School Days Chalkboard Printable

School starts for my two kiddos next week. Hard to believe the summer is over but Autumn is always a beautiful time of year. I'm looking forward to it.

To celebrate the start of the school year, I made a little chalkboard printable I'm sharing with you today!

Vintage Skate Box Chalkboard Shelf

Is there anything that doesn't make a great chalkboard? My latest chalkboard creation is a vintage skate box that I made into a chalkboard and shelf!

A Big, Bold Chalkboard

What was once a mirror (hmm...hmm... that I broke) is now a large and in charge chalkboard!

Junk-Style Wall Organizer

Today I'm sharing what I think is a really fun project that I made to keep for my very own. This beauty has a little bit of everything: Beadboard. Chippy Paint. Rusty Metal. Burlap. Chalkboards. Do I have your attention yet?

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!

Almost Autumn A-Frame Sign

Since everyone seems to be in the autumn frame of mind (and I can't seem to get there, even though the kids are going back to school soon and I need to refresh my booth at the store), I thought I would at least set up a little fall-themed vignette for you while I show off this cute little sandwich-style chalkboard I threw together.

The Chalkboard with a Magnetic Personality

I found this cheval mirror frame at an auction. There was no mirror in it when I bought it, unless one small shattered piece in the bottom corner counts. The frame itself was in good shape, so I snagged it up for a steal, just knowing it would be a great upcycle project!

Chalkboard Shelf from a Broken Chair

Last fall, we were lucky enough to get permission to raid an old barn. And boy, did we ever! :) We got lots of cool goodies from that adventure!

While we were there, we peeked into an old silo too. In it, was this old broken chair back.

I'm so glad we grabbed it, even tho, at the time, I had no idea what I was going to do with it!

I finally found inspiration from Angie at Knick of Time Interiors with her awesome collection of repurposed chair backs. You should definitely check out her post, too, if you haven't seen it yet.

When we picked this one up, it was basically just the back and what I think may have been an arm of the chair. I detached the arm, cleaned it all off with soapy water, and started painting.

I decided to make the back into a chalkboard area. Who doesn't love chalkboard, after all?

For the sides, I used Duck Egg blue under Old White. I painted the cross pieces and the spindles in Santa Fe Turquoise and added Smokey Mountain over that.

Then I distressed and waxed.

I knew I wanted to add a shelf. And it just so happened that the arm I had removed was almost a perfect fit. Eric had to trim it a bit, but it worked out great! I gave that the same paint job as the rest, Duck Egg and Old White on the top and bottom of the shelf, and Santa Fe Turquoise and Smokey Mountiain on the outside edge. 

It's just the right size for a few antique bottles. :)

I added three white hooks to the bottom spindle.

Still, something was missing...

I wanted to put something between the sides and the chalkboard area, but was unsure what I wanted to use there. One day at work, I was looking at some backgrounds for a design I was working when I came across a denim stock photo. Then it hit me! I could cut up an old pair of jeans to attach to my chair back.

I went home and grabbed a pair of my daughter's jeans that had grown too small, cut them into strips and painted some Old White and Santa Fe onto the denim. Once it had dried, I simply folded it so the raw edges would be in back and sewed a cute little button on to keep it tucked together. Then stapled it to the back of the chair!

The denim strips would be perfect for using as a memo board with some simple  clothespins, don't you think?

I just love how this one turned out! Hope you like it too :)

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

Masterpiece Monday at Boogieboard Cottage, Mop It Up Monday at I Should Be Mopping the Floor, Make the Scene Monday at Alderberry Hill, Pink Hippo Party at Pinkapotamus, Monday No Rules Blog Hop at A Sorta Fairytale,Just Something I Whipped Up at The Girl Creative, Metamorphasis Monday at Between Naps on the Porch, Making the World Cuter Monday, Before and After at Thrifty Decor Chick (first Monday of the month), What's in the Gunny Sack at the Gunny Sack, Make It Pretty Monday at The Dedicated House, Mod Mix Monday at Mod Vintage Life, Budget Decorating Party at Creative Cain Cabin, That DIY Party at DIY Showoff, The DIY'ers Link Party at Home Coming, Pin It Hop at Minette's Maze, Marvelous Monday at this Gal Cooks

One Project at a Time at A Bowl Full of Lemons, Transformation Tuesday at The Ironstone Nest, Monday Funday at Creatively Living, Nifty Thrifty Tuesday at Coastal Charm, The Scoop at Cedar Hill Ranch, Project Inspired{d}at Cupcakes and Crinoline, You're Gonna Love It at Kathe with an E, Transformed Tuesdays at PJH Designs, Tweak It Tuesday at Cozy Little House, Take a Look Tuesday at Sugar Bee Crafts, Primp Your Stuff Wednesday at Primp Junktion, Be Inspired at Elizabeth and Co, Pretty Things Link Party at twelveOeight, Time to Shine at A Diamond in the Stuff, Too Cute Tuesday at Funky Polkadot Giraffe, The Power of Paint Party at Domestically Speaking, Creatively Tuesday at The Rustic Pig, Show Me What You Got at Not Just a Housewife, Share It Link Party at The Winthrop Chronicles, Tasteful Tuesday at Naptime Creations, Tutorial Tuesday at Hope Studios, Trash 2 Treasure at Kammy's Korner, Fluster's Creative Muster Party at Fluster Buster, The Creative Spark at Clean and Scentsible, Tuesdays at Our Home at Our Home Away from Home, Homemade by You at Made to be a Momma, Trendy Tuesdays at Sweet Little Gals, Brag About It Tuesday at Bebetsy

Wildly Original Link Party at I Gotta Create, Wow Us Wednesday at Family Home and Life, Whatever Goes Wednesday at Someday Crafts, Whimsy Wednesday at Smart School House, What's It Wednesday at Ivy and Elephants, Wednesday Whatsits at White Lights on Wednesday, What We Accomplished Wednesday at Green Willow Pond, Under $100 Linky Party at Beyond the Picket Fence, Show and Share at Southern Lovely, Wow Us Wednesdays at Savvy Southern Style, Wow Me Wednesday at Gingersnap Crafts, From Dream to Reality at The DIY Dreamer, Its' a Party! at A Creative Princess, Show Off Your Stuff Party at Fireflies and Jellybeans, Look What I Made Wednesday at Creations by Kara, Create and Share at The Trendy Treehouse, A Little Bird Told Me Link Party at The Life of Jennifer Dawn, Oh What a Happy Day Link Party at Not Done Growing

Party Time at The 36th Avenue, Home Sweet Home at The Charm of Home, Transformation Thursday at The Shabby Creek Cottage, Share Your Cup Party at Have a Daily Cup of Mrs. Olson, Hookin' Up with HOH at House of Hepworths, Talkin' about Thursday at Designed Decor, Live Laugh Linky at Live Laugh Rowe, Home and Garden Thursday at A Delightsome Life, The Inspiration Gallery at Craftberry Bush, Made U Look Linky at Made in a Day, Creative Things Thursday at The Vintage Farmhouse, Catch as Catch Can at My Repurposed Life, Time Travel Thursday at The Brambleberry Cottage, Catch a Glimpse Party at A Glimpse Inside, 52 Mantels, Creative Inspirations Linky Party at Embracing Change, Simply Create Link Party at Redfly Creations

Simply Creations Link Party at My Simple Homelife, 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, Home Sweet Home at The Charm of Home, Thrifty Things Friday at The Thrifty Groove, Simple and Sweet Fridays at Rooted inThyme, Be Inspired at Common Ground, Faunt It Friday at Chic on a Shoestring Decorating, Frugalicious Friday at Finding Fabulous, Fabulously Creative Friday at Jennifer Rizzo, Show and Tell Friday at Romantic Home, Junkin' Joe Vintage and Thrifty Finds at The Cottage Market, Weekend Wrap-Up Party at Tatertots and Jello, Shabbilicious Friday Link Party at Shabby Art Boutique, Tickled Pink at 504 Main, Anything Blue Friday at The Dedicated House, Rustic Restorations Weekend Link Party at Homespun Happenings,  Great Idea Thursdays at A Handful of Everything

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, Strut Your Stuff Party at Six Sisters' Stuff, Show and Tell Saturday at Sassy little Lady, Get Schooled Satuday at Too Much Time on My Hands, Power of Pinterest Party at Fox Hollow Cottage, Your Great Idea Party at Or So She Says, Overflowing with Creativity party at It's Overflowing, Craft Country Cottage Party at Old Red Barn, Saturday SHOW-licious Craft Showcase at Sew-licious

The Sunday Showcase Party at Under the Table and Dreaming, Sunny Simple Sundays Party at Sunny Simple Life, Sundae Scoop at I Heart Naptime, Think Pink Sundays at Flamingo Toes, Nifty Thrifty Sunday at Nifty Thrifty Things, It's Party Time at Three Mango Seeds, Restyled Sundays at Stylish Once Again, Silver Pennies Sundays at Silver Pennies, Frugal Crafty Home Blog Hop at A Blossoming Life

A Chalkboard in Bloom

Today I wanted to tell you a little bit more about our spring chalkboard that was hanging next to our new mail holder made from a shutter that I shared yesterday. 

This little goodie was already a chalkboard. But, the surface was pretty much shot. You just couldn't write on it anymore.

We had this particular item donated to us by a woman who saw us at our very first show and loved our stuff. She just so happened to have a few things in her car that she was planning on taking to Goodwill that day. Instead, she brought them back to our booth and made a donation to On A Whim! 

People can be so nice :)

All I did for this piece was paint the chalkboard itself with Ce Ce Caldwell's Emerald Isle and then I used Annie Sloan Aubusson Blue on the frame and dry brushed some Ce Ce's Santa Fe Turquoise over that. I love the effect! 

I printed some letters off of my computer and cut around them. I then cut 3" x 3" squares out of some springy-green scrapbook paper I had and made them into triangles. I glued the letters onto those and I attached the flags to a piece of teal yarn I had picked up somewhere in a free bin with some blue flower brads I had laying around in my scrapbook stash.

I just love the combination of blue and green, don't you? :)

Message Center {from a repurposed crate lid}

Meet our new message center.

This little beauty was made from a crate lid that Eric's boss was going to throw away (crazy people!). Thank goodness both his boss and mine are getting used to us collecting their trash. They've actually started asking us if we want stuff before trying to throw it away now! :)

Here is the message center before we did anything to it.

Just a plain, old crate lid. But loaded with potential!

I knew right away that is was completely perfect to make into a multi-purpose center for organizing notes and memos. 

The first thing I did was paint the chalkboard area. Then I painted the frame in Coco ASCP™ and gave it a dry-brush coat of old white, just to add a little more texture. I put on a coat of both clear and dark aging wax, then added cork to the bottom inset. 

I also knew I wanted some pegs or hooks on the bottom.

(In my house, there's always a need to hang up more stuff!)

Awhile back my boss had given me a coffee can full of miscellaneous hardware. Actually, he gave me 3 coffee cans full. I pulled these black knobs, if that's what you call them, out of the coffee can o'junk, made some measurements, drilled some holes and attached these to the bottom of the crate lid. 

The message center was certainly coming together nicely. But it felt like it was missing something. So, I got out another coffee can. This one was full of plastic-covered magnetic cabinet door latches. It's also the very same can my boss said "you don't want this junk" about. Well, thank goodness I DID want that junk! Because those cabinet magnets certainly came in handy! 

I took the metal pieces out of the plastic casings then used gorilla glue and clamps to attach them onto the top of the board. After they were dry, I pounded some great dark carpet tacks into the existing holes in the magnets.

I love the way this magnetic strip turned out!

The colors of the metals are great with the coco chalk paint.

Next, I cut some burlap and attached it to the inside of a few bottle caps, that had already been spray painted ivory, and glued magnet buttons to the backs.

I think these are the perfect little accessory for this piece! :) 

I had purchased some pulls for this project because I really wanted to add these to the piece. Normally, we don't purchase anything. I suppose that every now and again it's ok. :)

The pulls came with screws that were too short. No problem. I went to the hardware store and bought longer screws. I even measured the depth of the wood before going so I would get the correct length. So much for my measuring skills! lol. The screws I purchased were still too short!

Man, was I bummed. I really wanted to finish this project and get some photos of it over the weekend, not have to make another trip to the store for more screws. 

I got so fed up and irritated with myself about the lame-brain screw fiasco that I got the drill out, used my largest bit and, goll-darn it, if I didn't counter-sink those screws in the back of the board and get those pulls on after all! And all by my sweet little self, I might add! 

Hooray for me!

I just might be getting the hang of this handy {wo}man stuff after all! 

(But I'm still gonna leave the cutting and sawing to Eric.

I want to keep all of my fingers attached to my hand, after all!)

Hope you like the new message center!

Sharing...

Home Sweet Home Party at The Charm of Home

Frugal Fridays at The Shabby Nest Be Inspired Friday at Common Ground Feathered Nest Friday at French Country Cottage What Have You Redone at Redoux Interiors Frugalicious Friday at Finding Fabulous At The Picket Fence Chic on a Shoestring

Power of Pinterest Party at Fox Hollow Cottage

Nifty Thrifty Sunday at Nifty Thrifty Things
Sunny Simple Sundays at Sunny Simple Life

Think Pink Sunday at Flamingo Toes

Thrifty Things Friday at The Thrifty Groove Your Great Idea Link Party at Or So She Says March Before and After Party at Thrifty Decor Chick Make It Pretty Monday at The Dedicated House What's in the Gunny Sack at The Gunny Sack Pink Hippo Party at Pinkapotamus Project inspire{d}at Setting for Four Mod Mix Monday at Mod Vintage Life Monday No Rules Blog Hop at A Sorta Fairytale The Sunday Showcase Party at Under the Table and Dreaming Masterpiece Monday at Boogieboard Cottage Monday Funday at Creatively LIving Make the Scene Monday at Aderberry Hill Just Something I Whipped Up at The Girl Creative Metamorphisis Monday at Between Naps on the Porch Making the World Cuter Monday Make It Pretty Monday at The Dedicated House Pretty Things at twelveOeight Trash 2 Treasure Tuesday at Kammys Korner Tutorial Tuesday at Hope Studios Be Inspired Party at Elizabeth and Co Transformation Tuesday at the Ironstone Nest Share It Link Party at The Winthrop Chronicles Too Cute Tuesday at Funky Polka Dot Giraffe Time To Shine Party at A Diamond In The Stuff One Project at a Time Party at A Bowl Full of Lemons Tasteful Tuesday at Naptime Creations You're Gonna Love It at Kathe with an E Transformed Tuesday at PJH Designs Budget Decorating Party at Creative Cain Cabin The Scoop at Cedar Hill Ranch Nifty Thrifty Tuesday at Coastal Charm

What We Accomplished Wednesday at Green Willow Pond
From Dream to Reality at The DIY Dreamer
Creatively Tuesday at The Rustic Pig
Tweak It Tuesday at Cozy Little House
Show Me What Ya Got at Not Just a Housewife
Creative Things Thursday at The Vintage Farmhouse
Whatever Goes Wednesday at Someday Crafts
Show and Share at Southern Lovely
Wednesday Whatsits at White Lights on Wednesday
Whats It Wednesday at Ivy and Elephants
Wow Me Wednesday at Gingersnap Crafts
Whimsy Wednesday at Smart School House
Wow Us Wednesday at Family Home and Life
Wow Us Wednesdays at Savvy Southern Style

Look What I Made Linky at Creations by Kara

Show Off Your Stuff Party at Fireflies and Jellybeans

Wildly Original Linky Party at I Gotta Create

It's a Party! at A Creative Princess

Made U Look Linky at Made in a Day

Time Travel Thursday at The Brambleberry Cottage

Creative Inspirations Linky Party at Embracing Change

Hookin Up with HOH at House of Hepworths

Live Laugh Linky at Live Laugh Rowe

Share Your Cup Thursday at Have a Daily Cup of Mrs. Olson

Party Time at The 36th Avenue

Talkin' About Thursday Linky Party at Designed Decor

Home and Garden Thursday at A Delightsome Life
Transformation Thursday at The Shabby Creek Cottage
The Inspiration Gallery at Craftberry Bush
Catch as Catch Can at My Repurposed Life
Home Sweet Home at The Charm of Home
Catch a Glimpse Party at A Glimpse Inside
Crafty Thrusday at Kreative Kreationz
Tickled Pink at 504 Main
An Oldie but a Goodie at Cutesy Crafts

Salvaged Cabinet Door Chalkboard

I found this great old cabinet door at an antique show that I happened to have the good fortune of driving by one day. It was a great show at the Lake Odessa Fairgrounds. Tons of vendors and awesome stuff. But I picked this up from a young kid who salvages items and resells them as he is putting himself through college. He had some great architectural pieces!

Just check out the rusty old hardware on this thing...

And this great weathering too!

It was easy to create a chalkboard for this piece. It already had the groove to slide a board into so all I needed to do was use some chalkboard paint and slide it right in there! Easy as pie and perfectly awesome. I'm sure it's looking fantastic on its new owner's wall. :)

By the way, check out this piece that I also bought from the same kid. All I did was paint some crackly teal on it and add a hook. Some pieces are just so full of vintage charm that they don't need much work at all!