As a kid, I was never incredibly big into Halloween and I think that has finally caught up with me and now hit me as an adult. It is a masterful stroke of genius on the Halloween Spirit’s part because now I am actually able to do loads of activities without restrictions. That being said, for the past couple of years, every time Halloween comes around I make a countdown calendar of some sort and they have slowly become more and more elaborate from the simple print out I originally had. This year was no different and I decided to delve into the world of chalk Paint and I am so glad I did.
These chalkboards are a perfect craft for children as well as adults because they are so simple to make. And since they are fairly non-holiday specific in general, you can use them for creative countdown to any celebration, simply change the color of the Chalkboard paint and bam! You have a completely new countdown board. Once you decide on the holiday, you can even dress up these countdowns to suit any occasion. Add some snowflakes on for Christmas, hearts for an anniversary, or even bows for someone’s birthday. It is so easy to do and makes each event feel a little more special.
I didn’t really face any problems making this countdown, but I did have issues finding Orange Chalkboard Paint. Although a lot of specialty stores carry different chalkboard paints, they do not always carry a wide variety of colors besides the usual black or gray. I did end up finding this bottle at a very small specialty shop near my school but at a lot of the bigger named stores, this color was just not in their selection. There are several different websites online that do sell hundreds of different colors, including Amazon, so if you are unable to find the paint near you, you will be able to order it easily too.
All you need to make the basic version of this board is
– A slice of wood (which you can get here or at your local craft store)
– Orange chalkboard paint
– Paint brush or sponge brush
– Chalk
From there you have loads of options of what you would like to do to your board. You can keep it plain or, as I mentioned above, add loads of other decorations onto the edges of it to really represent the holiday. Some ideas for this includes:
– String
– Ribbons
– Scrapbook pieces
– Foam lettering
and really anything else you could desire on your chalkboard.
- To start, take a slightly wet washcloth and wipe down the surface of the piece of wood you are using to make sure that there is no dust or any residue on the wood. This will allow the wood absorb the paint and keep it from coming off or dulling. Allow to dry completely before continuing.
- Take your piece of chalk and roughly draw where you want your paint to be for the chalkboard. This makes it much easier once you get going and don’t worry because the chalk does not cause any issues for the paint sticking to the wood.
- Shake up the paint and pour it into a container that you are okay with getting paint on and then begin painting the wood. I used both brushes for mine. The sponge brush covered the larger portions while the paintbrushes were used to fine tune the edges and make them smooth as possible. Once finished, allow paint to dry and set for 24 hours.
- After the 24 hours are up, rub a piece of chalk all over the paint to condition it and make it into a chalkboard and enjoy.
- Optional: Tie a piece of string into a bow and glue on the top edge of the wood for decoration.
Once you are done, you can either attach a hook to the back so it can hang on a wall or door. Or you can simply lean it up on the top of a desk or side table. Where ever you put it, make sure that you remember to change the number every day. Also take a picture of your finished product and send it to me on Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram. I love to see how each one of you make this project your own!
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