Chalkboard wall organizer.....tutorial

I was catching up around blogging land a little while back and I saw this post about a chalkboard. The frame color and shape of hers reminded me that I never had shared my chalkboard! silly me......I created a chalkboard on the wall back in May before school got out. So better late then never, eh? :)

So here is the wall before.......You've seen photos of this area before. Those are my kids school wall pockets- a place to hold their papers, pictures, etc instead of piling on the counter. Bulletin board holds lunch menu, calendar, etc. Just a handy spot we pass a million times a day in and out of the garage and on our way!

I wanted to put a chalkboard on the wall in the empty space to the right of the bulletin board and wall pockets. Handy for messages, daily chores, etc. I tape off the size and shape I wanted. **Hindsight tip: Be sure to cover your floors well if you will be using chalkboard SPRAY paint. I learned the hard way that it travels and "sits" everywhere. Also a good idea to sand down the texture on the wall a bit for a smooth surface. ** (yes honey you were right)

After a good coating of chalkboard paint, drying time and pulling off the tape I painted a bold RED border around it. I cut out a quick template that I simply placed and traced over and over again around the outside. Then I went back and higlighted some of the curves with some black paint and a small brush.

I also spiced up the wall pockets with a RED color wash on the outside......

Added a touch of RED and pattern to the face of the bulletin board frame. I cut some strips of scrapbook paper and glued it down. Nothing fancy.

And that's IT! Our information is all centralized and fun too! No more blah, but more of an "aHHhhh!" nice.