Blackboard before and after!

Years ago, I bought this blackboard @ Winners (Canada's version of TJ Maxx!). I don't remember exactly what I paid for it, probably about 5$.
It's about 3 feet high?
Anyway. I loved it. But about a year ago, I just could.no.longer.look.at.it. Too.... I dunno... country-ish for my current taste? And, well... I just cannot stand green at this moment.


So today was the day it was being re-born! Here's the after:


A closer look:

I spray painted it turquoise, then distressed it so the green shows thru (our kitchen will be white, turquoise, dark brown and sea foam green). I love that it shows thru quite a lot.

I took a page out of a book:

I had found this book at a library book sale this summer (fill up a grocery bag for a dollar!!) I loved the book because of all the gorgeous drawings!

Ironically, the picture was exactly the right size for the opening on top! kewl beans!!

I adhered that, then added jute around the picture and around the blackboard.

It still looked a bit bare. So I turned to my scrapbook supplies!!
I found cute scrolly chipboard shapes. I first inked them in green, then spray painted them turquoise, then distressed them, so they'd match the wood. Added some on top, some on the bottom corners.

And then, I needed something for the chalk, right? I remember seeing, sometime this week, somewhere on a blog, someone taking a Scrabble tile 'holder' for this exact purpose. I cannot remember WHERE I saw it, so if it was you, PLEASE tell me so I can give proper credit! I thought that was just GENIUS. So, I took an old game (bought 2 years ago for a buck) and used one, which I painted the same as the chipboard shapes.

ANd that;s it! A much nicer, softer, beachier look! :)

This post is part of Metamorphosis Monday at Between Naps On the POrch!