The "Toy" Room

Recently {okay, maybe at least a few months ago} we re-did the formal dining room in our house.  {We use it as a toy room for the girls}.  I had been wanting to do something with the room since we moved in, but was too busy getting other areas of the house together to pay any attention to this one. 

It used to be a plum color:

 AFTER: 

Sorry about the picture quality...the light was so bright to have a picture turn out today

 We installed a new light and painted the ceiling, the walls {top color is "Sea Salt" from Sherwin Williams, bottom is semi-gloss paint in "White Dove" by Benjamin Moore}

 The wire hanging system is from IKEA.  The girls love to see their artwork displayed.  :)

 I painted a bookshelf we got for free and threw in some junk...I am thinking about maybe adding some pictures or artwork on either side of the shelf too...

Chalkboard Renovation

Hi there! I thought I'd start off by showing you one of my first projects. When I started looking at my pictures to write this post, I realized that if I'm going to do tutorials, I think I should take more pictures! So, hopefully things will improve as I continue on here.

First of all, I started with this nice rooster (can I get a "cock-a-doodle-doo"?) picture from Goodwill for $1.99. No offense to those who like roosters or rooster prints, but I was aiming to make myself a chalkboard.

Then I took some acrylic paint I had on hand and painted the border. It took a few coats.

Here's what that looked like. I didn't bother taping the inside since I knew I'd be painting that too

I let this dry and taped the border so that I could paint the inside. I used a spray can of chalkboard paint (found it at Home Depot) and followed the directions. Sorry no pictures of the process. Might have been entertaining ones though! I usually try to squeeze in my projects in those tiny little pockets of time during the day (or late night) when I don't have all three girls needing me.

I did have to sand lightly in between coats of chalkboard paint since you could faintly see the outline of the rooster.

Let dry and "season" by rolling chalk all over surface. Write a message, menu, store list or whatever your pretty little heart desires.

Sorry, I know you can't see the bottom border of it since it's propped above my cabinets, but it's the same as the top. Overall it was a cheap and fun way to add some height in my kitchen.

ETA: I am working out the kinks with my pictures and editing software. Please bear with me. I am computer illiterate!

ETA {Part 2}: Ha! It's late. That's my excuse. I want to add that I did take some sandpaper to the edges and border of this after it was all dry to lightly distress it. The end. I promise.