chalkin' crazy

chalkboard paint has to be one of the best things ever thought up.
so many uses and so many inspirations.

the first time i used it was as a provisional for junior league a few years ago:
our provisional project was a complete redo of the local battered woman's shelter's playroom and playground. i was in charge of the design of the playroom and had a great group of ladies helping. we painted the entire perimeter of the room {below the chair rail} with chalkboard paint. i thought the chair rail would be a nice "barrier" and prevent the little kids from just going chalk crazy all over all the walls. {and the big kids, well they should just know better}
some fellow junior league-ers painted some "under the sea" murals on the wall and another junior league-er's husband donated cabinetry.  we also painted all the trim and doors white and replaced the carpet with donated carpet tile from a very generous Shaw Carpet rep i worked with for years.
it was such a rewarding project and i think everyone really enjoyed being a part of it.

before

after

{these pics are terrible.  i cant find the ones i took with my old camera - another thing i need to organize asap - so these were pirated off the penelope house website}


other inspirations for this insanely versatile paint: {click on the pics for the original links}

what is really funny is that there are only a very small number of things that make the hair on the back of my neck stick up, and squeaky chalkboards are one of them. ok i could barely even type that as my body started doing its freaked-out wiggly motion accompanied by chills. {family you know what im talking about}.
but i LOVE CHALKBOARD PAINT.

walking contradiction i tell you.

anyway, in trying to stick to my "challenge creativity" resolution for the year, i am doing some small things around the house to clean up, streamline, and organize.
here is what the right of my cooktop looked like for the past three and a half years:



here is what it looks like now:



i bought a small can of chalkboard paint at lowes several months ago with dreams of using it for a chalkboard in bennett's "big boy room".  well, since his "big boy room" has not really even begun to commence the can has been sitting in a corner of our bedroom for FAR to long {just ask my husband}.  thursday i was cleaning up and thought it needed to be put to some good use.  so after a quick trip to wal mart i came home with these



painted small rectangles on each


and now they sit here for easy use on a simple white plate also from wal-mart {no more sticky counter top!}


i love the way the spouts pour {my old bottle of oil would literally drown whatever i was trying to pour it on/over.  i had gotten used to it over the years, but the regulated pour is a very nice change}.  AND i love the salt and pepper shakers being right there on hand when im cooking.

i used the smaller bottle for dish soap and it is sitting by my sink.  the soap doesnt flow out nearly as fast as the soaps original bottle, but as a result i have realized just how much soap i was wasting when i washed dishes. seriously guys you hardly need a splash and it will suds up an entire sink.  heres to being {accidentaly} green! :)

let me know if you think of any other fun way to use this versatile "invention"

{my notes: i would recommend if you are painting on glass that you do several coats.  maybe even prime it first with a thick coat of something else and then chalkboard paint over it.  it was hard to cover the glass and i had to do three coats.  it ended up being a little bumpy bc i had to dot on the paint to cover it completely - when i used strokes it would just wipe itself off - hence the possible need to prime.  i sort of remedied this on the last coat but it is still a little bumpy.  i think it adds character :)}