Homemade Kitchen Chalkboards!

Did you know that it is ridiculously easy to make your own chalkboard paint?? All you need is 2 tablespoons of unsanded grout for every cup of paint.

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Mix them together & voila! You have chalkboard paint. Which kind of looks a lot like sludge if I do say so myself.

Thank you, Centsational Girl & Martha Stewart for gifting me with a cheap and addictive decor-related substance. That's just what I needed.

Sure, I could have bought a can of chalkboard paint from Lowes for $15... but if I had an entire can of chalkboard paint, I would probably try to chalkboard-ify everything in my house just to use it up.

Instead, since I already had some leftover black paint at home, I bought the smallest quantity of unsanded grout I could find for $4. Now, I can take any color paint and make it into chalkboard paint. Hmm. The teacher in me has a sneaking suspicion that everything in my house just might end up chalkboard-ified after all... Just not in black.

Starting with the under the stairs closet door in the kitchen. Here's the before:

And here's the after:

Did I mention that I'm in the process of redecorating the whole kitchen? Because I am. Consider this a sneak peek until I finally finish the counters, curtains, and shelving.

I debated going with green chalkboard instead of black, but with the black kitchen appliances and my collection of cast iron pans, black ultimately won out. I think it was the right decision. Thanks, Sarah, for giving me a friendly shove in that direction!

Now I have a list writing center. In plain view. Where I'm less likely to ignore it. Probably.

Look at all that space for lists! Ridiculously long, unreasonable, unobtainable lists, here I come!

Unable to stop with the closet door, I turned my attention to my poor, sad, stained, off white, kitchen door...

*shudder*

A couple of weekends ago, my sister-in-law Sarah (of Five Camels) and I were sitting in the kitchen discussing decor plans, when Sarah turned to me and said:

Sarah: Do you know what that door needs?

Me: What?

Sarah: Chalkboard panels.

Me: HECK YEAH! Genius!

We don't get along at all. ;)

Fast forward a few weeks and the door looks like this:

(Sarah - I totally copied your above door Palm Sunday palm display... because I really liked it!)

The door will probably end up being Joseph's "list writing" center. You know. For all those lists 2 year olds like to scribble write.

(Think Apu Nahasapeemapetilo from The Simpsons)

Wasn't that fun??

Now. I need someone to physically restrain me before I give in to further temptation...

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Mmm. Chalkboard paint. The new Meth. Right, Sarah? ;)