Tuesday, December 13, 2011

Simple Gift Idea for Kids

Here is a easy idea for a gift that kids (and maybe adults too) will enjoy. All kids love to use chalkboards. Here is a gift I am planning to make for the holiday.

Chalkboard Box

Materials:

Wooden cigar box (or something similar)
Paint to decorate the inside & outside of the box
Chalkboard paint
Foam brushes
Box of chalk
Scrap of flannel or fleece

Paint the inside and outside of the box as desired, leaving box lid unpainted. Let dry.
Carefully paint the box top with chalkboard paint. Use an extra coat if needed. Let dry.

Place a box of chalk in the box along with a scrap of flannel for an eraser.

Voila' That is it! Simple, yet most young kids will love it.


Bonus Idea:

If you have extra chalkboard paint left over, use it to paint an old vinyl placemat, for little ones to use at a table.

Another off-beat version of the chalkboard is to alter an old book. Start with an old hardcover book like those found at a thrift store. Glue pages together and let dry. Leaving a minimum 1 inch border around the page edges, cut out the pages using a sharp utility knife. This forms a box inside of the book. You may wish to paint the inside to dress it up a bit. When dry, paint the book cover with chalkboard paint.

4 comments:

FRUGAL DAYCARE MOM said...

I love the box idea! I thought once when my daughter was little of getting the paint and painting part of her wall with chalkboard paint. But I was scared to death she would then think it was ok to write on walls. The cigar box is a much better idea. They could even use it for home schooling needs!

Lanita said...

How fun. If my girls were younger I know they would have loved that.

Carrie said...

Do you know you can make your own chalkboard paint? here is a link:
http://www.ehow.com/how_6622879_make-chalkboard-paint-home.html
C~

Granny Simplicity said...

Thank you for the link. I will have to keep that "recipe" in my notebook for future reference.