piece)
• Pencil and eraser
• Design idea!
• Chalk
• Chalk marker (optional)

Equipment

• Tape measure and pencil
• Circular saw or compound mitre saw (alternatively have your pieces cut at the hardware store)
• Air compressor and brad nailer with brad nails (alternatively use hammer, finishing nails, and countersink tool)

Instructions For The DIY Chalkboard And Chalkboard Art

Cutting

• Cut main piece with your saw to measure 21” wide by 18” high
• Cut trim into two 22.5” pieces and two 18” pieces, measuring their length against the main piece to ensure all the pieces line up perfectly
• Sand all pieces lightly with 220 grit sandpaper and wipe clean with a slightly damp cloth

Staining And Painting

• Paint the side of the main piece that will be visible and allow to dry for several hours, recoat and allow to dry overnight (Painting tip- Apply the paint with a microfiber roller, if any bubbles are visible, then immediately and while the paint is still very wet, use your paintbrush to smooth out the bubbles, going clear across from one side to the other)
• Mix the stain mixture and use a 1” chip brush apply stain to the 3 sides that will be visible on the sign plus the ends, allow the stain to dry only 5 minutes, then wipe clean with cotton cloth
• Allow the stain and paint to dry overnight (to speed up drying, place them near a sunny window or in a warm garage/workshop)
• After drying, you may want to use 320 grit or finer sandpaper to very lightly sand stained and/or painted surfaces (I only sanded the stained pieces)

Assembly

• Add the side trim pieces (shorter 18” pieces) to the sides of the main piece, having all pieces flush along the back. One edge at a time, apply glue along the side of the main piece and place the trim piece flush against it. Then, use brad nailer to secure in 3 spots- top, middle, and bottom. Alternatively, you can use a hammer and finishing nail, and then countersink the nailheads with a countersink tool and hammer.
• Add the top and bottom trim pieces (longer 22.5” pieces). Note that these pieces will extend over top of the sign’s main piece and over the ends of the applied side pieces. Glue and use 5 brad nails on each trim piece, including brad nails that will extend into the shorter trim pieces on the sides.
• Allow wood glue to dry, then it’s time to transfer a chalk design to your board
• Note- I didn’t apply mounting hardware to the back of the sign as I typically use 3M picture hanging strips for small and medium sized artwork.

Chalkboard Art

Create Your Design

I created my own chalkboard art on a piece of kraft paper that was the same size as the sign’s main piece. I decided I wanted a laurel leaf design in a circular pattern with open sides so a word could float through the centre. First, I used a large charger plate to draw a circle on the paper.  Then, I added the laurel leaf borders along the bottom and top of the circle. Lastly, I drew a line for the bottom of my wording, then sketched in the word. I had to go over the lettering a few times to get it exactly the way I wanted it. However, you can use a design from your computer if you prefer. Simply print it off, ensuring it is the proper size for your sign. However, you may need to zoom and print in sections if your sign is large.

Transfer Your Design

After I was satisfied with my design, I turned the paper over and covered the back of the paper with white chalk. Then I taped the paper to the chalkboard front (chalk side down) and traced over my design with a pencil (on the design side), pressing hard to ensure the chalk design transferred underneath. Then, I removed the paper to see the design transferred onto the chalkboard. This was NOT intended to be the finished product, just a light outline to fill. Take your time and carefully go over your design with the sharpened chalk or chalk marker. Tip- sharpen your chalk with a pencil sharpener for precision drawing.

Styling Your Sign

I’ve placed our “Thankful” sign amongst our collection of white dishes on the open shelves (click here for open shelf tutorial) in our dining room. I like that I can change the message on the sign at any time for a new look.

I have also used this sign in our family room in autumn. It’s the perfect size to fit into a lot of different spaces in our home. If you liked this project, please check out my post Easy DIY Wood Clipboard.

I hope you have enjoyed reading about my DIY chalkboard and chalkboard art project. What kind of chalkboard project are you planning to make?