adventures with chalkboard paint: aka, my first big do-it-yourself project

It all started it a can of chalkboard paint from WalMart. 

Just $8.97. Not bad.

Then I taped off the section of wall that I wanted to make into a chalkboard. I used a level to ensure straight lines, and several layers of painter's tape to keep the paint where I wanted it.

Then came the painting process.

I used a 3 inch brush. A smooth chalkboard surface requires a little bit of sandpaper and a lot of patience. For the 1st coat, I used long, horizontal strokes. I waited about 18 hours between my 1st & 2nd coats of paint. Before applying the 2nd coat, I used the sandpaper to lightly smooth the surface of the painted area, and then proceeded to apply the paint with vertical strokes of the brush. I didn't wait as long between the 2nd & 3rd coats - just 8 hours. Using the sandpaper to smooth the surface one last time, I then applying the 3rd coat and went back to horizontal strokes.

I was very pleased with the paint job, but I wasn't finished yet. Before writing on the chalkboard, one must prepare the surface. You need to cover the area with chalk by rubbing the side of a piece of chalk across the surface. Once you do that and then erase the chalk, the board is ready to be used.

Ta da!

And that is how I made my unique corner chalkboard.