$1/1 Minute,décor,diy projects,thrift alert!

Make a Chalkboard for Under $1 in Under 1 Minute – No Paint!

16 March Lynn 18 Comments

If you ask me, the BEST projects are the ones that take only a LITTLE time and money, but give you a result that you LOVE.  That makes this pretty much the best project ever.  🙂  How would you like to make a chalkboard for under $1 in under 1 minute, with no paint involved?

I love it when cheap, easy, and beautiful all come together in a project, don’t you?

 Years ago, a friend gave me this gorgeously framed picture, because she was moving.

And while I love old pictures, I just never really fell in love with this one.

But I do love this frame.

Look at the detail!

I’ve wondered how best to enjoy it, and I finally came up with this simple solution.  Best of all, it’s a temporary change, so it can be undone if I ever decide to do something different with this picture/frame.  Not that I ever change my mind…much.

I decided to make it a chalkboard,  but with no paint involved.

 And I LOVE it.
The black really makes the beautiful wood frame and gold trim stand out.
Here’s how I did it:

1. I carefully took apart the frame…

 2.  inserted a cut-to-size piece of poster board into the now empty frame…
3. and then reassembled the frame, making it all as tight as possible.

{so that it ended up with the poster board in front, the glass behind that for sturdiness, and the backing in back}

And I had a pretty new chalkboard! 🙂

And yes, you can write on it with chalk…
AND it’s erasable.
I just used a simple piece of chalk out of a box, and a cheap eraser.  Works fine.
Now go pull out a frame you’ve been saving, put some poster board in it, write something sweet on it, and hang it up.
Guaranteed to make you smile every time you look at it…
especially since you know how eeeaasy it was to do!

As a side note, this 50-cent paint opener makes a handy-dandy little tool for opening the backs of picture frames. 😉

This post is the second in my new $1/1 Minute series.  The first was $1/1 Minute Salsa, which we love.  Find it here.

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About The Author

Lynn

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18 COMMENTS

  1. Julie @ Logger's Wife | 16th Mar 15

    We always did chalk art on black construction paper when I was a kid. I never thought about using black poster paper to make an actual chalkboard. Great idea!

    (visiting from the Mom 2 Mom Monday link-up)

  2. Lynn Riggs Driver | 16th Mar 15

    Thanks, Julie. It's so easy- I wondered why I didn't think of it sooner! Thanks for visiting. 🙂

  3. Paige | 16th Mar 15

    This is a GREAT idea!

  4. Lynn Riggs Driver | 17th Mar 15

    Thanks, Paige! Let me know if you try it. 😉

  5. Chari | 18th Mar 15

    Very cool idea! This would be great for my little ones! God bless!

  6. Lynn Riggs Driver | 18th Mar 15

    Thank you, Chari. I hope they have fun with it! God bless. 🙂

  7. Mary Collins | 19th Mar 15

    What a neat idea. The result is beautiful!

  8. Lynn Riggs Driver | 19th Mar 15

    Thanks so much for the compliment, Mary. And thanks for reading! 😉

  9. Jennifer - The Deliberate Mom | 21st Mar 15

    This is lovely and looks quite easy to do (my kind of DIY project)!

    Thanks for sharing (and for linking up to the #SHINEbloghop).

    Wishing you a lovely day.
    xoxo

  10. Lynn Riggs Driver | 24th Mar 15

    This comment has been removed by the author.

  11. Lynn Riggs Driver | 24th Mar 15

    Thanks, Jennifer. 🙂

  12. Holly McBerty | 27th Mar 15

    What an awesome idea! Thank you so much for sharing at Waiting on…Wednesday @ While I'm Waiting! Have a wonderful weekend!

  13. Lynn Riggs Driver | 27th Mar 15

    Thanks, Holly. 🙂

  14. Kimberly Lewis | 30th Mar 15

    This looks so incredible! Loving it! Pinned and tweeted. Thanks for being a part of our party. I hope to see you tonight at 7. Lou Lou Girls

  15. Lynn Riggs Driver | 31st Mar 15

    Thanks so much, Kimberly! And thanks for pinning and tweeting! 🙂

  16. Keri | 1st Apr 15

    I always break a nail trying to open those tiny tabs! Love the paint opener idea!

  17. Lynn Riggs Driver | 2nd Apr 15

    Thanks, Keri. Glad you found it helpful! 😉

  18. Lynn Riggs Driver | 2nd Apr 15

    Thanks, Mary!

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