Yes you can. Chalkboard paint is ridiculously easy to make. The great thing about making it yourself is the array of colours you can make it in! Do a small project like a message board or go big and turn your kids play room into one big chalkboard! Ohhhhh... all the kids from the neighbourhood would surely be over if that were the case! Follow along for the recipe and some tips!
1 TBSP of non-sanded tile grout
Mix together until there are no lumps.
Yes. That's it.
Let it dry completely.
I popped my chalkboard into an old frame I had. If you do a small project like I did, you could even paint the reverse side of the board in a different colour for days you want a change. I'm thinking.... sunny yellow for mine :)
Have fun!
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*Amendment*
If you find the chalkboard surface is too rough once dried, sand the surface lightly with a fine grit sand paper, then, using the side of a piece of chalk, rub it across the entire surface of the board. Wipe off the chalk afterwards. This can help give you a smoother surface.
GREAT idea Amber!
ReplyDeleteLois
Really neat! I'm definately going to have to do this.
ReplyDeleteI am going to try this! Your on Pinterest now :)
ReplyDeletedoes it work with cardboard markers?
ReplyDeletehow much does that make? Say I wanted to do a wall do you know the amount I would need?
ReplyDeleteHi Michele, sorry for the delay in the response! It will give you a cup of paint. Just multiply the measurements to make as much as you need. If you are not sure how much paint you will need for a wall, ask your local home improvement store at the paint section, but make sure you know the square footage of your wall first :)
DeleteExcellent idea! Thanks so much:)
DeleteHi there
ReplyDeletecan I reblog this please?
Hege
here's my blog
http://hegeinfrance.blogspot.com/
Hi there! Yes you may, as long as there is a link back please!
Deletecan you paint the chalkboard paint onto glass or will that scrath off?
ReplyDeleteSince it is latex / acrylic paint, it will scratch off glass. I suppose you could try a primer first, then the chalkboard paint? I'm just guessing... I haven't tested that theory so don't hold me to it lol.
DeleteBenjamin Moore has a great primer for sticking to ceramic or glass and things it's called Stix! That would work :)
DeleteThat's awesome! Thanks!
ReplyDeletewhats the best surface to paint this on?
ReplyDeleteHi Anonymous,
DeleteI would say any solid, smooth surface that latex / acrylic paint would adhere to.
I saw this from Martha Stewarts website on how to make chalk paint.
ReplyDeleteThis is awesome! Would you ever paint this on a wall in your home? Or do you just recommend using it on crafts?
ReplyDeleteYou could indeed do this on a wall in your home. Just be sure to use latex paint. Cheers ;)
DeleteHi there,
ReplyDeleteQuick question if you only have white paint but want a different color do you think I could put in food coloring to make it a different color. Would it still work the same?
I really can't answer that question with any first hand experience, but I would say, it would probably be best if you could even get your hands on a small bottle of acrylic craft paint and add that to your white to tint it. Although, I think white chalkboard paint would be awesome and totally unexpected ... especially if you used some really bright vibrant chalk on it ;)
DeleteMy Mum always added in acrylic paint when she wanted to tweak a bucket of paint at home....she def knew what she was doing since she worked in a shop that sold Benjamin Moore paints for years.
DeleteThis is soooo cool! I love how simple it is.
ReplyDeleteAwesome Q & A's Thanks!
ReplyDeleteThis is strait off martha stewart page. Give credit.
ReplyDeleteHi Liliya. Yes there is a Martha Stewart recipe for chalkboard paint. There are actually quit a few chalkboard paint recipes floating around the internet which are all basically the same thing. I have never claimed this to be an original idea of my own, I am simply sharing this awesome idea with my readers. This is my experience and version from all of the other versions I've seen around the net. Cheers :)
DeleteMartha Stewart did not invent chalkboard paint, neither did Martha leave a link on her site as to where she learned the recipe!
DeleteI could only find unsanded grout with polymer,Is that the right grout?
ReplyDeleteA lot of the grout now does have polymer additives. I believe it's supposed to help with flexibility and to keep it from getting brittle. The grout I used was a poly blend and it worked fine for me.
DeleteThank you, I cant wait to give it a try.
DeleteThanks for sharing. It is expensive to buy chalkboard paint. So much cheaper to make your own. I will be trying this!
ReplyDeleteMy hardware store (in NZ) was adamant that there was no such thing as "non-sanded" tile grout. They just had one type of tile grout that is "grouting cement for ceramic and mosaic tiles". Would that work?
ReplyDeleteHere's a picture- maybe you could print it and show them?
Deletehttp://c497280.r80.cf2.rackcdn.com/2011/03/sat-night-in-kitchen.jpg
Ha! That oughta show them that it does exist! Thanks. Might try the tile grout I got anyway and see if it works.
DeleteJust wanted to say that I got the Selleys tile grout that I mentioned on Feb 8 and it worked a treat!
ReplyDeleteThanks for posting this!
Excellent Lisa! I'm glad it all worked out!
DeleteHi Amber,
ReplyDeleteI am in a non english country, in Europe and I do not quite understand: "The grout" is th dust used to stick tiles on the wall? or the dust put between the tiles to cover the little lines?
(I tried google translate and I did not understand):)
Thanks a lot!
Hi Ioana, Grout is the dust used between the tiles to cover the lines.
DeleteThanks for stopping by!
I think this would be awesome to use on the top and drawers of a desk. I may be able to talk my son into doing this. So excited to try different colors.
ReplyDeleteHow many coats did you use and about how long does it take to fully dry. Also does the smell go away once it dries LOL
ReplyDeleteHi Julie, sorry for the delay in responding! I did 2 or 3 coats. Drying times will depend on how thick you apply the paint. When in doubt, leave it for a couple hours :) And mine didn't have any odour when it was all done ;)
DeleteDid you paint this on wood to put in your frame?
ReplyDeleteSarah, I actually used some masonite board, which is wood product (it's scraps of wood pressed into a board). I found some in the clearance aisle of a store, so that's what I used :)
DeleteDo you think this would work on a metal surface?
ReplyDeleteAs long as you prime the metal surface appropriately it should work out. :)
Delete