How to Make Your Own Chalkboard Paint

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How to Make Your Own Chalkboard Paint

Alderrr Alderrr

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Step 1 of 12

This box cost $4.50. It is way more than you'll ever need.

Step 2 of 12

Use leftover house paint or craft paint.

Step 3 of 12

Mix ingredients well, breaking up any lumps of grout. (just kidding about the vitamix blender. I would never.)

Step 4 of 12

Gather supplies.

Step 5 of 12

Paint one coat

Step 6 of 12

Paint another coat.

Step 7 of 12

When it is dry, sand lightly with fine grit paper to remove bumps, then rub chalk all over the board and wipe off with a wet cloth.

Step 8 of 12

You're done!

Step 9 of 12

Awwww.

Step 10 of 12

When you discover that chalk comes off at the slightest touch, and this isn't all that practical for people to keep track of their drinks, soak the jars in water with a bit of baking soda (1-2 tbs)

Step 11 of 12

The paint comes right off.

Step 12 of 12

Now, what was plan B again?

You're Done

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Alderrr Alderrr

Southern California

Desert homesteader

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2 Tablespoons Unsanded grout

1 Cup Leftover acrylic paint

1 Paintbrush

1 Stencil (optional)

1 Thing to paint on

Genius! Although I'd assume that it would have to be a dark colored paint in order to work well. Think I might try this next payday :)

Barbara D'Ambrosio 7 months ago

This recipe is from Martha Stewart, and she uses it on the wall. My advice would be to figure out a way to mix the grout powder very well into a small amount of paint -- I had some clumping. Good luck.

Alderrr Alderrr (author) last year

Do you think this homemade paint would work on a large surface without being able to remove it? Like a door or piece of wood?

Besma Lucy last year

I didn't get the instructions very well. You said do a coat. paint? Then rub the paint with chalk?

Claudia Guerra last year

This is a great DIY project that I know will be of use to my clients. Thanks for the simplistic tutorial.

Michael Mundy last year

Lay the chalk on side. I guess you could lay the law with chalk. However smart children will erase lol.

Christi Horowitz last year

Rubbing the chalk prevents the board area from having stuck areas of chalk. It can create pits if this is skipped which leaves a very uneven tough to erase board. Even a regular chalk board you buy works better if you first law the chalk on its side and lightly cover then erase.

Christi Horowitz last year

Hi Jeff -- I don't know, it seems a little woo-woo to me, but all the instructions I read (both for commercial and DIY chalkboard paints) said to do it, so I did. I just rubbed a piece of chalk over the whole thing and then wiped it off. It's hard to imagine anything bad happening if you skipped this step. Also, one should probably wait a few days for the paint to cure before messing with it -- just like with house paint.

Alderrr Alderrr (author) last year