Chalkboard Menu

After my kitchen cabinet containers, I had some chalkboard paint left. I also have had a very cheap, unused picture frame laying around my office for quite some time.

After having to move it around so many times in order to avoid tripping over it or to get to something else, it came down to two options: throw it away or turn it into something useful. I decided I would try the latter before committing to the former.

What you will need:

• acrylic paint
• paint brushes
• chalkboard paint
• a picture frame
• primer (optional)

Step 01: First, remove the glass from the frame. I inserted a piece of paper in case I dripped paint or something. Not that it really matters (it really doesn’t). If you want to use a primer, now is a good time for it. I didn’t use one, but I kind of wish I had. I would have made this project easier. Once your frame is ready, start painting. I used Tuscan Red from Apple Barrel (found at Wal-Mart) leftover from my lamp project.

Step 02: While in between coats, I worked on spraying the glass with the chalkboard paint. Yes, I remembered to shake the can this time. -_-

Step 03: Uh, basically I waited for things to dry. A lot of this project is waiting. Which sucks. I hate waiting. Mostly, I watched Lie to Me and then went to bed. One that’s done, though, I had to find a way to get this on the refrigerator. Before that, I raised the back, because the frame kind of sits up from the back. So I tore the cardboard stand off, cut it into pieces, and hot glued it into all four corners. Like this:

Step 04: Now, the fridge. My first thought was magnets (of course). But, despite having those really nice neodymium magnets, this slid right off the fridge. No wait time, just BAM! Right off. I think they were too small. Very annoying. Those things aren’t cheap. So I got some sticky tape (for the life of me, I can’t remember what that stuff is called right now) and stuck it to the back.

(This is where I wished I’d had primer, because it got manhandled a lot during this process. Some of the paint was very easily scraped off. Once it was on the fridge, though, I retouched some areas and you can’t really tell.)

This worked really well. The only problem is that I can’t adjust it. But I don’t have to worry about it falling off the fridge.

Step 05: Stick it to the fridge!

And the neodymium magnets? Yeah, they’re holding up the pictures. I decided they could handle it.

The board in action. Zach wrote this. I don’t know what it means, so don’t ask. =P I really like it. It makes my fridge look much more organized and it gives me a place to write down the menu for that night. You’d think I wouldn’t have to, but I frequently forget what I’m supposed to cook. And, if I don’t come up with an idea, it gives Zach a place to write down what he wants before he goes to work. Makes it way easier.