Christmas Cheater Chalkboard

Hello, has anyone seen my van? 




Yep, it was this kind of day here in Colorado. Not only lots of snow on the ground, but bitter cold temperatures to boot. I'm so glad I didn't need to be anywhere today!




I know this is silly, but I just love this lamp post next to our driveway. I can see it from my bedroom window, and when it's all covered with snow like this, I just think it's the cutest thing. 
A little weird, I know : ) 

Okay, on to today's project-  a super speedy "cheater" Christmas chalkboard!

You know how it is. 

Sometimes you're working on a space and you need something for a certain area or wall. 

You realize you don't have "the something" you want for that space. 

You know you're not going to buy something for the space. 

Certainly you can MAKE something for that space, right? 

Right!




I've mentioned here before than you can create a chalkboard-like surface on just about anything by simply painting it with black craft paint, and that's exactly what I did with this piece.

This past summer I made some chalkboard style signs for a friend's wedding. What I used for the painted chalkboard style surface on one of the signs for the drink station (hence the water stains) was an ugly old oil painting that I picked up from a 'free' pile after a yard sale. I simply painted over it with black craft paint, 'seasoned' the surface by rubbing chalk over the entire surface and then erasing it.

Yes, apparently I did watermark a photo of an old water stained piece of cardboard. : )




I've had this chippy white frame for some time. I don't really remember, but it might have been a curbside freebie, as well.

I decided I would create a framed Christmas cheater chalkboard for the area I was working on. I cut the piece of black painted cardboard to fit the back of the frame, and hot glued it in place. 




Boy, the photos just get more attractive as we move along, eh? 

I think I must have seen on Pinterest some time ago that you can use soda can tabs as picture hangers. Brilliant! A friend gave me a whole bag of these recently, so I decided I would use one for this project. 


I decided to hot glue the tab to the frame because:

1) The glue gun was already plugged in 
                               and
 2) I was too lazy to go find the screw gun and screws at that     
     moment       

It's really very light, so I'm sure (hoping) the glue will be just fine.

Do you like my epic chalkboard lettering skills? haha
Really, I was just going for a "homespun" look.  


Home Sweet Christmas Home- ironic because we won't be home. But we'll all be together and that makes wherever we are a sweet Christmas home, right?

I tied a thrift store plaid scarf into a bow and attached it to the frame with a thumb tack.

I was able to create just what I was looking for to finish this space without spending any money and in, literally, just a few minutes. 

I really love that. 

I am overwhelmed by the astounding number of beautiful Christmas home tours that are going on in the blogging world right now!

I may or may not get a holiday home tour posted before we leave for California, but this week I will show you the space I created the cheater Christmas chalkboard for, okay? 

I hope you'll come back for a visit soon. Thanks for reading, friends!

Jeanette 


Sharing at these wonderful parties this week

Share Your Cup Thursday at Have a Daily Cup of Mrs. Olson
Be Inspired at Common Ground
Home Sweet Home at The Charm of Home
Feathered Nest Friday at French Country Cottage    
Party Junk at Funky Junk Interiors