DIY Wood Slice Chalkboard

Another goodwill find, another DIY thrifting project. This time it’s a DIY Wood Slice Chalkboard. Man I love thrifting. This wood slice was a whopping $1.99!! To purchase a plain wood slice is $5 – minimum. So I’d say I’m already ahead on this one. AND it came with one side all ready to display. Hello?! Winning! Sorry, I get a little carried away with thrifting. Even though it came ready to display I really wanted to try my hand at the whole DIY wood slice chalkboard sign thing. It’s a super popular Etsy item, and for a good reason – it’s cute! Here’s the art that came with the wood slice.

If you can handle a stencil, this is an easy DIY. You’ll see what I’m talking about in a bit. Here’s all I need to make it into a chalkboard wood slice: chalkboard paint and a foam paint brush. Remember, I already had the chalkboard paint from the chalkboard organizer project, so I’m still only out $1.99. This particular Martha Stewart black chalkboard paint was $2.49, so we’re still not breaking the bank here.

Let’s get started. Paint one layer of chalkboard paint. I used a foam brush so that the edges wouldn’t be so rough or have little stray paint brush hairs coloring outside the lines.

Then a second layer.

Well that was easy. Now it’s stencil time. I initially wanted to write on here instead of use a stencil but my free hand is junior – at best. So I turned to stencils. Turns out I’m inept at that too. Please direct your attention to the below photos. Is it because I picked the wrong stencil products? I’m sure that’s half of it because one is for leather products and the other is for silkscreen. I just liked their fonts better than the traditional products. Or perhaps I choose the wrong applicator? It’s a small bottle, like a bingo dauber, where it’s a round sponge on top and the paint inside. I thought that would be brilliant because it’s self-contained and you can erase it! It’s the Martha Stewart white erasable liquid chalk.

My sad attempts.

But you know what’s so cool about working with the erasable chalk paint?! I can just wipe it off with a wet rag and move on. So if you’re a newbie, like myself, start with chalk paint then work your way up to big-girl paint.

Now I’ve given up on stencil words entirely and move onto a picture stencil picked up at the Target dollar section last year. It’s just a large leaf and at this point I’m only slightly confident I can make it work. I get started by using painters tape, so as to not damage the existing chalkboard paint or the wood slice, and tape down my stencil.

Once it’s secure, I dab the bingo-dauber paint applicator all over. I thought it looked a little sparse, and the circles were too pronounced, so I decided to gentle. Great it’s working, I’m liking it. Then I keep going over it and it ends up looking stupid in the middle so I think, let’s smear it on. Dumb idea number twenty because I squeeze the applicator so hard it oozes everywhere and now I have to dab gentle all over again. Amateur night folks.

Well I finally get my crap together to be gentle and calm and not go over the same spot fifteen times and something amazing happened. I ended up with a very cute leaf stencil. The applicator is a sponge so you end up with a textured look, which totally works with the leaf stencil.

Here is the DIY wood slice chalkboard sign in it’s natural habit – the baby’s room. I can’t wait to erase the whole thing and try something new when I get bored looking at it. Gotta love erasable chalk paint.

DIY WOOD SLICE CHALKBOARD SIGN

Supplies

• Wood slice
• Black chalkboard paint – Martha Stewart black chalkboard paint
• Foam brush
• Stencil
• Erasable white chalk paint – Martha Stewart white erasable liquid chalk
• Painters tape

Instructions

1. Using a foam brush, paint the black chalkboard paint onto the wood slice. I followed the natural grain around in a circle to determine the circle’s width – leaving a little of the wood showing. It’s best to use a foam brush so that the edges wouldn’t be rough or have little stray paint brush hairs coloring outside the lines. It also makes for a smoother finish.
2. Let dry, about an hour. Paint on a second coat.
3. Dry again.
4. Stencil. I used a $3 leaf stencil I found in the Target fall section last year.
5. Tape the stencil down using painters tape, making sure the stencil is secure.
6. Paint on the erasable white chalk paint – or dab on with applicator. Go over it once, making sure the stencil is covered. If you are using an erasable chalk paint you can put the top coat on immediately after your first coat.
7. The second layer of paint should be dabbed on gently. Also, try to avoid going over the same area repeatedly.
8. Using a wet paper towel smooth out the edges. I wouldn’t go over anything inside the stencil as it will change the texture and probably drag you down a hole of having to re-do the entire thing.
9. Display!