The other day, I was talking to a friend who was wanting to make a chalkboard surface on a board so she could let her grandchildren play on it when they come to visit. As we talked, I recalled something I did when painting murals on the walls in my grandson's room a couple of years ago.

This will apply to putting the surface on a piece of board or any larger flat surface as well as on a wall as described below. You could use the side of a dresser, bed headboard or toy box. If you decide to use a board, you can cut something like a piece of plywood and put some rope or braid around the outside edge to hide it.

We wanted to make a chalkboard surface, but with a twist. We used a painter's tape to mark off the area and applied several coats of magnetic paint (according to manufacturer's directions) to that section of wall. Ths requires careful reading and even more careful application of the product. Be sure you apply it smoothly, without leaving brush marks. If you ahould happen to leave lines, sand them out and apply one more light coat.

After this had time to cure (again check manufacturer's instructions), we applied chalkboard paint over it, again according to the instructions. It comes in black or green, maybe others by now, and should be applied smoothly, just like the magnetic paint. When it is all said and done, you will have a magnetic chalkboard that the child (or adult) can write on and/or put magnets on for more fun or for paper notes.

This is a great thing for little ones who naturally want to write on walls anyway, but is also super for teens. They can draw, make quick notes, play games, work out homework problems and just have fun with it. Just be careful not to apply magnetic paint near the location of a computer. It might cause a problem.

If you use it near the back door, you can use it to put up notes with magnets or make quick blackboard notes you have to remember. It is a good place to write a note to the kids right where they will see it as they come home when you hurry out the door.

If you don't want the black or green wall, you can create a magnetic board that blends in by starting as outlined above, but instead of putting the chalkboard paint over the magnetic area, just use the wall paint from the room. You will love the results!

If you are wanting a very personal gift that is fairly inexpensive to do, but worth much more to your family, give a gift certificate in the recipient's birthday card or stocking and do it together after Christmas.

These types of paint are available at several stores, but if you try a large building center or paint store like Sherwin Williams, you should be able to locate it. You can buy it in small cans, so you don't have to buy lots. The can will tell you how many square feet the product in it will cover. If you are going to do a large area or several wall areas, the gallon is often the way to go since it will be less expensive in the long run.

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Happy Painting!
Paula Devore
Painting Editor