Decorating, Favorite Things, Humor, Marriage

My Most Favorite Project to Date

Kari

 I’ve had this old entertainment center door in our basement storage area for a while:

It was on an entertainment center we had donated but we left the door behind. I’d had my husband hold on to it because I liked it. No sentimental value or anything. I just really liked this door and thought I might be able to use it someday.

Fast forward six years later.

I was perusing some blogs during one nap time and I stumbled upon this adorable idea at Bec’s blog…

Update- Bec’s blog is no longer around, sadly.  

A painted window.

Here is the picture of my inspiration:

Courtesy littlelucylu.com

I loved this immediately and even emailed her to ask her where I could find an old window. (I know where to get one but where to get one CHEAP) and she emailed back that her husband is in construction and gets them from demos. No such luck here with my husband in the automotive industry, unless they are windshields but…

1) that wouldn’t work

2) it might be a little illegal.

Wait! I have an old entertainment center “window” just sitting in my basement, remember?

So, I went out and bought these:

They were $12.00 at Michael’s but I had a coupon and birthday money burning a hole in my pocket.

I then needed to paint the frame of the entertainment center.

I had my husband tape and I began spray painting.

I actually painted the frame with basic white spray paint first (on purpose) and then had him tape the white painted part when it was dry so I could spray paint chalkboard paint over the glass.

I ended up using three coats of chalkboard paint to cover the glass completely.

Then, after that dried, I brought it inside and took the tape off to find the above.
It would upset most people to see the paint coming off, but I actually liked it.
It looks vintage, which was also the theme for our wedding.

Here it is after I removed the tape:

So I found a copy of our wedding vows that the minister gave us after our ceremony.
Side note- I don’t think it is customary in a church wedding to give a copy of the vows to the couple?
He was nice enough to give us this:

Only there was one minor problem: to quote a movie line (Steel Magnolias), I have the handwriting of a serial killer.

How was I going to pull this off so beautifully like Bec did with her chalkboard artwork?

Enter one of my best friends and matron of honor at the wedding five years ago, Rebecca.

She measured it out to make sure she spaced everything evenly.

Then she did a rough draft in actual chalk.

(See Ellie’s play-doh in the background? She was creating her own artwork alongside us.)

She then traced over the chalk with the aforementioned chalk pens.

And here is the finished product:

Isn’t her handwriting beautiful?

I just can’t stop looking at it. It looks like something you would find in a Pottery Barn catalog, doesn’t it?

Here it is in our bedroom:

Here is the cost roundup:

I had everything except the paint pens, so my cost was only $12.00!

But if you were to spend money on this having no supplies:

Window– Personally, I wouldn’t pay over 20 bucks for an old window. I have seen them at flea markets for 40 bucks, and that seems really high to me.

You can find something to re-purpose or look on Craigslist for someone throwing out old windows. On Chicago’s Craigslist, it happens weekly.

 Update- Facebook marketplace is a great place to find this kind of thing as well. 

Chalkboard spray paint- five dollars or fewer at a home improvement store

White spray – 99 cents at Home Depot (that is where I got mine)

Chalk pens– $12.00 at Michaels (where I got mine)

Thank you so much to my dear friend Rebecca for helping me create an amazing art piece made from words of love.

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21 thoughts on “My Most Favorite Project to Date”

  3. Good job Kari! My sister has sure comes up with some snazzy ideas huh!?! -Steph (Bec's sister)www.LovieLand.blogspot.com

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  4. Thanks Steph! Yes she does and it looks like you are a blogger too so will have to check that out!!

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  5. Kari, You are TOO kind to me! But thank you!!!And I LOVE this. It's kinda a cool feeling when someone uses one of your ideas for inspiration … and creates something even COOLER! I think the whole idea of putting your wedding vows on there is just perfectly awesome. GREAT JOB!!!I'm flattered you made such a FAB project because of mine. :-)~Bec

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  6. Bec- Thank YOU for the inspiration! I walked away from your blog post so excited to make something "do-able" and it kinda gave me my crafting mojo back. :) Thanks again for letting me link up too!Kari

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  9. Thanks so much! The bookshelf/cabinet is Broyhill and I got it from a furniture store 6 years ago that is now out of business. I love this collection, the dining room table and chairs are part of that same collection. :)

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  10. awww this made me feel all warm and cozy inside, it's such a sweet project!

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  13. Thanks so much for the compliment! I love this project so much and every time I walk past it, I smile. :)I was looking through my receipts the other day and found the one for the chalk ink and it was 11.99 not 12.00…;) But you get 4 in the package and Michaels/Hob Lob ALWAYS has coupons for 40% off regular price items. Happy shopping!Kari

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  16. This is so cute!! I love the quote and I love how the project turned out. You have such a fun blog and reading your post was so fun- you have a great personality that comes out in your writing!! We are your newest followers and we just wanted to thank you so much for linking up to our party! We would love to have you come back again tomorrow for Strut Your Stuff Saturday! Camille @SixSistersStuff.blogspot.com

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  17. Camille-So funny, I just linked another project to your site right before reading this! I am lovin' your blog!!! Thanks so much for becoming a follower. :) Kari

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  18. Wow! Your project turned out great!I've also been wondering if it's possible to put chalk-board paint directly on glass, and now I know!

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  19. Thanks Calina! You can put it on glass but it takes many coats so you can't see the glass through the paint. Thanks for stopping by!!

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  20. Love the door art! I have one, too. I laughed so hard at your reaction to the paint coming off, because that happened to me, AND it got scratched while the paint was fairly fresh. So, I scratched it up some more, LOL.

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  21. Michaela,I know, I love that my being a little lazy leads to some great vintage looking pieces….:) Thanks for stopping by!!

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