DIY: Life-Size Magnetic Chalkboard

It's DIY day again here on Fawn Over Baby! You're going to looooooove this one!

I posted to my instagram that I just can't seem to leave Kenzie's playroom alone and that pretty soon she will have no room to play! Although the photos don't seem like it is filled with toys and a crazy amount of diy projects, you are only seeing the cleaned up side of the room! :/

We have somehow collected several magnet toys over the past year and poor Kenzie just uses them to stack or line up in a row, since we do not have a magnetic surface anywhere in our home. Our stainless steel fridge had us fooled - it is not magnetic. So, I decided to add a magnetic board to her play space, so she has a place to actually use her collection as they were meant to be used. I look at it as a science activity that would be fun for her to experiment with. Even as an adult,  if I have two magnets in my hand, I find myself clicking them together and sometimes watching them slowly connect. I'm weird I guess but you have to admit it's pretty fascinating. 

So project "Magnent Board" was called into action! I found so many clever/genius parents hanging oil drip pans on their walls, creating a nice spacious area to display their magnets (here, here & here). So I went to wal-mart and found one for under $12, score!!

With me being chalkboard obsessed and all, I decided to take it a step further and apply my own homemade chalk paint (because I have so much of my ingredients left from my last project) in the color white to create a crisp clean canvas. I then went on to fancy up our magnet letters, I purchased from Target's $1.00 clearance aisle, and painted them gold! I hung up the pan with velcro command strips and it was ready for magnet mania! 

So here is the short and skinny on How-To Make Your Own Life-Size Magentic Chalkboard!

Supplies:

1. Xtra Large Oil Drip Pan
2. Chalkboard Paint (I made my own, here)
3. Magnent Letters
4. Gold Spray Paint
5. Large Velcro Command Strips

Instructions:

• Roll on your chalkboard paint and let dry (Just Spray Paint if you prefer it without chalkboard.)
• Condition your chalkboard by rubbing chalk over entire area, then wipe off.
• If you want to pretty up your magnents: Just lightly spray paint magnet letters. Several coats needed.
• That's It - Your Toddler Life-Sized Magnetic Chalkboard is ready for display!

I added a little garland to cover up the embossed lettering that peeks out a bit & plus a little bit of frill never hurt anyone :)

Just a side note: McKenzie's playroom is never this tidy. I cleaned it up just for you! :)

I loved how the gold letters turned out, so I decided to add a few more colors. 

Outfit Details: Cami-Target, Floral Shorts- BabeeLu Handmade, Headband - Sadie Sky Boutique

Wall Decal Tree Product Review & Discount Code + DIY:Framed Chalkboard

Hello Friends!! I hope you all had a wonderful Father's Day weekend! I have to say this weekend was a slow paced one for us, which is nice since we've spent our last few On-The-Go! With us just hanging around the house, a fun little product from the wonderful online shop Wall Decal Tree came in the mail just in time for our family fun at home. 

Before I get into our exciting new playtime gem, I want to tell you a little bit about the shop from which it came, called Wall Decal Tree. This charming online store offers a massive assortment of home decor decals that will liven up any space in your home or office. They are known for their fanciful Tree as well as Nursery & Kids Wall Stickers. You will also find an array of modern graphic wall art that will meet anyone's style or taste. For those customers that like the word "custom", Wall decal Tree has a "create your own quote or text"option allowing for custom decor solutions that can easily be changed out or removed later.

Here is a little sample of what you will find!

Since my little McKenzie's Nursery is pretty much complete, I am know focusing my attention on her "temporary" playroom. These days Kenzie is obsessed with chalk and drawing on anything in her path (i've had to invest in A LOT of magic erasers), so when Wall Decal Tree kindly allowed me to choose our decal of choice, it was a no brainer - Chalkboard Wall Sticker! My thinking is that maybe this will give McKenzie an actual chalkboard to practice her beautiful chalk art on, instead of everywhere else in our house. If you are big chalkboard fan like me, you will love these adorable Chalkboard Silhouettes that Wall Decal Tree offers as well!

When we received our decal, it came neatly rolled up with a little packet of chalk in several colors. Chalk was such a nice surprise as our collection consists of broken little pieces or worn down pieces from so much use. 

My first order of business was deciding which wall to display this lovely blackboard on. At first I planned on adhering it to her playroom closet door, however I had to come up with a different location as our doors have trim inlays which wouldn't provide the smooth surface these decals require. My second idea was to frame it out and hang it up on the wall. After struggling to find a frame the size and length that I wanted and not really wanting to assemble my own, I came up with the idea to just purchase a full length mirror and apply the chalkboard decal to the mirror giving it the framed look that I wanted! So after a quick trip to Walmart to pick up my mirror (only $11), a peel and stick party during nap time, and a little bit of conditioning to prepare it for chalk (just rub side of chalk all over board, then wipe clean), Kenzie's new framed out chalboard was ready for scribbles!

Here is my little Before & After:

I am so happy with how it turned out and I have to say the Chalkboard Wall Decal was so easy to apply and you wouldn't even know that it is a peel and stick as the quality is superb!

After conditioning or "slating" the chalkboard I couldn't help by write a little love message to greet her when she walked in :) As you can see she went straight for the chalk that I had resting on top. 

McKenzie absolutely loves her new chalkboard. She kept saying "chalk!" "chalk!" "chalk!"

This is Kenzie showing concern over her chalk that snapped in half - much like all the other pieces in her collection ;)

Broken chalk did not stop my little artist though, she continued on until her chalkboard masterpiece was complete!

I give you….."Chalkboard Scribble" by McKenzie H (with a little help from mommy)

We absolutely love our Wall Decal Tree decal and I know you will too! If your wall space is in need of a little TLC, these wall stickers are a "fun, easy and removable decor solution"! 

PROMOTION TIME!

To help get you started and to Welcome You to their fantastic online shop, Wall Decal Tree is offering all Fawn Over Baby Readers  15% OFF your total purchase!! Just use code "15OFF" at checkout to receive your generous discount!  

ENJOY!!