Chalkboard Projects :Easy Ideas

Liven up your living quarters with these sophisticated yet simple chalkboard paint projects.
I hope you like it .. Enjoy  !!

Name Frame

 Upcycle a plain wooden photo frame with chalkboard paint. Prime the frame, then paint on a coat of chalkboard paint (Krylon and Rust-Oleum both have great color options). Let dry. Use chalk to update the caption as you change the photo.

Chalk Magnet 

Vintage mirrors with great shapes abound at flea markets. Score one for a few dollars, then transform it into a sophisticated message center. Remove the mirror from its frame, or use painter's tape to cover the frame. Spray several coats of magnetic spray paint on the mirror. Let dry between each coat. Then apply a layer of chalkboard paint and let dry.

On Tray

Up the elegance factor at your dinner party or wedding table by converting a vintage platter into a beautiful menu display. Trace the oval base of your platter onto a thick piece of paper. Cut out the oval and center it on top of the platter, then trace an oval guide for the paint. (If the platter has a central oval edge, you have a built-in guideline.) Use a steady hand and a small brush to stroke chalkboard paint inside the edges of the guideline. Roll the center with chalkboard paint using a small smooth-surface foam roller.

Vanity Lesson

Turn an old medicine cabinet into a sweet spot for lists and notes. First, remove the mirror or inner panel. (If you can't remove the mirror or panel, cute a piece of chipboard to fit.) Paint the mirror or your chipboard piece with two coats of chalkboard paint, allowing each coat to dry between applications. Tip: If you use a mirror, prime the surface first. Pop the mirror back in, or use Krazy Glue to secure the chipboard cutout in place. Use chalk to spell out the day's duties.

Scheduling Pains

Transform a six-panel window into a home office calendar to ease your planning pains. Each day of the workweek is assigned a frame, and the sixth makes room for extra notes or magnets. Tape off the wooden frame with painter's tape. To make your calendar magnetic, spray several coats of magnetic spray paint on the front of the glass, allowing each coat to dry between applications. Then paint each pane with chalkboard paint using a paintbrush to edge and a small foam roller for smooth surfaces.

Clever Containers

Add a little erasable oomph to your kitchen canisters with repositionable vinyl stickers that accept chalk marks (check dickblick.com and wallies.com for colorful options). Use a punch to cut out the labels. Remove the paper backing and position the label on the glass or wooden canister. The labels are easy to rechalk as you change their contents.

Mix it Up

You can find chalkboard paint at almost any crafts or art store or home center. But if you're longing for a hue that's not available on store shelves, concoct your own. To create your own custom color of chalk-ready paint, simply combine 1 cup latex paint in your desired shade with 2 tablespoons of unsanded tile grout. Use a paint stirrer to mix. During application, gently sand the dry layers of paint between coats with 150-grit sandpaper. Apply several coats for best color.

Easy and Fast Home Decorating Projects Under $20

These improvements may not cost a lot, but they'll make a big difference in how your home functions. Complete one or more of these projects this weekend.

You'll love these ideas to try in 2014! I hope you find these ideas useful and inspiring to you .... Enjoy it !!!!

Replace a Window Treatment : Has the window shade above your kitchen sink been marred by repeated exposure to splashes and cooking liquids? Replace a stained window covering with an inexpensive fabric treatment and see your kitchen in a whole new light.

Tackle Trimwork : You might not be able to install new trimwork in your home for $20, but you can make improvements to what you already have. Replace mismatched, missing, or damaged moldings, end caps, quarter rounds, or baseboard. Curved areas might require a special piece or trim made of an alternate material.

Organize the Entry : Keep dirt and mud contained with a boot tray near your home's entryway. Buy one that's easy to clean, or create your own from a jelly roll pan. If storage space is limited, tuck the tray beneath a slim console table.

Replace Switchplates : Replace a plastic switchplate with a wood, metal, or ceramic cover to make a visual statement. Some switchplates are even textured to blend in with marble, tile, or stone surfaces. Do this for light switches, electrical outlets, and phone and cable jacks.

Update with Paint : Breathe new life into an old piece of furniture with a fresh coat of paint. For wood pieces, remove dirt or wax buildup with a household cleaner and rinse. Sand rough areas and wipe away dust. Apply two coats of stain-blocking primer and allow it to dry between coats. Roll or brush on two coats of latex paint in the direction of the wood grain, and use a brush to finish the surface with smooth strokes.

Spruce Up Shelves : Give shelves a charming and cohesive look with an exciting backdrop by applying contact paper, scrapbook paper, or fabric to the back of a bookshelf. If you don't want to commit to a particular design or color scheme, measure the bookshelf's back panel and mount the background material on poster board, cut to the size of each shelf.

Get Stylish Underfoot : Try your hand at a fun paint technique and update tired flooring with a custom rug. Using a vinyl floor remnant and paint, you can create a fun, personalized focal point. Varying the stripe widths creates a cool, casual look.

Add a Divider : Drawer and cabinet dividers are a must when it comes to keeping kitchen tools in their respective places. Secure a wire rack inside a cabinet to provide sturdy storage for cookie sheets, muffin tins, and cooling racks. Some units match your kitchen cabinetry design for a completely integrated and customized look.

Step Up Storage : Plastic bins are a versatile and inexpensive way to restore order in almost every in home trouble spot. Using clear bins for storage in a garage or for a closet gift-wrap station, for example, is an easy way to take inventory and identify items at a glance. Use labels to ensure everything stays tidy and easy to access.

Improve Air Flow : Swap out a standard floor grate with a more impressive and possibly more efficient wood or metal register grille. An inferior grate might not channel air in the best direction for optimum flow.

Designate a Drop Spot : Enhance the style and storage of your entryway with a designated place for important drop-zone items. Create a mini hang up station for house keys and outgoing mail on the back of a cabinet door. Use magnetic strips, Peg Board, or an old ceiling tin and add hooks to store items in one convenient location near the door.

Put Towels and Robes Within Reach : Bid floor puddles good-bye by keeping after-bath accessories within reach. Add a towel bar or robe hook near your shower or bathtub, or move the one you already have to make it more accessible. Find bars or hooks that match or complement existing hardware in your bathroom.

Streamline Under the Sink : Ease cleanup and eliminate the clutter of freestanding bottles with an over the door wire organizer. This slim solution maximizes undersink space while keeping kitchen essentials within easy reach.

Add Hanging Storage : Free up valuable floor space in your basement, garage, or entryway with hanging storage. Seasonal items, such as bikes and sleds, are difficult to store and take up lots of space. Add hooks to an unused wall or ceiling area and discover space you didn't know you had.

Revive Outdoor Furniture : Capture the feeling of a sunny summer day with colorful outdoor furniture. In less than a weekend, you can give outdoor furniture a color makeover with paint. Find a set of inexpensive deck chairs, or recoat faded, chipped, and drab looking outdoor furniture. Many deck and siding paints come in a variety of colors and finishes. Choose a paint that can endure weather and temperature extremes, as well as UV rays.

Chalkboard Projects :Easy Ideas

Liven up your living quarters with these sophisticated yet simple chalkboard paint projects.
I hope you like it .. Enjoy  !!

Name Frame

 Upcycle a plain wooden photo frame with chalkboard paint. Prime the frame, then paint on a coat of chalkboard paint (Krylon and Rust-Oleum both have great color options). Let dry. Use chalk to update the caption as you change the photo.

Chalk Magnet 

Vintage mirrors with great shapes abound at flea markets. Score one for a few dollars, then transform it into a sophisticated message center. Remove the mirror from its frame, or use painter's tape to cover the frame. Spray several coats of magnetic spray paint on the mirror. Let dry between each coat. Then apply a layer of chalkboard paint and let dry.

On Tray

Up the elegance factor at your dinner party or wedding table by converting a vintage platter into a beautiful menu display. Trace the oval base of your platter onto a thick piece of paper. Cut out the oval and center it on top of the platter, then trace an oval guide for the paint. (If the platter has a central oval edge, you have a built-in guideline.) Use a steady hand and a small brush to stroke chalkboard paint inside the edges of the guideline. Roll the center with chalkboard paint using a small smooth-surface foam roller.

Vanity Lesson

Turn an old medicine cabinet into a sweet spot for lists and notes. First, remove the mirror or inner panel. (If you can't remove the mirror or panel, cute a piece of chipboard to fit.) Paint the mirror or your chipboard piece with two coats of chalkboard paint, allowing each coat to dry between applications. Tip: If you use a mirror, prime the surface first. Pop the mirror back in, or use Krazy Glue to secure the chipboard cutout in place. Use chalk to spell out the day's duties.

Scheduling Pains

Transform a six-panel window into a home office calendar to ease your planning pains. Each day of the workweek is assigned a frame, and the sixth makes room for extra notes or magnets. Tape off the wooden frame with painter's tape. To make your calendar magnetic, spray several coats of magnetic spray paint on the front of the glass, allowing each coat to dry between applications. Then paint each pane with chalkboard paint using a paintbrush to edge and a small foam roller for smooth surfaces.

Clever Containers

Add a little erasable oomph to your kitchen canisters with repositionable vinyl stickers that accept chalk marks (check dickblick.com and wallies.com for colorful options). Use a punch to cut out the labels. Remove the paper backing and position the label on the glass or wooden canister. The labels are easy to rechalk as you change their contents.

Mix it Up

You can find chalkboard paint at almost any crafts or art store or home center. But if you're longing for a hue that's not available on store shelves, concoct your own. To create your own custom color of chalk-ready paint, simply combine 1 cup latex paint in your desired shade with 2 tablespoons of unsanded tile grout. Use a paint stirrer to mix. During application, gently sand the dry layers of paint between coats with 150-grit sandpaper. Apply several coats for best color.

2014 DIY Fast and Easy Home Decorating Projects Ideas

These easy crafts and decor projects will give your home standout style.

You'll love these ideas to try in 2014! I hope you find these ideas useful and inspiring to you .... Enjoy it !!!!

Framed Up : Even if the art inside a frame isn't your style, a pretty frame is still a secondhand score. Round up a series of pretty frames, remove the art, spray paint them in a unifying color scheme, and arrange them on a wall.

Painted Vases : While one paint color is good, two are even better. Add in some glitter and you have a knock-out DIY project. Paint the outside of jars and glass containers with two coats of clay paint. We mixed several shades of pink with white to create a range of hues. For a touch of glam, mask off the top of the jar with painter's tape and cover the bottom with glitter spray paint.

Be-Ribboned Lampshade : DIY projects don't come any easier than this. Cut ribbons to fit around a lampshade and tie the ends in a knot to secure. For extra stability, secure the ribbons with a few dots of hot glue.

Lace-Patterned Vase : Try a reversed pattern for something a little different. Wrap a wide scrap of lace around a clear glass vase to create this reversed effect. Use spray adhesive to affix the lace to the glass, then spray the glass evenly with white spray paint. Let it dry, the remove the lace to reveal the see through pattern.

Pretty Table Runner : Pink and orange are great for a warm, romantic look. Cover a bright table runner with a sheer sari to tone down the design.

Doodled Teapot : Dress up a plain teapot by doodling on designs. Draw your doodle on white paper and cut the piece of paper down to size (so that you can lay it over the item you'll be tracing the design onto). Cut a piece of transfer paper slightly larger than the area to be doodled, and tape it to the surface. Tape the pattern over the transfer paper. Using a pencil, firmly trace the pattern lines to transfer the design to the surface. Remove the pattern and the transfer paper. Using a paint pen, trace the lines and let dry. Cure the paint by baking the piece in the oven, following the manufacturer's instructions.

Table Skirt : Hide the base of an old side table with a fabric skirt. Cut a piece of fabric to the diameter and height of the table, leaving extra for a hem allowance. Hem the fabric. Use hook-and-eye tape to attach the hemmed fabric to the edge of the table.

Picture Frame to Serving Tray : Reuse an old picture frame as a practical serving tray. Remove the glass of a large frame. Paint the frame in your desired color. Attach drawer pulls to the short sides of the frame. Insert the glass with a piece of pretty fabric or decorative paper behind it.

Decoupage Design Tabletop : Decoupage a lovely design on a thrift store table. Paint the table with two coats of metallic paint. Cover with metallic glaze for extra shine. Let dry. Cut a scrap of wallpaper to cover the tabletop. Coat the top with decoupage glue. Position the paper, pressing carefully to remove any air bubbles. Cover with multiple layers of glue. Let each coat dry before applying the next. Finish with a spray sealant.

Fireplace Screen : Create an easy screen to mask your fireplace or any space when it's not in use. This bold geometric print pops in front of the white fireplace and mantel.

Here's how to make it: Cut four pieces of 1/2-inch-thick particleboard to your desired size. (The screen's size depends on what you want it to cover. This fireplace is 32 inches wide; the screen is made from four 12x36-inch boards, which came precut from a home improvement store). Use interior latex paint to coat the boards in a color that complements your wallpaper (here, black). Cut strips of wallpaper 2 inches wider and longer than the particleboard. Apply a light layer of spray adhesive to one side of the board and to the back of the wallpaper. Press the adhesive side of the paper onto the adhesive side of the board. Start at the top middle and work your way down, smoothing air bubbles as you go. Wrap the excess around to the back and secure. Repeat for the other boards. Let the boards dry. Use superglue to affix small hinges to connect the boards on the painted side. Move the screen before you start a fire; this screen is for decorative purposes only.

Patchwork Shower Curtain : Brighten early mornings with warm colors in a pieced-together shower curtain. Make this uncomplicated project for the bathroom.

Floral Stenciled Dresser : Nondescript wood dressers can often be found for rock-bottom prices at garage sales. To give them a dose of character and contemporary style, cover the top in color and embellish the fronts with stencils. Removing drawers in favor of lined and labeled baskets is another easy way to add color and charm.

Stylish Hand Towels : Make plain hand towels stylish. Embroider fabric dots on the front. Or, add a hemmed border along the bottom. Topstitch ribbon over the seam.