Tag: chalkboard paint

Chalkboard Painted Block Puzzle

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Travis has been home sick from school this week, so we’ve been looking for quiet, indoor games. Puzzles are a fantastic way to keep a child entertained when under the weather, engaging their mind while letting their bodies rest. A little leftover chalkboard paint helped us make up a craft-y version, as well!

While Travis rested, I painted wooden cubes (available at craft stores) with chalkboard paint on all sides. For the least mess while drying, paint 3 sides and let dry, then flip over and paint the remaining 3 sides.

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Ideally I would have used larger cubes, but the small ones I had on hand worked just fine. Once the paint dries, take turns with your child making drawings in chalk, and having the other person assemble.

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To wit, I designed a car and flower for Travis.

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He was briefly into the puzzles, but more intrigued with the idea of chalking all over the squares.

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Even more fun was how easily they can erase with just a swipe of a wet paper towel, when you’re ready to change the design.

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Here he is making a puzzle for mommy – hope I can figure out the right way to put all those green squares together!

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The perfect activity for any time you need to lie low.

DIY Chalkboard Planters

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Chalkboard paint is practically like magic – paint a coat over just about anything, and soon you have a chalkboard surface.

We had plans to plant flowers and herbs in pots on our back patio, so it was the perfect excuse to break out the chalkboard paint!

You could either make a big stripe to be the label…

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…or do as Travis did and paint the whole pot.

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We decided this large surface would be great for drawing in pictures of the plants with chalk, in addition to simply writing their names.

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Let dry overnight, then use chalk to write in the name of whatever will be in your pots. Happy planting!

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Chalkboard Frame

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I keep hearing about how fun chalkboard paint is, so it was finally time to give it a try! With a simple coat of paint, you can transform a room, wall, or object.

We opted to start out small; a wooden picture frame (picked up cheap at a craft store) made the perfect canvas. Parents, be forewarned: If you’re used to using washable paint with your toddler or preschooler, you’re entering the big leagues here. Chalkboard paint is acrylic, and won’t wash out nearly as easily.

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After we carefully covered our work surface, Travis was so excited at the novelty of the paint. He made sure his black paint got all the way to the edges.

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Ok, and he was so excited he painted over the glass in the middle where a photo would go!

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Aim for 2 layers of paint; Travis was so enthusiastic we probably ended up with closer to 3 or 4.

We had to wait awhile for the chalkboard paint to dry, so this was a good project for the morning. Our busy day distracted him until I could present him with the dry frame.

Now it was time to break out the chalk!

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He loved that he could color over it however he liked, and was thrilled when I said this time there was no need for chalk to dry. A very cute project that would make a nice gift, too.

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