Have you ever noticed those charming little chalkboard easels in front of cute shops and boutiques?
I have. And, I’m not sure why but I have a thing for them. They’re such an inviting part of the decor in front of my favorite places.
(All photos via Pinterest)
One day while I was shopping at a fun little boutique it occurred to me that an easel just might be the ticket for near my front door. I have a large front porch so I’m always trying to figure out how best to decorate that space.
I kept the thought of an easel tucked away in my head until one day at Joann Fabrics I found a little chalkboard on clearance for $7. It looked like this one but had a very bright and crazy little rooster on it.
(Photo via Meanginful Menagerie)
So I picked it up and brought it home knowing that somehow I could put legs on it and turn it into an easel. Here’s how I did it:
This project really doesn’t require a lot of DIY expertise. If you know how to hammer a few nails and use a drill, you can do this project.
I have to admit that I was a little nervous about drilling the hole for the dowel through the “leg.” It takes a pretty big drill bit to fit the dowel. I started drilling on one side and stopped about halfway through and then drilled through the other side to meet the hole in the middle. I did get my hole a little crooked but it still worked.
Then, to help the leg swivel more easily, I cut the end that’s closest to the chalkboard at an angle. I made that cut after I drilled the hole.
I finished the project by using my Annie Sloan Chalk Paint in Old Violet that I used for my china cabinet to paint all but the chalkboard. (I finished it with a dark wax this time giving it a grayish blue color). Then I gave it a couple of fresh coats of chalkboard paint and covered the crazy rooster at the top.
Ta da!! A new chalkboard easel. It’s exactly what I wanted!
Thanks for reading!
Linking up to:
Tatertots & Jello
Jennifer Rizzo
My Repurposed Life
Craft-o-Maniac
DIY Showoff
Claiming Our Space
Not Just a Housewife
Elizabeth & Co.
The Shabby Nest
AKA Design
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Cute idea! I love chalk board easels too. Found you from Jennifer Rizzo’s link up.
That’s really sweet, Julie!
I have a thing for those too! I love how you made it swivel with the dowel. You’re right, very doable and yours turned out so cute, even the lettering. I also need to learn to write with style, because even though I could put one of these together, sadly the nice handwriting eludes me. I would just find something to copy though or enlist someone else do that part.
Liz
PS: I’m your new follower. Hope you’ll stop over at Quirky Vistas for a visit and follow as well, if you like!
Liz
Thanks so much for linking up and linking back to Catch as Catch Can Julie! I love your chalkboard easel! “catching” you tonight!
gail
This is too cute. Hmmm, where can I use a chalk board easel at my house? Thanks for sharing on Tout It Tuesday! Hope to see you tomorrow.
Very creative! Love it! And I would love for you to come share at my Farm Girl Blog Fest: http://fresh-eggs-daily.blogspot.com/2012/11/farm-girl-blog-fest-7.html
And while you’re visiting, enter to win a copy of Laura Childs’ new mystery Stake & Eggs (the tab to enter the contest is at the top of my homepage)
Lisa
Fresh Eggs Daily
How clever. I really like this. laurie