Ballard Inspired Chalk Boards

I saw these chalkboards in the Ballard Catalogue and just new I wanted to make something similar.

Aren't they just the cutest!
As you all know, I'm more of a sewer, but during my childhood I used to "putter" in the garage with my father.   That's what he would call it...puttering in the garage.  I have fond memories watching and helping my father putter.  So this project was great because once again I was puttering in the garage with my father!

I used newspaper and a sharpie to draw out and perfect my shapes.  My father suggested I use thin Fiber board which I bought at the local hardware store for $3.00 a quarter sheet.  I could get 3 of my chalkboards out of a quarter sheet.  I traced my newspaper patterns on the fiber board with a sharpie.  Now it was time for my dad to get out his favorite toy.....his Shop Smith.

This thing can do everything!!!
We used what I think is called a band saw?

At first I left all the cutting to my dad since he is an expert at this sort of stuff, but I noticed his eyes aren't what they used to be and he was going out side the lines in a few places, so I took over.  While I cut the shapes, he sanded the edges on the sander wheel you see right behind the band saw.  It was so nice to be puttering in the garage with my dad again!!
I applied chalkboard paint to the fronts, yes I purchased chalkboard paint since this was my first time working with the stuff, I figured I better buy the pre-made stuff.  I know there are simple recipes for it all over Pinterest, but I really didn't want to screw this up.  I applied 2 coats and sanded each coat with 400 grit sand paper.

Since the fiber board was so thin, I knew attaching picture hangers to the back was not an option.  So I decided to hang them with fabric.  I drilled 2 holes, Ripped 1 1/2" wide  strips of muslin so that it would leave raw edges, and fed the strips through the holes and tied knots....instant hanger!
Next was the challenging part for me.  Painting little doo dad lines around the border.  I just used some old trim paint I had left over from who knows what.  It was perfect because it wasn't white white, it was a creamy white.  I let that dry, lightly sanded again and tada.....here's my Ballard Inspired chalkboards.
This one hangs in my kitchen.

  The rest I made for a little consignment shop I put some of my pillows and slipcovers in from time to time.