DIY Chalkboard Instagram Photo Display

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This post brought to you by Martha Stewart Crafts® and Plaid.// I'm easing back into creative blogging after taking an extended maternity leave, and I am so excited to show off today's post, a DIY Chalkboard Instagram Photo Display, made with Chalkboard Paint and other items from the new line at Martha Stewart Crafts®. What do you get when you mix a thrifted cabinet door, some instagram prints, and some super-fun chalkboard paint?

I don't know about you, but I seem to take more photos with my phone than my Nikon lately. I don't want all those special moments living forever on my phone screen, so I decided to come up with a way to display our family memories where we can all enjoy them.

Don't have an Instagram account? Don't worry, I'll give you some more ideas for this display at the end of the post!

I decided to do my best to use thrifted items and things I had on hand for this project, so I hit up my local Habitat for Humanity ReStore to browse their cabinet door selection. They had plenty to choose from. I wanted a sizeable display, so I selected a large oak cabinet door for around $10, because I wasn't sure how the laminate would work with the chalkboard paint layered over spray paint.

Here are the supplies you will need:

1. Martha Stewart Crafts ® Laser-Cut Stencils
2. Martha Stewart Crafts® MultiSurface Chalkboard Paint
3. Martha Stewart Crafts ® 2oz Erasable Liquid Chalk
4. Craft paint brush (or see #6)
5. Assortment of coordinating fabrics (optional)
6. Martha Stewart Crafts ® pouncers--these are better if you're using small stencils
7. Baker's twine, string, ribbon, or plain twine
8. Pencil
9. Printed instagram photos (this is how I print mine)
10. Staple gun
11. Scissors
Not Pictured: Sand paper or palm sander, spray paint in your color choice, mini clothes pins, hot glue gun or needle and thread for fabric rosettes (optional)

How to Make Your Own Chalkboard Instagram Display:

1. Prep
Sand, Clean, Paint

I started with my plain old cabinet door. You know, the one with lovely white paint drips down the front. After removing the hardware, I took it outside and sanded it down in about five minutes with a palm sander. I also made sure to clean it off well before spraying. It took me several coats of spray paint to cover up the oak. I figured that some of the grain would continue to show through, but wasn't too concerned because the photos would cover most of it.

2. Stencil
Secure, Paint, Dry, Cure Time

After choosing which of the stencils I wanted to use and deciding on a layout, I secured my stencil using stencil tape from my craft stash (Martha Stewart Crafts® brand). I added my chalkboard paint to a paper plate palette, and used plain craft sponge brushes to brush the paint on.

I did one light coat, let it dry for one hour, and then added a slightly thicker coat. After that dried, I moved the stencil to paint the next portion of the cabinet door. When the pennant shapes were dry, I grabbed another stencil sheet and added polka dots in black and pink chalkboard paint for some extra pattern.

It's important to let the chalkboard paint cure for 24 hours before writing or stenciling on it with chalk. 

I loved the effect! Pennant banners are so much fun--Martha's team is great at choosing fun and trendy patterns and shapes for their stencils.

3. Creating a System for Hanging Photos
Decide on amount of photos, secure twine, clip on mini clothespins, add photos

I took a stack of my photos and moved them back and forth across the board until I found a grid that worked for me. I used a pencil, post-it notes, and a level to mark off the lines where I wanted my twine to go. I was lucky enough to find this pretty turquoise and white baker's twine in my craft stash, but you can find it in most craft stores or even the Dollar Spot.

My grid ended up with space for twenty photos, which is a great amount!

I used a staple gun to attach the twine to the back of the cabinet door, pulling the twine taut (without snapping it). I also left a bit of twine on each end to make a knot, so no twine would slip under the staples. This is where having a nice, thick oak door came in handy. No staples going through the wood!

4. Fabric Rosettes (Optional)
Use scissors, a hot glue gun, or a needle and thread to craft some rosettes as an embellishment for your display. Hot glue onto the frame of your display board as embellishment

There is absolutely no rhyme or reason to any of the rosettes I made. I just twisted, braided, and pressed the fabric until I found a shape I liked. I ended up using hot glue for these guys, with the exception of the one with the button embellishments...I folded that one back and forth and sewed through the center to keep it in place!

I used my trusty got glue gun to adhere the rosettes onto the frame in a pattern that I thought looked cute.

5. Use your chalkboard!
Stencil or hand-write something onto your pennant banner with your Martha Stewart Crafts® Liquid Chalk. I thought about using another shape to stencil inside the banner, but decided on lettering. 

You'll need to "season" your chalkboard with a piece of a chalk before you can write on it. I rubbed a piece of chalk over it and then erased.

Other words: Inspire, Fall, Autumn, Summer, Spring, Winter, Grace, Smile, Inspire, Create
Other ideas for the board: recipes, 4 x 6 photos, favorite quotes or verses on small cards, postcards, baseball cards, business cards

Voila!

What I love about the new line of chalkboard paint is how easy it is to work with! The finish goes on smoothly, and the dry/cure time is true to the advertisement. My only wish would be that it might come in the "Martha blue," which is my fave! The liquid chalk goes on smoothly, doesn't smudge...and it erases with water!

Are you loving this medium too? You can find the Martha Stewart Crafts® Chalkboard Paint line at Michaels craft stores. They also have a new line of Martha Stewart Crafts® Vintage Decor Paint!

If you're interested in learning more about Martha's chalkboard paint, you can watch this brief intro video from the folks at Plaid:

 What would you write on your chalkboard display?

If you enjoyed this post or found it helpful, I hope you'll click your "Pin It" button to add this post to Pinterest, or a +1 for Google+. And I always appreciate kind comments.

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I wrote this post as part of a paid campaign with Plaid Crafts and Blueprint Social. The opinions in this post are my own.

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