faux chalkboard – A Diamond in the Stuff

Kitchen Conversions Chalkboard Sign

Courtney Carmean — Tue, 16 Feb 2016 14:00:52 +0000

In my effort to spruce up the house (I’m in a MOOD) I am re-doing my dining area. We have built new shelving and I will be blogging about it soon! But in the meantime I needed to decorate my new shelves. I mostly shopped my house for items but I needed to fill some gaps, so I decided to whip something up. My Kitchen Conversions Chalkboard Sign to be specific.

I happen to be perusing Michael’s the other day and came upon a clearanced out chalkboard. It was dark blue (which doesn’t go with my decor at all) but it was adorable and $1.99. So into the cart it went. It just took a little bit of white chalk paint and it was already looking more like me. I knew I wanted to do something more to it though so I grabbed my Silhouette and got to work.

I created a file of kitchen conversions using my Silhouette Cameo. I may be the only one out there, but I can never remember all of those conversions! Now I have a cheat sheet!

I cut the file out of white vinyl and placed it on the chalkboard surface. Then I used a piece of chalk to rub all over the chalkboard to make it look used. I love how the sign has a vintage-y look to it.

The Chalkboard sign looks absolutely adorable on my shelf and fits in so perfectly!

So are you just dying to make your own KITCHEN CONVERSIONS SIGN now??? Well…..if you have a Silhouette I can help with that! Simply click HERE for the file and download it! Am I favorite person today or what!?!?

Have a great week everyone! Linking up to these great link parties!!!

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Looking for more kitchen inspiration? Why not come take a look at this pretty Vintage Drop Leaf Kitchen Table?

DIY Faux Christmas Chalkboard

Courtney Carmean — Wed, 16 Dec 2015 14:00:49 +0000

In the Fall I created this DIY Faux Framed Chalkboard. Since it was Fall, I went with a Thanksgiving saying for the first chalkboard. Now that Christmas time has rolled around I needed to whip up a DIY Faux Christmas Chalkboard!

If you are looking for my tutorial on how I created my faux chalkboards you can see it HERE. I created mine using my Silhouette Cameo and it’s really a pretty simple project. Simple but beautiful.

I purchased the file from the Silhouette store so that made this one easy peasy! I just popped the faux chalkboard out of the frame, flipped it over, and created the Christmas chalkboard on the back of the Thanksgiving chalkboard. Then I popped it back in the frame.

The DIY Faux Christmas Chalkboard turned out gorgeous! It looks perfect in my entryway and is the perfect addition to my Christmas decor!

Linking up to these great link parties!!!

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While you’re visiting, I’d love if you would come take a look at my Aqua and Red Christmas Tree…….

DIY Faux Framed Chalkboard

Courtney Carmean — Fri, 18 Sep 2015 13:00:27 +0000

Earlier this week I shared My Small and Simple Entryway. It had remained an awkward space for two years and I finally found my perfect solution. On my new entryway wall I hung this DIY Faux Framed Chalkboard.

I’ve had this gold frame for quite awhile, it was a super cheap score! I loved it so much but didn’t know what I wanted to do with, didn’t just want to do more of the same. I wasn’t nuts about the color of the frame though. The gold was appealing to me but just not in this way. So I painted the frame Metallic Gloss Gold by Rustoleum, a much better gold!

For inside the frame, we just cut some thin plywood to fit the opening in the back.

After the wood was cut it was time to paint! I painted it with some Chalky Finish paint in black. It’s not actual chalkboard paint, but it is chalk paint. It has a flat look like chalkboard paint does, which is exactly what I wanted.

I created my design with my Silhouette Cameo and cut it out of vinyl. I weeded out all the lettering so I could use the vinyl as a stencil. With a little bit of transfer tape I placed my vinyl stencil on my wood and made sure it was pressed down really well.

Once the stencil was down, I painted inside the letters with the same black paint I used on the wood. This way if there’s bleeding, it will be the black paint and unnoticeable. Then I painted a white chalk paint in the stencil to mimic “chalk” writing on my sign. When all the paint was dry I rubbed chalk all over the sign and then wiped it down. It’s really starting to look like a chalkboard now!

I just popped the new “chalkboard” into the frame, not actually attaching it to anything. I didn’t want to make it permanent because in the middle of this project I decided that I wanted to create new “chalkboard” for different seasons and holidays! Squee! More reasons to craft!!! So for now, this one is my “Fall” chalkboard. It’s a great reminder!

I feel like the space has come together perfectly!

The Faux Chalkboard was the perfect solution for this spot! To the right is my crib bench and to the left is a huge mirror. I didn’t want to add another bulky furniture piece and I didn’t want another mirror.

Honestly I gave the Faux Chalkboard a try because I am terrible at freehand. I’m also a perfectionist. To be honest, I love the way it turned out and the board really does look like a chalkboard. I’d say it was a crafting win! What do you think?

Linking up to these great link parties!!!

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How about some more Fall inspiration? This Hanging Fall Centerpiece is sure to make a big impact on your holiday table!!!