DIY Chalkboard Place Mats: How to Make These Great Party Favors

This is a great project to use as a party favor at a child's party. Learn how to turn a piece of canvas into a chalkboard place mat that will keep children entertained, whether you're waiting for food or cake, or just looking for a party activity. I suggest making these place mats for the children ahead of time and not using the project as a party activity.

You will need the following supplies:

Wide masking tape

12" x 18" piece of pre-primed canvas for each place mat

Black or other dark colored flat latex interior paint

Unsanded white tile grout (available at hardware stores)

Drill and mixer attachment

Sandpaper

Chalk

The first thing you will need to do is prepare each piece of canvas by using the masking tape to create a border, approximately ½", along all four edges. Once you have created the borders on each piece of canvas, set them aside while you mix the paint.

In a large disposable container, mix one quart of black (or other dark color) with ½ cup of unsanded white tile grout using your drill and mixing attachment. Blend this mixture for about 20 seconds to ensure the grout is fully incorporated with the paint.

I recommend lining your workspace with some old newspaper to prevent any spills and stains. First paint a thin coat of paint on each place mat and let it dry for at least 30 minutes. Apply two more coats of paint on each piece of canvas and allow each layer to thoroughly dry before adding the next.

After all three coats have been applied and dried, remove the tape from the border to reveal a chalkboard look. Now rub the sandpaper on each surface to create a smoother writing surface but don't press so hard that you remove all the paint. Prime the surface by rubbing a thin layer of chalk on the entire surface and then wipe off with a wet sponge.

The place mats are now ready to be used as a great party favor at your child's party. Put one at each setting with a couple pieces of chalk, you can use multiple colors or just white and let the kids enjoy themselves. You can encourage them to make their own drawings or just play games such as tic-tac-toe with each other. If you wish, at the end of the party you can spray each mat with a clear coat spray to preserve the drawings or just let them take their chalkboard place mat party favors home with them and they can erase and draw again and again.