Last week, when I posted this “Make Your Own” Decorative Chalkboard, several of you on Facebook shared that I could make my own chalkboard paint! I wasn’t so sure, but I wanted to give it a try.
It worked!
Supplies:
- 1/2 cup paint
- 1 T. unsanded tile grout
- Mixing container for paint
- Paint stir stick
- Sponge paint brush or small roller
- Fine-grit sandpaper
- Damp cloth
1) Stir the paint and unsanded tile grout together. (Be sure it is smooth — you can see I had a few clumps!)
2) Paint onto a primed or painted surface with a sponge brush. Apply several coats.
3) Allow to dry. Sand with fine grit sandpaper.
4) Wipe off the dust. “Condition” the chalkboard by rubbing the side of a piece of chalk all over the surface. Remove the chalk with a slightly-damp cloth.
The original directions from Martha Stewart suggest using latex paint, but I used acrylic paint (since I don’t have any red latex paint!!) and put it directly on an oatmeal container to make our Valentine’s Holder! The acrylic paint is a little thicker, so that may be why I had more clumping. Next time, I will make sure to break up all the clumps!
After we’re done using it for Valentine’s, I plan to store craft supplies in it! I can just erase the hearts and write the contents of the container on it!
Even grout that doesn’t have sand often has other additives, like polymers that can be less than desirable for chalkboards.
Because it is getting more and more difficult to find grout that doesn’t have any additives, I offer these two options:
Powdered sheet rock compound. Drawback is in the quantity you must buy, just to get a few tablespoons,
Best readily available item I found is to use plaster of paris. Can get it in small quantities, and often already in the toolkit of many crafters.
Or, how about this one? Pulverize a piece of sidewalk chalk to a fine dust. (Use a common grater, or heavy sandpaper.) It’s calcium carbonate, AKA “chalk”. That’s the part of the grout useful to you, and that’s the easiest, least expensive option.
~DM
Thanks for the suggestions!!