Framed Chalkboard Upcycle Idea

Have you seen those This or That posts going around on social media?

It seems they have one for every season or holiday.

And they always make me laugh, because for some reason, I've never seen one that lists crafts.


It's always apple picking or hayride? Christmas Movies or Christmas Music?

It's never Eating Thanksgiving Pie or Crafting?

Or how about one just filled with crafts?



That would be best, since I think crafting during the holiday season, beats out almost anything.

Ok, well maybe not eating pie, but it'd be pretty close.

Well, in the spirit of holiday crafting, I have a fun one to share today.

It's another Thanksgiving Thrift Flip, that started with this.


It's a $2.00 chalkboard sign one of the treasures I found last January in small shop. 

The frame is metal with a chain that can be used to hang it up either vertically or horizontally and as soon as I saw it I knew that it would make a perfect fall sign.

Of course, in classic Kim style that's as far as I got...until I found these guest towel/ napkins at Dollar Tree.


And even then, my plan was a little rough, but again, that's my style. I tend to be an on the fly kind of crafter.

Projects evolve as I make them based on how they look and what I have on hand.

This transformation began with a plan to paint and decoupage.

 
So I gathered my supplies and then took the frame apart to remove the chalkboard panel.

I could've left it inside the frame and taped it off, since that golden color was too fabulous to change. However, it was so easy to take it out, I opted to do that instead.

If you decide to do a similar project, but there's not way to remove the panel from the frame, then I would definitely save yourself some clean up and use the painter's tape.


Once it was free, I gave it a few coats of acrylic paint, using a paintbrush. I have to say, it's been a long time -like years - since I've used anything but chalk or mineral paint, and boy oh boy, is there a difference!

The coverage was not as thick, I probably needed some kind of primer over that black base, it took much longer to dry and I need a lot more coats. 

I was unimpressed.



In between coats, I prepared my napkin. Unfortunately, I ran into trouble there, too. 

Things started off as expected, with me, cutting out the portion of the napkin I wanted to use.

However, when I went to separate the top printed ply from the other I could only get so far until the napkin tore. Grrr.

Apparently, for some odd reason, they were fused together in the middle.

I've honestly never seen that before...then again, these were from the dollar store. I guess, sometimes a bargain isn't really a bargain.

That's ok, the budget crafter in me pushed on and I was able to find a portion of the napkin where they weren't fused and I started all over again. This time I was successful.

Eventually, that board also got covered well enough and dried. That's when I covered it with my decoupage. I used Dixie Belle Satin Sealer.

Mod Podge or a homemade version works equally, as well.


Then I carefully centered my napkin on the board and gently smoothed it out using a plastic baggie so my fingers wouldn't get sticky and rip the wet paper.


Now, normally at this point, I'd grab my sealer again and brush some more on to seal the everything in place. But oh no, not this time.

This time, I had this brand new mini craft iron I wanted to try out.

I'd given this fancy decoupage iron on technique a while last Christmas and it was great. That was on tile.

I wanted to see how it was going to work on another surface.

MINI CRAFTING IRON

And I'm happy to report, it was fantastic.

I didn't have to mess with anymore decoupage, worry about getting that already delicate napkin any wetter and tear during the final steps.

Nope, I just waited for it to dry, grabbed a piece of parchment paper and turned the iron on. 

It was super teeny, but it worked out very well. It was hot enough to make the chalkboard panel hot all the way through, which was more than I expected.

When the ironing was done, I like my sign but it was a bit plain. So I dug some ribbon out of my stash and hot glued it in place.


I used brown to outline the napkin and orange to make a bow. Then I popped it back inside its frame.

And when I was done, I had a lovely little sign for Thanksgiving.


To decorate my home and welcome guests during this first half of the holiday season.

And I crafted it all by myself.


My favorite way to pass the time from November to January.

Well, when I'm not eating pie.

😉

Are you a holiday crafter?


Happy Crafting, Friends!