My chalkboard art dresser has become a craft supply storage solution! The hand lettering on each drawer tells me which craft supply is in that drawer making things easier to find. Since it is written in chalk, I can erase and rewrite the labels when I move items around.
In September 2011, I did a bedroom makeover for Vanessa. The makeover included painting her dresser white and adding chalkboard paint to the drawers. She was able to write on each drawer in chalk. Well, she no longer uses that dresser so I took it for my craft room.
The previous hand lettering and drawings didn’t want to come off very easily. I tried wiping the surface with a wet rag but some of the previous drawings still showed up. So, I rubbed the side of a piece of chalk over the entire surface.
Then, I used a foam eraser to smooth things out.
Finally, I wiped all of the drawers with a damp, lint free cloth.
Once the surface was fairly clean, I measured the empty spaces on either side of the drawer pull and drew a few guidelines.
Then, I started with the chalkboard hand lettering. I erased the guidelines with the damp cloth once I didn’t need them anymore.
I also added a chalkboard number to each drawer.
I looked online at various chalkboard art items and chalkboard fonts for some inspiration but mostly I was just winging it.
I read at Burlap and Denim that you can lightly spray chalkboard art with hair spray to keep things in place. Since my craft room is open to the rest of our basement and kids often play in our basement, I might end up spraying it.
I used cheap white chalk and changed pieces a couple of times. I also read at Sassy Style that you can sharpen chalk with the wider end up a makeup sharpener. But I don’t have one so I just used the chalk as is.
I might end up going back to add more decorative touches in the blank spaces.
Even though my chalkboard “font” isn’t perfect and my lines aren’t straight, I am delighted with how it turned out! I am really surprised at how much fun I had doing the hand lettering with chalk! I am already wondering what chalkboard art project I can do next!
Love chalkboards? Check out these posts:
Chalkboard Dresser Makeover, Chalkboard Memo Board and Free Chalkboard Background
Also, check out my friend Randi at Dukes & Duchesses’ Game Dresser with Chalkboard Drawers
Marty Walden says
August 26, 2013 at 1:25 pmThis is absolutely adorable! What a great idea! Sharing on my fb page today.
Tonia says
August 26, 2013 at 1:48 pmThanks Marty!
Randi Sowders says
June 20, 2013 at 10:06 amI did chalkboard drawers for my son’s dresser and absolutely love the idea. The only downside was that my daughter would go in and wipe off what I wrote on the drawers. Then I discovered chalkboard markers, which are basically the same but in order to wipe them off, you have to use a wet rag. Now I have labeled all this drawers with the markers, it’s colorful, simple, and my daughter can’t wipe off my work 🙂
I hope you link up with our party this week too!
http://www.sowderingabout.com/2013/06/on-display-monday-linkup-6.html
Jacque@ theDIYvillage says
June 20, 2013 at 9:40 amI love this idea!! Im never patient enough to create chalk board ‘art’ this is wonderful!
Linda @ it all started with paint says
May 13, 2013 at 10:53 amThis is pure genius! Pinning for sure! And are you okay if I share a pic and link back to the blog on my FB page this week?
Thanks!
🙂 Linda
Tonia says
May 13, 2013 at 12:43 pmThanks Linda! I would love for you to share a pic and a link on your FB page!
Lynnda Worsnop says
March 19, 2013 at 9:17 amlove this idea, love chalk boards too , fabulous handles
Tonia says
March 19, 2013 at 9:48 amThanks Lynnda! I finally sprayed the dresser so hopefully the chalk is a bit more permanent now!
mandy says
March 11, 2013 at 3:48 pmi think it looks great! i will have to do that to my craft drawer chest too!!!
Tonia says
March 12, 2013 at 8:22 amThanks Mandy!
Melissa @ No. 2 Pencil says
March 9, 2013 at 8:25 amLove it! It looks so awesome!
Mackenzie says
March 6, 2013 at 10:06 pmI love this; how fun! What a great way to use an old dresser!
Mackenzie 🙂
Lyuba@willcookforsmiles says
March 6, 2013 at 9:03 amI love this idea! I always avoid labels because I move stuff around, and this totally works!!
Tonia says
March 6, 2013 at 10:24 amThanks Lyuba! I know what you mean! I seem to always be moving things around too but I could see your little boy having way too much fun with your chalkboard dresser! 🙂
Vanessa says
March 6, 2013 at 8:30 amThis is a great idea to store office/craft stuff. I am going to do this. I have been looking for something to store my stuff. Have a great week.
Vanessa
Tonia says
March 6, 2013 at 8:33 amThanks Vanessa! I hope you have a great week too. I would love to hear how your dresser turns out!
Randi - Dukes and Duchesses says
March 5, 2013 at 9:04 pmTonia, you did an amazing job with that! Your lettering is incredible! Love, love, love it.
Tonia says
March 5, 2013 at 9:27 pmThanks Randi! I still need to spray it to make it a little more permanent!
Dorothy @ Crazy for Crust says
March 5, 2013 at 6:01 pmThis is such an amazing idea Tonia! I love it!
Tonia says
March 5, 2013 at 8:15 pmThanks Dorothy!
Trish @ Uncommon says
March 5, 2013 at 10:22 amTonia,
I just love it! I have a dresser in my craft room that would love to look just like this! Wanna come paint it?! Your chalk technique is just perfect, too!
Take care,
Trish
Tonia says
March 5, 2013 at 1:35 pmThanks Trish! I would love to! You provide the coffee and chocolate and I will do the painting!
Alice Hanson says
March 4, 2013 at 10:48 pmYou are a clever one! Love the dresser. I think you have inspired me. Three days before Christmas I painted my whole back door with chalk paint. It was a big hit with the family.
Smiles, alice
Tonia says
March 5, 2013 at 2:04 pmReally? What a great idea!I wonder what door I could paint in my house?
Michelle Paige says
March 4, 2013 at 10:12 pmWhat do you mean your chalkboard letter art isn’t perfect? I think it’s gorgeous! I love this piece!
Tonia says
March 4, 2013 at 10:15 pmThanks Michelle! I really do like it but I can see all the flaws too. I’m not a perfectionist though (I’m too lazy to be…LOL) so I will just leave it as it is!
Jenn says
March 4, 2013 at 7:21 pmThis is so fun!! I love it!
Tonia says
March 4, 2013 at 9:32 pmThanks Jen!
Aly says
March 4, 2013 at 12:44 pmWow your typography drawing or writing skills are great! Is the chalk board material removable if you decided to restore the dresser back to its original?
Tonia says
March 4, 2013 at 7:04 pmThanks Aly! No it is not removable. The dresser isn’t something that would be restorable (even though that isn’t a word) so I am not worried about it. If I got tired of the chalkboard front, I would just sand it down and paint it another color.
crystal says
March 1, 2013 at 12:15 amThis is amazing, Tonia! I’m so jealous of your handwriting. 🙂
admin says
March 1, 2013 at 1:33 amThanks Crystal!
Bliss says
February 28, 2013 at 2:52 pmYou just KNOW I’m pinning that!
Bliss
Jenna says
February 28, 2013 at 2:07 pmCutest thing ever! Simply Brilliant Tonia, I want to do this for my studio! What a great organizing solution for the hard to store craft items! Thanks so much!
Anne @ Domesblissity says
February 28, 2013 at 12:29 pmTonia, that is a fantastic idea and I love the lettering you’ve done. I’ve got a chest of drawers here I’ve been wondering what to do with. Now I know.
Anne xx
admin says
February 28, 2013 at 1:02 pmThanks Anne! Your kids would love it!
Cathy@LemonTreeDwelling says
February 28, 2013 at 3:55 amThis is a great use of chalkboard paint! Both useful and decorative – love it!
Robin {Mom Foodie} says
February 28, 2013 at 2:57 amI LOVE this. I’d probably coat it with a clear matte spray paint, so I wouldn’t have to re-do the drawers. I know that ruins the point of a chalkboard, but the graphics came out really cool 🙂
admin says
February 28, 2013 at 3:00 amThanks Robin! Good point…it certainly took a lot of time to write!
Jocelyn @BruCrew Life says
February 28, 2013 at 1:36 amThat is such a fun idea! And for winging it, you did an awesome job on your lettering!
admin says
February 28, 2013 at 2:47 amThanks Jocelyn!
Reecea says
February 28, 2013 at 1:17 amTonia,
This is amazing. I love it! I am not a big fan of chalkboard paint on everything, but I totally love this! Pinning!!! When you change the organization of the drawers, it is so easy to change the front!!! In my house, there is more than one crafter. This idea helps everyone know where to find things and where they belong when the craft is done. You post lovely ideas. The chalkboard dresser is one of my favorites thus far:)
Reecea
admin says
February 28, 2013 at 1:35 amThanks Reecea! You are right, it would work great as a storage solution for multiple people!
Callie @ Callie's Crafts says
February 27, 2013 at 10:48 pmWow what a great idea, Tonia. I used chalk board paint on my inside of my pantry door. I’m co-hosting my first linky party tonight @ 7:00 I would like for you to link up. http://calliescrafts.blogspot.com/
Jodi says
February 27, 2013 at 10:39 pmI love this… It looks so neat… Love that the handles kind of look like the mustache trend right now 🙂 and the very bbasics of black and white
Ginger@gingersnapcrafts.com says
February 27, 2013 at 8:52 pmI love it! 🙂
admin says
February 27, 2013 at 10:29 pmThanks Ginger!
Tonii says
February 27, 2013 at 6:28 pmTonya, this is quite possibly the cutest thing I have ever seen!! I love the idea of being able to label the drawers…and change it up if needs be!! So so fantastic!!
Tonii
admin says
February 27, 2013 at 8:17 pmThanks Tonii! I have another dresser in my craft room that I plan to do the same thing to!
Adventuresindinner says
February 27, 2013 at 5:59 pmSo smart! So much better than my collection of bags etc all over the place.
admin says
February 27, 2013 at 8:18 pmThanks Jane! Don’t worry, I do have stuff in bags and bins still! 😉