DIY “I Love You Because” Chalkboard With Interchangeable Tiles

by Ashley Rader {Giddy Upcycled}

$10

2 Hours

Easy

My family is big on “filling buckets” which is a common term in preschools and grade schools nowadays – the basic premise is that we fill other people’s “buckets” when we compliment them, or do a nice thing for them, or make them feel special in some way. When people’s buckets don’t get filled regularly, they start to feel empty, and sad. Thats not to say that you should give false compliments just to build someone up, its just a way to get kids thinking about doing things for, and being considerate to others.
So I came up with this idea for a gift for my husband, for our 10th anniversary. I wanted to create a customized chalkboard, where we could write something we love about eachother – simple things like “I love you because… you make great pancakes” or “I love you because… you put the toilet seat down last night”, ha ha. My original idea was to find a cool old vintage aluminum can like these to hold some chalk and and eraser, next to the board.

wall art chalkboard message love craft, chalkboard paint, crafts, repurposing upcycling, woodworking projects

Materials Needed:

Old board – use whatever you have around – mine measured 1″ x 6″ x 22″

Primer (spray or brush on)

Chalkboard Paint

Shims (or MDF or thin wood scrap – this is for the name tiles)

Spray paint or wood stain - in 2 colors

Vinyl cutouts and a cutting machine (or if you have great handwriting, you could hand write the lettering with a paint pen)

Decorative nailheads, or ribbon

Small eye hook

Unfinished open wooden box – I got mine from Hobby Lobby for $1.99

Step 1: Cut your board down to whatever size you want it to be (I cut mine to 22″), and then give it a good coat or two of Primer. I used Zissner Spray Primer.

Step 2: Tape off the top half the board, and give it 2 good coats of spray paint in your desired color (I used bright red)

Step 3 – Once the top is dry, carefully remove the tape and retape the top portion, and give the bottom 2-3 light, even coats of the Chalkboard spray paint.

Step 4: While the chalkboard paint is drying, take some 2″ shims and cut them down to your desired width. I used the wider end and cut off the thinner part. Apply 1-2 thin coats of primer to the shims.

Step 5: Give your shims 1-2 coats of spray paint in your desired color or stain

Step 6: While the paint is drying, I started cutting out the vinyl letters on my cricut. I made one tile for each member of my family. For my husband and I, I made the tiles double sided so that one side says our names, for when we are leaving a message for eachother, and the other side says “mom” and “dad” for use with the kids.

Step 7: Once dry, apply the vinyl lettering to the top half of the board. You can use any lettering you want, mine read “I love you because…”

Step 7: Nail in 2 small nails at the top and bottom of your chalkboard. Make sure the distance between the nails is exactly the same at the top and the bottom

Step 8: Drill holes into the shims that are the same distance apart, as your nails.

Step 10 (optional): I had some decorative steel nails/rivets, so I nailed those in across the seam where the red paint meets the chalkboard paint.

Step 11: Screw your hook into the side of the board

Step 12: Decorating your unfinished wooden box – Find some cool photos of your family, and using Modge Podge or Decoupage glue, adhere them and seal them to the outside of your wooden box.