How to Create a Custom Chalk Board

It was summer, my boys were young and I was in a new city. Wanting to get connected I volunteered at my new church helping with the arts and crafts at Vacation Bible School. One of the crafts we did I loved so much I have kept it for my children's children. I have the customized chalk boards we made hidden somewhere in the attic of my house. I prepared dozen of pieces of wood for the project. I found the wood in the numerous construction sites that dotted my new neighborhood. I carefully chose pieces of wood scraps roughly 14 x 12 inches. The pieces were sanded, primed and painted with Rust-Oleum Specialty Chalk Board Brush On. At VBS the teachers personalized the chalk boards with a white paint pen. The children sponged on designs created with cut sponges and dipped in craft paint.

The chalk boards created by my boys were designed for lap top chalk boards and doubled as drawing and writing surfaces that were often taken in the car and used on road trips.

What you will need:
Lap size board that has been sanded and primed
Rust-Oleum Specialty Chalk Board Spray or Brush On
Large paint brush for brush on chalk board paint
Sponge cut into shapes or sponge stamps
Craft paint
Small craft paint brush for craft paint
White thick tipped paint pen

For the best result I suggest using Masonite board. It has an ultra smooth finish and is sturdy and light weight. Use Rust-Oleum Specialty Chalk Board Spray in an aerosol can or if you are making multiply boards or creating a large chalk board for a wall use Rust-Oleum Specialty Chalk Board Brush On. If you chose the brush on variety of paint make sure to paint the board evenly and sand down any irregularities or obvious brush strokes. Make sure you read the label for advice before using either product. You will need a well ventilated room with a temperature is between 50° and 90° F. Sand and prime the wood with an acrylic primer before painting. The chalk board can be repainted in four hours. Allow three days for chalk board paint to thoroughly dry before customizing. The paint is nontoxic when dry, but for safety reasons this stage of preparation should be done by an adult.

Our chalk boards were sponged with fish shapes in colors to match the boy's room; blue for my oldest and green for my youngest. Their names were written across the top in whimsical style letters I copied from a book. The font is similar to comic sans. I used a white thick tipped paint pen to write their name. Both the paint pen and the chalk board paint can be purchased at any craft store. Masonite can be purchased and cut at a large chain hardware store. Check out their scrap pile before you purchase, you may be able to pick up the Masonite for just the cost of the cutting.

Back in the day we did not have the full array of sponge shapes or simple sponge stamps that are plentiful today, I used flat sponges to cut shapes. Today you can find a wide variety of sponge shapes and simple sponge rubber stamps at arts and craft stores. Choose shapes that reflect your child's interest or better yet take them on a shopping adventure and allow them to pick out their own stamp. If you want to cut your own stamp, cut the dry sponge then dampen it before dipping it into paint. A better way to handle the paint and the sponge stamps is to paint a thin layer of paint on the printing surface of the cut out sponge, foam shape or sponge stamp and carefully lay the shape on the prepared board and press.

With a prepared board that has been dried for three days print your child's name in the top center of the board. Have your child practice the stamping on a piece of paper then have them stamp a border of shapes around the edge of the board. Use a different sponge shapes for different colors.

Allow the craft paint to dry overnight. Prepare the surface of the chalk board by taking a piece of chalk and using the side of the chalk and completely cover the board's writing surface. Wipe with a rag. You can use regular white chalk or colored chalk on the board to draw. A dampened sponge works well to clean the board, but you will need to wait seven days after the last coat of paint is applied to clean the surface this way.

Encourage your child's creativity with this one of a kind chalk board. Like me, you will be inspired to keep it along with all the good memories you create with your little ones while making it.