Last updated on June 16th, 2016 at 11:25 pm
How to Paint Your Own Chalkboard Placemats
You might have taken your young children to a restaurant that supplied wax crayons and placemats to be colored while the kids waited for their supper; if so, you’ll likely appreciate the practical nature of these homemade chalkboard placemats.
Let the kids write a message or draw a picture while they sit at the table; either way, whether they are waiting to eat, or just feeling creative, it will be time well spent.
Project Supplies:
- Vinyl or Wooden Placemat (patterned or plain… the paint will cover)
- Chalkboard Paint, colours of choice
- Small Clay Pot
- Masking Tape
- Paint Brush
- Fine Sandpaper
- Chalk
Craft Project Instructions:
This is a great project for back to school children and doesn’t take very long to make!
I used water-based chalkboard paint and did not prime my placemat with any product. If your placemat is a little shiny, it may be a good idea to go over the surface with a little fine sandpaper first (just in case). Paint your placemat using your choice of chalkboard paint (I used green) and allow the paint to dry (you can speed up the drying process with a heat gun if you like, but be careful not to melt your placemat).
Lightly sand the dry painted surface and wipe clean with a damp cloth. Paint another coat of paint and allow it to dry. Sand lightly once your paint is dry and apply any additional coats of chalkboard paint that may be required. It took three coats of paint for a nice finish on my placemat.
I didn’t measure, but simply applied masking tape to the outside edge of the placemat and then applied another line of masking tape, inside the masked area by about one inch. Paint the masked area with another colour of chalkboard paint (I used burgundy) and allow the paint to dry, sand gently before applying any
additional coats of paint, allowing each coat to dry in between.
Remove your masking tape and mask off any additional areas that you would like to paint (I used yellow chalkboard paint). Paint your masked areas as before using another chalkboard paint colour.
Allow your chalkboard to dry completely before using it! Once all your paint is dry, using the side of a piece of chalk, cover the entire placemat with chalk (this will condition your chalkboard for use), wipe away with a felt eraser or cloth and clean your mat with a damp cloth.
I made a matching chalk holder, using a clay pot. Use chalkboard paint on the pot too! The kids will have another writing surface to keep them busy. To paint your pot, simply apply chalkboard paint as desired, allowing each coat to dry. Once you are finished painting your pot, condition the chalkboard surface using the same technique as used for the placemat.
Copyright © 1999-2014 Susan Spatone All rights reserved. Published with permission from CraftAtHome.com
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