I’m always looking for creative and fun ways to display art (or create little education stations), so why not kill two birds with one stone and convert a boring old garage door, into a chalkboard door – a perpetual artistic canvas?
We had your typical boring and basic white garage door (leading off of our kitchen) and it was starting to look a bit dirty and disheveled. I knew that I wanted to do something different with it, and for awhile I considered painting it a bright new color, to add a pop of fun…but then a better idea emerged.
After coming across several pins on Pinterest depicting walls that had been converted into chalkboards where children could create masterpieces (all made possible with a can of chalkboard paint), I had the answer that I had been looking for.
I set out for Home Depot and acquired a can of Rust-Oleum Specialty Chalkboard Paint (in a black finish), along with a small foam roller brush. I knew that I would also need a primer, but what I was not expecting to find was a can of Rust-Oleum’s Specialty Magnetic Primer sitting right next to the chalkboard paint. Magnetic primer? Seriously? This was just too good to be true! Not only could I turn our garage door into a place where my little nugget could let her creativity run wild, but I could also make it magnetic, which would allow us to display our ABC and animal magnets as well (since our refrigerator was becoming a little over-crowded)!
Now, despite my enthusiasm, and the fact that I love being able to stick magnets to the door now – in hindsight, I might have skipped the magnetic primer entirely. The reason? The fumes that it emitted were horrendous and all-encompassing. Luckily, my little one was at school the day I decided to complete this little project, but I almost made things uninhabitable for my husband and myself, in the meantime. It was horrible…headache inducing…well, you get the picture. In all of my excitement, I had forgotten to consider toxic paint fumes…but, I had started this project, and I was going to finish it.
The good news? The odor from the chalkboard paint was way less toxic and obnoxious. And now…we have a wonderful place to display our artistic creations, and our magnets!
Speaking of artistic creations…well as you could imagine…my little nugget can only canvas the bottom-half of the door (at this point), leaving the top-half wide open. I knew I had to step-up my game and utilize the space. I should forewarn you that while I may love simple arts and crafts projects, as well as scrapbooking…that is the extent of my artistic ability. I’m a stick-figure girl…all the way…or so I thought!
I figuredΒ that it would be fun to create chalk drawings that would coincide with holidays or seasons, or something exciting that we are planning to do soon. I started simple, but decided to really push myself after a few months…and what do you know? I surprised even myself. It turns out I am capable of drawing more than just stick figures…not to say that my drawings are gallery-worthy by any means, but the things I’ve drawn actually look like real things!
I am free-hand drawing all of these little masterpieces, but not just off the cuff…I look up Google images and find ones that I like and then, while holding a piece of chalk in one hand, and my phone in the other, I timidly create artistic scenes on our chalkboard garage door.
My little nugget is always excited to see the door when there is a new picture to admire. She enthusiastically points out all of the things she knows, while we also discuss all of the new things that she sees (I’m always looking for those educational opportunities). Next thing you know, she’s inspired to grab the chalk and blissfully adorn her section of the door!
