Roadside Rescue Chalkboard

Sometimes you find the prettiest little things on the side of the road. This project was constructed with the donations from a few different households. People throw out some amazing things!

We made this rustic chalkboard out of a table top and some broken pieces from (I think) a chair. 

Here are the pieces before we started working with them.

I picked up the table on the side of the road because I thought the base and  legs were really nice (although there were only 3 left). Little did I know I would use the table top first. But I just loved the shape of it and thought it would make a great chalkboard. So I removed what was left of the base and brought it inside.

I just so happened to be looking through my junk one day and saw the pretty pieces that I had picked up once when I saw a small jewelry armoire sitting on the side of the road. I haven't done a thing with the armoire yet, but I'm sure glad I saw it and got lucky enough to grab these little beauties, too. Their curves were a perfect match for my rescued table top!

I painted the pieces with Vintage White and added aging wax to them. 

Next, I laid them on the table top and decided where I wanted to put them and my chalkboard paint. With a pencil, I free-handed the curve at the top to match the curve of the table. Then I measured and used a straight edge for the sides. After taping the straight edges off, I started with the chalkboard paint, being careful to follow the curve at the top. After a few coats were dry, I added the Vintage White border around the chalkboard area with a small brush. 

I knew I wanted to make a pocket at the bottom of the board. But I didn't have any way of cutting a piece of wood to match that curve and add it under the rescued chair piece. So I got out some drop cloth and traced the shape of the curve. I cut the drop cloth, leaving enough so that I could fold it up the back of the wood as well. I stapled the drop cloth to the bottom of the curvy piece and up the back.

Next I attached the pieces to the table top with wood glue and clamped it overnight. I also added a few nails to the bottom piece. In the morning, I took some hot glue and attached the back of the drop cloth to the table top so my pocket would be closed off, leaving no gap between the table top and the drop cloth. And it worked perfectly!

I picked up this rusty yellow tin at a yard sale a couple weeks ago. It's a nice butter color and looks great with the chalkboard and old wood. 

Here's a close up of one of the pieces I rescued from the side of the road. How could someone throw this gorgeous thing away? The aging wax looks perfect on it!

And there you have it. A roadside rescue chalkboard. And, I might add, a project I did completely by myself, start to finish! I'm not usually the one who constructs things. I try to leave that to Eric as much as possible. But I really had it in my mind to get this accomplished all alone. And it feels great because it turned out lovely!

"Til next time!

Everyone loves a good party!
Check my project out along with other great inspiration, at these great blogs...

That DIY Party at DIY Showoff, Give Me the Goods Party at Rain on a Tin Roof, Monday Funday at Creatively Living, Inspiration Monday at twelveOeight, The Scoop at Cedar Hill Ranch, Project Inspired{d}at Cupcakes and Crinoline, Tweak It Tuesday at Cozy Little House, Take a Bow Link Party at Art Is Beauty, The Power of Paint Party at Domestically Speaking, Fluster's Creative Muster Party at Fluster Buster, Brag About It Tuesday at Bebetsy, Knick of Time Tuesday at Knick of Time Interiors, Whimsy Wednesday at Smart School House, Under $100 Linky Party at Beyond the Picket Fence, Wow Us Wednesdays at Savvy Southern Style, From Dream to Reality at The DIY Dreamer, Work It Wednesday at The Blissful Bee, Home and Garden Thursday at A Delightsome Life, Furniture Feature Friday at Miss Mustard Seed, Inspire Me Please Link Party at Liz Marie Blog, Frugal Friday at The Shabby Nest, Feathered Nest Friday at French Country Cottage, What Have You Redone at Redoux Interiors, Thrifty Things Friday at The Thrifty Groove, Simple and Sweet Fridays at Rooted inThyme, Be Inspired at Common Ground, Fabulously Creative Friday at Jennifer Rizzo, Show and Tell Friday at Romantic Home, Junkin' Joe Vintage and Thrifty Finds at The Cottage Market, Link Party Palooza at Tatertots and Jello, Tickled Pink at 504 Main, Best of the Weekend at A Little Claireification, Saturday Show and Tell at Cheerios and Lattes, Saturday Nite Special at Funky Junk Interiors, A Bouquet of Talent Party at Life on Lakeshore Drive, From the Farm Blog Hop, DIY Showcase Party at Minette's Maze, Share It One More Time at One More Time Events