A Chalkboard Tray Project

With an old tray, leftover tinted primer and chalkboard paint sitting unused, how could I resist covering another item with this fun paint? I love the idea of a chalkboard tray, perfect for placing little bowls of treats or drinks on at a party with "labels", or writing a little message befitting the event! Here are the simple steps taken to make this tray.


Begin by sanding the finish off an old tray or find an unfinished tray to make this project even easier.


Brush the entire tray with tinted primer and let dry for two hours.


Tip: Elevate the tray to make painting the sides easier by placing it on top of a bowl or small box.


Lightly sand the surface with a fine grit sanding pad.


Then brush the entire tray with chalkboard paint and let dry for two hours.


If there are any rough spots just quickly run the sanding pad over the surface.


As I suspect this tray will get a lot of use, I decided to apply two layers of chalkboard paint. This will ensure a surface that is durable and able to handle all the writing and erasing to come. Let the final layer of chalkboard paint dry for 24 hours.


After the paint has dried cover the entire tray with chalk, using a large stick on its side.


Rub the chalk into the surface...


...and wipe away with a towel. This process helps any writing and drawing to be fully erasable. I read this tip somewhere and it truly does work.

Finally, set out some ghoulish treats! And the best part? When Halloween is over just erase and use again at another event...

The Ikea Light Fixture Transformation Revealed

The Large Melodi Pendant Lamp,
on sale for $4.99 at Ikea, underwent a makeover using paint.

Going from this:

To this:

E X P L O R E

It works. The fixture turned out better than my expectations and it is a fun addition to the room. Though my husband asked, "What are you going to do when someone wants to write something else on the shade?" Easy enough, the shade simply snaps off. When Max decides he wants to draw or write on it all I have to do is unscrew the light bulb, snap the shade off the socket and he can begin recreating the fixture.

Next, what to do with these floral green chairs? Having once sat in my grandmother's home I love having them in mine, though they are ready for an update. The estimate from the upholsterer had me choking, so my backup plan is to make slipcovers. I've seen some great tutorials on this project in blogland, so I believe I'm up for trying it...

While I think about that, come back tomorrow to see what I'm giving away for Spring.