{Tutorial} Chalkboard Menu

UPDATE |

I have since redone my chalkboard menu now that I have a Silhouette and this is what the final menu now looks like…

Sooooo much better!! Below you will find the orininal tutorial on how to make a chalkboard menu for your family.


The other day I was reading Jen’s post from Tatertots & Jell-o about her lovely Chalkboard Chargers and it got me thinking.

thanksgiving plate

I have a beautiful black armoire in my kitchen that was screaming for some chalkboard treatment.

 

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Can’t you just see it?  A lovely menu board on the side!  So I got to work.  First I washed the side to prep it for the paint.  I then taped off the section that was going to be my work space.

 

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Now we are ready to paint!

 

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I used Rust-Oleum black chalkboard paint, and a small smooth surface roller. I painted three coats and let it cure for three days.

 

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On the third day I cut vinyl lettering on my Cricut, (I used the Doodletype cartridge) and applied it to the surface before I seasoned the chalkboard.

 

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Next, and very important, you must season your new chalkboard.  To do that, all you need to do is take a piece of chalk, lay it on it’s side, and gently color the entire surface of the board.

 

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Erase the chalk and voila, your new chalkboard is ready to use.

 

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Comments

  1. 1
    Susan Crabtree says:

    what a great use for the side of your cabinet!

  2. 2
    Chris @ Celebrations At Home says:

    What a great idea. Love it!

  3. 3
    Kirsten says:

    Ooh, I really love this idea!

  4. 4
    Jane says:

    Wow! What a fun idea and it can go beyond a Menu board. Thanks

  5. 5
    CandaceAshley says:

    I need this for my husband! He is always asking two and three times, what are we having this week, or tonight. GREAT idea! Thanks!

  6. 6
    Kristin Call says:

    totally love this! How much did the chalkboard paint cost?

  7. 7
    Mary Patterson says:

    Fantastic Idea & Great tutorial!
    Mary Patterson
    http://MarysCottageTreasures.com/

  8. 8
    Danielle says:

    This is super cool! I absolutely love it :)

  9. 9
    Wendy Walker Cushing says:

    Great job Heather! I love this!!

  10. 10
    Ambrosia says:

    Love it! What a great idea!

  11. 11
    Tricia says:

    I just painted the top of our chest freezer with chalkboard paint to label everything inside…and I have leftover paint. This is a great idea. I just have to find something to paint. This my husband will care if I paint over a window? (Kidding, of course)

  12. 12
    Lei says:

    Can't even tell you how much I love this!!!

  13. 13
    Cassie says:

    You did an excellent job! It looks great!

  14. 14
    Anonymous says:

    your menu should have included: Take the chef OUT for dinner!!

  15. 15
    DKALLRED says:

    Absolutely LOVE it! I may even have to buy a cricut! Do you use regular chalk or the chalk markers?

  16. 16
    Erika says:

    Ooh this is fabulous!! Now to figure out how to add this without an armoire or anything remotely similar… :)

  17. 17
    Mama K says:

    That looks awesome!! At first I was like "No! Don't do anything to that beautiful black armoire!" But it turned out fantastic and looks classy!

  18. 18
    Carmen @ Life with Sprinkles on Top says:

    I love this idea! It looks great!!! And your menu sounds pretty good too. :)

  19. 19
    Kristen says:

    This is fantastic. Love it! It turned out great, don't you think?

  20. 20
    Caroline @ chocolate and carrots says:

    I'm definitely doing this. Do you know of where I can purchase the vinyl decals for my menu board?

  21. 21
    Ann says:

    Oh it looks so cool…
    It is a must do project ♥

  22. 22
    Angela says:

    Must figure out where to do this! Thinking I might use the end of a kitchen cabinet but paint a separate piece and attach it in case someone else who lives here one day isn't a menu-planner!

  23. 23
    Decorating Ideas says:

    Great idea! I don't know how many times I answer the question, "Mom, what's for dinner"! Can you also give us a tutorial on how to write as beautifully as you do? Please?

  24. 24
    Nikki says:

    I totally love this DIY :) When I was a kid, I used to have a chalk board door in my bedroom ^^ xx

  25. 25
    fajas colombianas says:

    Now thats a unique way to design a cabinet. And you can make your own menu's too!

  26. 26
    Angie S says:

    Wow, that was so easy & it looks great!

  27. 27
    carpet cleaning melbourne says:

    Excellent job over again. I am looking forward for more updates=)

  28. 28
    Candice says:

    Love this idea! I always have a problem with the back and sides of a wardrobe/bookcase/cabinet when it's not pressed up against a wall. What a fun way to dress it up and make it functional!

  29. 29
    Anonymous says:
  30. 30
    Maria says:

    Love this idea!

  31. 31
    Fiza says:

    very nice sharing

  32. 32
    Aimee says:

    I LOVE THIS!!!  This will be my next project!  FYI – I know it sounds silly, but if you want to clean your chalkboard to "like new" surface, use Coke (or Diet Coke)!  I am not kidding, put it on a washcloth and wipe! When it dries it won't be sticky or anything BUT CLEAN!  This is my favorite cleaning secret… just had to share :)

  33. 35
    Aerin says:

    followed a link from pinterest.com over here – LOVE this!!

  34. 36
    Lara says:

    Love this idea! How big are your circles?

  35. 37
    Heather says:

    I just found this through Pinterest — v. nice!! Also wondering about the markers — what are they called, and where can I get them? Regular chalk on a chalkboard gives me the chills, but I love these chalkboard ideas.

    • 38
      Heather says:

      Thanks! The markers are called Chalk Ink Wet Wipe Markers. I found them at Michaels, but I had to ask for them at the checkout counter. They keep them locked up for some reason. I LOVE them!!
      kisses
      heather

  36. 39
    Cheryl Chumney says:

    What an awesome and creative idea!

  37. 40
    Kelly says:

    love this out of the box idea, but love the cabinet even more. Can you tell me where you picked it up?

  38. 41
    Amanda says:

    This may be a silly question, but since I do not have a Cricut and will have to borrow my sister’s, I would like to know how you got the letter cutouts on the circles?

  39. 42
    Ami says:

    Thank you so much for your insight and inspiration!! I tried it on a door in my kitchen and absolutely LOVE how it turned out…if you want to take a look:
    http://amisassignments.blogspot.com/2012/01/week-2-assignment-results.html
    Thanks again!!

  40. 43
    Charla Lane says:

    Hey heather, what font did you use on your silhouette updated version? I am on coat one of my FAB new Chalkboard calendar and want to cut my vinyl…p.s. NO where in this tutorial do you explain how hard it is to WAIT to write on it!!! LOL :)

    • 44
      Heather says:

      soooooo true!! A clean chalkboard just begs to be written on! The words that I used for the updated version are actually in the silhouette store. Just search for days of the week and you'll run across them. Let me know how it turns out!! kisses heather

  41. 46
    alisa says:

    Hi! LOVE your menu chalkboard and am trying to recreate it. Any chance you can tell me how many inches your “menu” letters are (the older version in doodletype) as well as how many inches your circles are around the weekday letters? THANKS!

Trackbacks

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