Corkboard to Chalkboard DIY Project ~

For any of you that watch “Good Luck, Charlie” and have seen that cool fridge they have – you have seen Instant Chalkboard! No, it isn’t that paint on stuff that you can get at Hardware Stores, although I did consider purchasing that a time or two. My daughter and I read the directions on the back on one can and realized that was too hard to us chalkboard DIY novices! This is peel and stick vinyl. Seriously! You just peel and stick it.

Revive Your Old Corkboard With This Corkboard to Chalkboard DIY Project

This vinyl claims to stick to most smooth surfaces to turn it into a chalkboard. That sounded cool to me – and I wanted to try it out for myself.

Before I tell you about my experience, I want you to see this local {to me} news video that shows the experience that was closest to mine. Like the video, I got a lot of air bubbles, but they were not hard to get out. Just peel the vinyl back off and definitely use the yellow tool that will be sent with your kit. This is VERY similar to the application process to putting those stickers on your car windows {i.e. school logos, families, etc}….only I feel that instant chalkboard is easier to apply. It isn’t hard, but it does take some patience – and two people is definitely a bonus!

Now to my DIY Project! I decided to fix an old tattered cork board!

I had an old corkboard that I had purchased at a yardsale (.50) that had since started falling apart..

So, I went to the Dollar Tree and bought 2 of the foam backer boards kids use in school projects ($1 each) and 1 poster board (.50). I also purchased a 3 pack of craft glue ($1.00).

I cut the foam backer board to fit the corkboard. I also decided to keep the excess, as my daughter is going to make herself a mini chalkboard for her room with some of the extra backer board (it’s not very flimsy).

I glued the backer board to the cork board (I used 1 full container from the 3 pack) but I was not 100% sure that would hold, so my daughter and I went to Walmart and got some of the funky Duck Tape ($3.37). We applied a poster board over the seam and then the instant chalkboard over that! Having two people really helps for this as one can hold the vinyl while the other uses the yellow tool {as illustrated in the video} to smooth out the air bubbles. The vinyl peeled off the backer board and poster board easily so that we could correct our many mistakes except for one spot on the poster board. If you decide to try this project based on my directions – I advise you to skip the poster board. I thought it would cover the seam, but it left one of it’s own!

We used the colorful Duck Tape to go around the border to add some extra stability and some color. 🙂 We used nowhere near all that comes on a roll so we have tons left for other projects! We then added 2 12×12 cork pieces from Staples {pack of 4/$5} and tape around them to make this a multi-use board! I have ladybug pushpins that match perfectly!

Here is our project! I think it is pretty good for our first time using instant chalkboard! It is a bit ripply looking but if you look back up to the picture of the backer board I chose, it is too…we were able to get all the air bubbles out with some patience. 🙂 Oh, and the chalk erases really well, especially if you use a damp paper towel. And I haven’t noticed any chalk dust anywhere!

If I were you…

I would try it! It probably won’t be as smooth as a regular chalkboard, especially on your first attempt but it is way more customizable. I received a pack of 8 1×2 sheets and I only used 3 for this. I have another cork board that needs some TLC, so I know where 3 more pieces are going. 🙂 Then my daughter is using one for the extra backer board I was talking about earlier and my aunt wants a piece for one of her cabinets. 4 projects!

Buy It!

Buy Instant Chalkboard from their website. It comes in rolls, sheets, and much more. They also have tons of videos and instructions on how best to utilize this craft!

I received one or more of the products mentioned above for free using Tomoson.com. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers.