I recently made a DIY magnetic chalkboard in the shape of a house for my kids' playroom. The best part? I used only items I already had at home! Here's how I did it:

First, I took a metal sheet out of a frame that I thrifted years ago and used as a sign at our wedding. (Major 2017 vibes here.) The sheet was rectangular, so only the lower portion is magnetic, but I didn't mind - it still worked perfectly for what I wanted to do…and the kids don’t mind either.

Next, I had a piece of plywood that happened to fit the width of the metal sheet so i only had to make two straight cuts to give it the house shape I was going for. I then sanded the metal sheet and plywood with 80 grit followed with 220 grit sandpaper. I then went in with white primer on both pieces. Once the primer was dry, I sprayed them both with black spray paint left over from another project.

DIY Magnetic Chalkboard easy Pocatello ID Realtor

Then, I applied a clear chalkboard finish to the painted plywood and metal sheet and set them aside to dry.

To attach the metal sheet to the front of the plywood, I used liquid nails and clamped it in place until it was dry (about 24 hours). Make sure you prime the chalk board paint after it is dry by rubbing a piece of chalk sideways over the entire piece and wiping it off.

Finally, I added furring strips to the edges of the plywood to create a frame and give it a more finished look. The angles at the top gave me a bit of a hard time but I eventually came up with something that worked. I used my brad nailer and wood glue to hold the frame together. I did use some spackle to fill a few holes and cracks that formed from the nailing process.

I painted the frame with the same color green that I used on some of the climbing holds on another wall in the play room (Matte Pale Sage-Krlyon Fusion from Lowe’s). I had to buy a hanging kit from Lowe's, but that was the only thing I had to purchase!

As soon as it was hung both of our kids got right to work making their masterpieces. I made sure to have a spot to store the chalk and magnetic letters-I went with these Bullseye Playground shelves for $5 each from Target!

This is a beginner friendly DIY with a big pay off with the kiddos :)

One of the best things about this project is that I was able to repurpose our sentimental wedding sign and turn it into something functional and fun for my kids to use. And since I used items I already had at home, it was also an extremely affordable project.

If you're looking for a simple DIY project to add some creativity and fun to your kids' playroom or bedroom, I highly recommend making a DIY magnetic chalkboard. It's a great way to repurpose old items and create a unique and personalized space for your little ones to play and learn. To really simplify this project you could just thrift a frame and use the chalkboard paint directly on it!