DIY Chalkboard Calendar Tutorial

I'm really excited to bring you a project I just finished this weekend that I couldn't wait to make. Since it was my first time doing this, there are some things I know now from doing it that I may try to go back and fix. But as a first attempt, I think it turned out pretty decent. And it was fun!


Here are the tools I used for my project:


First I took my canvas board and painted it with two coats of acrylic paint of any choice. I chose just some cheap paint that was under $1 in a nice turquoise color.

After I let the paint dry for an hour or two, I then masked off around the border with my masking tape.

After that, I used my t-square ruler to start measuring and marking my days of the week on the calender.
This started to become a bit frustrating so I decided to just eye it when I went to placing the masking tape on. I had to adjust a few squares as I went along. They aren't all completely perfect, but they were really close enough.

I left a space along the top to fill in the month and year. Then I had added 28 spaces {that was pretty much all the space allowed for. I'll just have to cut spaces in half for longer months}

 Next, I used my chalkboard paint and a wide paint brush to cover the canvas board completely. On my paint, the instructions were to do one coat, let dry for an hour and then apply a second coat which needed to then sit for 24 hours before chalking. I noticed my paint had a bit of a sheen to it. It wasn't matte like some other chalkboard paint I have seen before. But it's ok. It still does it's job.

Once the paint had set for the allowed time, it said to prime the paint with chalk. So I took my chalk and laid it on it's side and rubbed it all over the board. After that, I used a paper towel to swirl it around.

After the chalk was nice and smeared, I then was excited to begin the tape removal process. This was somewhat of a pain because the masking tape was just tearing and not coming off as "user friendly" as it should have. I blame it on the age. I've had this tape since college, so it can't be blamed it was a bit difficult to come off in one piece.

Once all the tape had been removed, I took my picture hanger thing-a-ma-bob-gig and some super glue and turned over the canvas and glued the hanger to the top back center of the canvas. Let it dry for a few mins and then I was ready to go with decorating my calendar.

And this was the finished product hanging on the wall. I printed out on the computer the days of the week in a chalkboard font and glued them to the board under the month and year space. Then I filled in the dates and the month. *Note-it is not fun, easy or amusing to use your child's huge sidewalk chalk to do this part. I was so frustrated beyond compare. I didn't have smaller chalk, so this was what I had to work with. it was a pain, trust me. Once I find the smaller chalk, I will redo the numbers and be able to add more events tot he calender. But can't you see the sheen on it? I couldn't get a better photo with the light. But it's good enough. You get the point.
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16 comments

  1. AlesheaSep 3, 2013, 7:21:00 AM

    Very creative and good job

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  2. AbbySep 3, 2013, 8:14:00 AM

    I love this! I would have never guessed that is what you were making the other day!! :) Great Job! :)

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  3. Nicole NASep 3, 2013, 12:44:00 PM

    Very nice!

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  4. Kristine@thefoleyfamSep 3, 2013, 1:22:00 PM

    I think it turned out great!!! Thanks for sharing! So much fun with chalkboard paint!

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  5. Heather CoodySep 3, 2013, 5:29:00 PM

    So cute & creative! Thanks so much for linking it up at Tips & Tricks! :)
    -Heather
    www.stringtownhome.net

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  6. AllieSep 3, 2013, 5:57:00 PM

    What a cute idea. I love all things chalkboard they are so much fun! I thinm this is a wonderful idea.

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  7. OutcastSep 4, 2013, 6:06:00 PM

    This is awesome Rebecca, what a brilliant little project.

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  8. Love ChristinSep 5, 2013, 3:15:00 PM

    I didn't even know they had "chalkboard paint"!!!! this is a great idea! Thank y0u for sharing!

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  9. Diana of Diana RamblesSep 5, 2013, 6:45:00 PM

    I love it! Great project!!

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  10. PaolaSep 5, 2013, 8:58:00 PM

    Amazing post, I love the detail you put on all your post, I'm totally going to try it...would you like to follow each other on Bloglovin? follow me and leave a comment on my blog and i shall surely be following you back

    www.withinmystyle.blogspot.com

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  11. UnknownSep 5, 2013, 9:03:00 PM

    fabulous idea and a great tutorial. thanks. found you at the link party. you can visit me at denisedesigned.com as well. Thanks!

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  12. Kim SeghersSep 8, 2013, 9:25:00 PM

    Wonderful post, I need to try this. I found you through the blog hop.
    I am following you ..would love for you to come visit me, too.
    http://thisolemom.blogspot.com

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  13. UnknownSep 8, 2013, 9:29:00 PM

    This is a really cute project. I'd like to have my kids make themselves each one of these (or maybe I should make each one for homemade Christmas presents!)

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  14. Rose ClearfieldSep 9, 2013, 9:01:00 PM

    Hopping over here from For Love of Cupcakes. This is really cute! Thanks for the great tutorial.

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  15. JamieSep 22, 2013, 8:14:00 PM

    WOW amazing!! This looks so cute but also incredibly useful! :) Thanks so much for joining the I <3 My Blog {Hop} last week!

    <3 Jamie

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  16. KatelynOct 28, 2013, 9:33:00 AM

    This is awesome and you make it look so easy!!

    ReplyDelete

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