This was originally posted on the PSA Essentials blog. Here is the full set of instructions in case you missed it! My magnetic chalkboard calendar! The perfect orgnanization tool for the busy family. I made all sorts of magnets using the PSA stamps that I am sure you are going to love!
Let's start with the calendar itself and move on to the magnets in a minute.
Magnetic Calendar
Materials Needed (for calendar):
- Frame
- Sheet of metal cut to size for your frame (mine is 20 inches by 24 inches)
- Metal Cleaner
- Metal Primer
- Chalkboard Paint
- Spray Paint for frame
- Chalk Markers
1) First take your metal piece and clean it really well. I used engine cleaner for cars. Anything that is made to clean metal. Rinse it really well and follow all package directions.
2) Next paint one side of your metal piece with one coat of primer plus two to three coats of chalkboard paint. Again follow all directions on your paint. Chalkboard paint generally has to cure for 24 hours before use so please be aware of that.
3) Now for the frame. I bought mine at a thrift store. I used a spray primer plus paint in one in Sky Blue. Paint whatever color you want. You can of course use a brush and regular paint instead if that is what you have.
4) After the chalkboard paint has cured, be sure to follow the directions on the paint for conditioning it. Generally you rub chalk all over your surface and clean it back off.
5) Do you know what chalk markers are? They are chalk but they are more permanent than regular chalk. You can find them at your local craft store. They come in white or flourescent colors. I picked the colorful pack! Chalk markers only come off when they get wet. So no worries about smudging or accidently wiping off your calendar. Plus the lines are so much more crisp! If you have ever wondered how those boards at your local restaurant look so great, the secret is chalk markers!
6) I used a ruler as a straight edge. I calculated so that my calendar was roughly centered and the squares are all the same size. Be sure your magnets will fit inside your squares. Leave an area for your month and days of the week. Plus add your numbers to the squares. Remember at the end of the month, you just use water to wipe off and you can draw on an whole new month. Bonus: If you mess up your calculations and your calendar looks awful, you can clean it off and start again. I bet you can't guess how I know that!! :)
Magnets
Now that we have a magnetic chalkboard calendar, we need magnets to go along with it!
Materials needed (for magnets):
- 1 1/2 inch wood circles or metal washers (I will show you how to use both)
- Paint (craft paint or spray paint)
- Scrapbook paper
- Mod Podge
- PSA Essentials stamps and ink
- Self adhesive magnets
PSA makes some stamps that are just perfect for a calendar! I used a combination of the Mom's Calendar and the Date Night stamps...
For the first set of magnets we are going to use the wood circles. This is the pack I purchased at the craft store...
1) Paint the edges of your wood circles with craft paint (you could also just spray paint the entire circle). I used paint colors that matched the scrapbook paper I had on hand.
2) Trace your circles onto the craft paper and cut out.
3) Using various colors of ink, stamp your paper circles with your PSA stamps. See how the paper matches the paint I used for the edges...
4) Layer on a few coats of mod podge.
5) Once dry, add your magnet to the back. I used the self adhesive magnets but I actually added some glue to the adhesive. I admit it, I did not trust the adhesive that came with them. You can always glue them later if you self adhesive strip fails. :)
Oh how I wish that vacation magnet could have made it onto the September calendar! :) But that is another subject!
I also made a set of inspirational magnets for my calendar. Say if there is a tough test at school that day, you might mark that day with "make it happen". Or if there is a play audition at school, you might put "dare to dream" on that day. I thought it would be fun for the kids! And PSA makes a set of stamps for that too! I used the Dare to Dream set for these magnets...
For these I substituted metal washers. So if you can't find the wood discs, a trip to your local hardware store will get you these 1 1/2 inch washers that will fit the bill just fine! For the paint on these I just used spray paint...
Then just follow the steps up above to make your magnets...
A completely optional accessory that I found were these magnetic clips. I used them to hold my chalk. As you can see this is regular chalk. Writing on the calendar in regular chalk will allow me to erase any notes on the calendar without disturbing the chalk marker lines during the month!
So I laid out our month of September...and yep we have a birthday this month! Daddy will be celebrating on the 11th!
There you have it! A magnetic chalkboard calendar to help keep you organized this school year! After all, who can actually remember all those due dates? trips? school functions? practices? games? -- the list goes on and on!!
There is plenty of room at the bottom of my calendar to store my extra magnets and my chalk clips. You might want to think about that when you are sizing your own calendar.
I hope you make your own calendar and enjoy it as much as I enjoy mine!
Posted at Transformation Thursday on The Shabby Chic Cottage.
Posted at Show off your Stuff Party at Fireflies and Jellybeans.
Posted at the under $100 party on Beyond the Picket Fence.
Posted at the Open House Party on No Minimalist Here.
Posted at SNS on Funky Junk Interiors.
Posted at the Weekend Wrapup on Tatertots and Jello.
Posted at Sunday Showcase on Under the Table and Dreaming.
~Thanks for stopping by!~
~Angie~
Posted at the under $100 party on Beyond the Picket Fence.
Posted at the Open House Party on No Minimalist Here.
Posted at SNS on Funky Junk Interiors.
Posted at the Weekend Wrapup on Tatertots and Jello.
Posted at Sunday Showcase on Under the Table and Dreaming.
~Thanks for stopping by!~
~Angie~
