Vintage Ornate Frame to Faux Chalkboard Sign

March 14, 2018

 This vintage oval frame, that had been painted black, was being thrown away at the thrift shop.  My mom rescued it and gave it to me a long time ago.

I love old oval ornate frames.  Empty, or with mirrors or photos.  This frame has raised plaster flowers, and other great detail as well.


 First off, I painted the frame with my "old" go-to-paint, Rustoleum Heirloom White latex paint.  

I used it as an empty wall frame for a while.  Then after I became a blogger, I saw chalkboards everywhere.  

Many other bloggers used Rust-Oleum Chalkboard Brush-On Black Paint or Rust-Oleum Black Chalkboard Spray Paint  on glass. 

I purchased an oval piece of cut glass, at a local specialty glass shop, and painted it with several coats of chalkboard paint.  

I don't think I got a really smooth application, but this was my first time!  You can tell by my chalk letters above.  Lots of brush strokes visible in the chalk sign.

Since I wasn't super pleased with my amateurish chalkboard, it quickly was placed into storage, in a closet.

I pulled it back out of the closet last week and repainted the frame black again,  with Rust-Oleum Painters Touch Latex in Flat Black.  Yes, it went back to black!

But this time I painted over the black base coat with chalk paint, Chalked Paint in Chiffon Cream.

Chalked, is a knock off Annie Sloan Chalk Paint that is pretty darn good.  I like the way it distresses with sandpaper and with a wet rag, and I like the coverage.

I wet distressed the frame with a wet tee-shirt scrap.  Wet means wrung out but not damp dry.  I rubbed fairly hard on the raised areas and applied less pressure on the inner frame areas. 

Oh, goodness, I love this much better than my plain Jane Heirloom White frame.  If you are scared to try up-cycling with chalk paint and distressing!  Just look where I started out!

Since I still was super unhappy with all my chalkboard brush strokes on the glass, (and I hardly EVER changed the message on the chalkboard), I turned my chalkboard into a faux chalkboard sign.

I pulled out my "Bed & Breakfast" stencil from the *Old Sign Stencils Getaway Collection!  The cursive font is awesome! 

**Old Sign Stencils provided me with complimentary samples.

All opinions about these fabulous products are my own.

I didn't sand the chalkboard paint or re-coat it or anything.  I simply wiped it with a damp cloth.

But before I put the glass chalkboard back into the frame, I stenciled it with the Bed & Breakfast stencil and Ceramcoat Select Multi-Surface Paint in Ivory.   

Ceramcoat Select Multi-Surface paint doesn't need sealing for indoor use.

I used a wax brush to seal the chalk paint with Minwax Paste Finishing Wax in Natural. 

This project is so much more polished!  I have so improved.  

I think I have always been creative, but the addition of stencils (with practice) and chalk paint (that sticks to almost everything) made a lot of my projects possible!

YOU too can learn to up-cycle and re-purpose!  With chalk paint, with stencils, with a few hand tools and power tools! 

Another Bed and Breakfast stencil project:

Upcycle & Repurpose thrift shop and garage sale items with ME!
Thanks for reading my blog, Carlene

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Comments

  1. Pinned another great idea Carlene. I have been re-doing some of my signs (Donna does that too which is where I got my idea) and re-chalk painting and stencil with something else.
    Joy

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  2. Super fun! I adore the quality of Donna's stencils and your use of this one on the framed chalkboard as well as the chair seat is completely charming. You have a talent for picking just the right complimentary pieces. :)

    Christina in SW FL

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  3. That frame with Bed & Breakfast is such a perfect marriage! Love the chalkboard theme, which works for me since my penmanship doesn't come close! :)

    I've featured this in this weekend's DIY Salvaged Junk Projects. Thanks for linking up!

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