The chalkboard has now almost vanished from its traditional habitat in the classroom, where children now usually see a white dry wipe board and a marker pen, but has taken up residence in the home, in restaurants and shops. With modern chalkboard paint, ideas can range from a simple noticeboard hanging on a nail, perhaps with a small decorative motif at the top to whole walls made into areas for writing and artwork.
It is easy and satisfying to make your own chalkboard, or to make them as gifts for busy moms or for children's rooms. Very little expertise is needed to turn a piece of board into a pretty item, which will give years of use. Alternatively, chalkboard paint ideas can include making a board straight on the wall, or even turning a whole wall into a notice board.
Chalkboard paint usually comes in matt black or green, but chalkboard tints can be bought in a dozen colors, giving you the option of including any artwork on the writing surface of the board. The range of colors may even suggest chalkboard paint ideas.
The paint is easily applied to any surface, though the board or wall should be smooth and free from dirt. Several coats should be applied to get the best finish. It dries quickly, but should be left for at least three days before being rubbed over with chalk to prime it. It will give years of wear, and should only need the occasional cleaning with soapy water.
If you have any carpentry skills, you can make your chalkboard from scratch, using a sheet of any wood, such as ply, and putting a frame around it. The chalkboard paint ideas can be as colorful as you like, and the frame can match or contrast with the board. The bottom of the frame should include a narrow shelf to hold the chalk. Fix some picture wire on the back of the frame, or drill a hole through the top to hang it by, and there it is: a gift anyone would be pleased to receive. Chalkboard paint ideas could also include putting magnetic paint under the surface coats to add a further use to the item.
If your ideas include providing chalkboards for the children, you can use any images you like, such as the kids' favorite cartoon characters, toys, or animals. If you have no artistic skills at all, you could carefully cut images from magazines and glue them on the surface, finishing with a few coats of clear varnish. This decoupage, of course, cannot be done on the writing surface, but will look very professional if you take care to cut cleanly around the outlines, and is just one of many chalkboard paint ideas you can try.