Chalk it Up to 2007
By erinloechnerOk confession time. I'm a massive stickler for organization. Like HUGE. Ask my husband; he's quite used to my rants and raves when our gift cards aren't alphabetized in their correct file folders, complete with the running total of amounts, dated in the mm/dd/yyyy format.
Sad, but true.
So you can imagine my excitement when Martha Stewart Living paid homage to my new favorite organizational trend: chalkboard paint. I've been eyeing this trend for months now, but have only seen it utilized in playrooms, kitchens, and entryways. I'm loving this fresh take on the wall calendar, and can't wait to try it in my home office!
Here's how:
Paint it. Paint your entire wall (or desired surface area of calendar) a black chalkboard paint from any retailer. Be sure to allow ample drying time before moving to step two (approximately 2-3 hours).
Mark it. Mark your perimeters for the calendar. Want a thirty-day planner? Try eight-inch squares. Sixty-days? Maybe six-inches. I'd recommend drawing the measurements on paper before marking up your wall, and settle on the most organizationally-effective method for your needs.
Tape it. Tape your measured squares using painter's tape. This will require the most effort on your behalf; you'll want to use a level to make sure your lines are straight.
Mix it. Create a lighter shade of the dark chalkboard paint by mixing your own! Mix black chalkboard paint with white (also needs to be chalkboard paint) until you reach a desired color. You can also create three of four shades by adding more or less black to your white.
Square it. Be creative. Paint your taped squares to your discretion, alternating your new colors. Martha Stewart Living provides a diagram (pictured right) for those of you who aren't too keen on wingin' it. Otherwise, get to work, and get organized for 2007!
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Writer Erin Loechner launched award-winning art/design blog Design for Mankind in mid-2007 in an attempt...
Nimue
Ceststeph, chalkboard paint is not lead-based (it's acrylic-based), nor is the magnetic paint (it's water-based latex) - at least the stuff I bought at HD was/is.
ceststeph
Nimue
sparkie
sparkie
gabe.tippery
timbenzinger
This stuff is great! About a year ago I bought some for my office. I was going to paint one of the walls with it so we can doodle on it while doing brainstorms for our graphic design projects. Unfortunately I never used it and it is still sitting in the closet in its box. In the near future, we are moving out of this temp office and will definitely take advantage of it this time around.
There is a design studio that I used to freelance for that had a few brainstorming rooms that were shaped as circles and in these circular rooms the walls were using the chalkboard paint. Very neat stuff; wish I took some photos.
(A side thought... would it be strange to paint a desk with this?)
erika
I love chalk board paint! Here are 2 more ideas for the stuff-
http://www.curbly.com/chapinerika/photos/12924http://www.diyhappy.com/blackboard-idea-globe/
erika
Manzabar
myaimistrue
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