Make something Monday: The chalkboard tutorial

This was another project that in reality should have taken like 2 days at most, that has spanned like 3!

I saw a cool pinterest pin like 2 years ago for an outdoor chalkboard and I thought, "Cool! My kids would love that!" but it sat unmade on my outdoors board forever.
Callie loves to play school and "teach" Kellen a variety of things, so I thought this would be a fun thing to have outside for them!

It's pretty easy to throw together and I had all of the supplies! So it was almost free!
I used:
 1 sheet of cement shower board (like the kind you put in your shower before you tile it) We had some left over from the bathroom remodel last spring! Ours was a 3x5 foot sheet that we didn't need to do a thing to!
15 feet of moulding to make the border
primer
chalkboard paint
foam roller
spray paint for the boarder
Saw to cut the moulding
nail or staple gun to make the frame and hang it!

Left over Moulding!

Left over Hardibacker board

I had my mister show me how to use the chop saw and cut the moulding, then I just laid them out the make sure that everything fit together! Check!

Next, I primed, just to make sure the chalkboard paint would stick!

I gave the primer a day to dry and then I cracked open a can of chalkboard paint and it was dust inside the can, dust! So that put my project on hold for the day.

The next day, after a trip to Lowe's, I was back at it! 

This was one coat!

The next day I painted a second coat and it came out great! I used a foam roller and it did a great job!

Next I spray painted 2 coats of high gloss red spray paint to withstand being outside!

Then I was all ready for assembly, but Brien had lent his nail gun to his brother and my project was put on hold until he got it back!

Soooo, three weeks later...Here is my finished product!! I love how it came out and as you can see it's already getting lots of use! I have some cute little tin cans to use as chalk holder and I need to get some hooks up on the fence for the kids to use! It came out so well and the kiddos love it!! 

What's happening 'round here!

The past few days have been a WHIRLWIND! Wednesday Kellen and I enjoyed our last few days of precious summer. We had our last summer run, tackled some errands and had one final summer library trip and it just so happened to be baby story time!

It turns out baby story time is really just playing and singing for 30 minutes, but we had a blast!

The look of sheer terror as the soap whips our car clean...Poor baby!

Later that evening my darling daughter finally flew back home! It was a 8:30 arrival into town so we had quite the late evening. 

Her plane pulling in! Kellen was jumping up and down and so excited to see "Catty"! She was the first one off the plane and Kellen ran right for her as soon as her saw her. It all happened so fast I didn't even get a chance to get a picture, darn it!

So glad to see this little Callie face! Now all my loves are back under one roof!

The next day I had to go back to work, such a bummer! I could have used a few more days with my crazies, but I got school year 11 to start! I think this year is going to be a little crazy, I have 5 classes and 4 different preps to plan. I am little overwhelmed already, but I have such wonderful team mates, I jut know we are going to get each other through!

Thursday after school, I took Callie school supply shopping. This year was especially delightful because, we actually had time to get them together. Usually she is in Texas right up until the first day back to school, but this year I was able to partake in the festivities. I just love new school supplies, I mean, who doesn't really?!?

We came home to find that our patio was being finished...Hurray!! Brien spent Friday afternoon putting everything back together, it is just beautiful and smooth and perfect!

This coming week is going to be super exciting! My students are starting on Tuesday, Callie starts 3rd grade on Thursday! We have all sorts of fun things to look forward to! I love the start of a new year!

Spring Break is over...

The rest of spring break was slightly productive. I hate that when I have a break, I never get anything done. I wish I could either plan things better or be a better relaxer. The rest of the week consisted of hanging out with Kellen and working on little projects that I wanted to complete.

I had some planter boxes that my mom and I found last year on a walk in her neighborhood, The person who made them had left them out so we rescued them with plans to do something with them. Brien was getting sick of them taking up space in the garage, so I decided to refinish them on Tuesday and now they are ready to be hung up!

They are pretty plain, but the wood is in good shape!

I painted them with a light layer of red enamel spray paint and then immediately brushed them over with an old crusty paint brush that was soaked with water to smooth out the splotchy-ness. In retrospect I probably should have just bought a can of red stain, but this came out pretty well.

Now I am just waiting for Brien to finish trimming the trees to hang them on the back fence! I can't wait to plant some stuff in them when the weather gets nice! Finished product coming some time this spring!

Next, on Wednesday, during what can only be called a spring blizzard, Kellen and I spent the morning at Hobby Lobby shopping, and I FINALLY hung my DIY canvases where I wanted them. I think it came out great! 

The big iron scroll that was here got a new home in the guest bathroom and it fits in just fine!

On Thursday, Kellen and I took coffee to Brien and spent the morning playing on tractors at Grandma's and daddy's office!

Licorice or climbing? Life's decisions...

He was so excited to hit all the buttons!

Friday, the big day had finally arrived... The Fairy Tale Ball at Callie's school. Brien took a half day from work and we had a much needed lunch date and then headed to Callie's school for mini-prom. The whole second grade has been practicing for months and learning dances to perform, they even did a waltz to Moon River. It was seriously so cute!

All dressed up and ready to dance the day away!

Callie and her partner dancing, they were precious!

After the daddy daughter dance... Too much adorable-ness! The Ball was a success!

This weekend has been pretty tame. Brien was on call so we stuck close to home and didn't make an big plans. I am so not ready to go back to school, but such as life... How many more days until summer break??