Thrifted Chalkboard Placemats DIY
Super easy, thrifted chalkboard placemats are made with cork mats from a thrift store, regular black paint and chalk – they make a great gift!
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Oh wow, I have been so excited to share these chalkboard placemats with you! They are so cool and fun for all ages, and while they do make a great handmade gift, I’m totally keeping these for myself.
They will look great with the thrifted chalkboard napkin rings, don’t you think?
I’ve actually been wanting to do a thrift store transformation on the cork placemats I see a lot of at thrift stores for awhile now, and after seeing this flash sale a month or so ago from Jane.com I knew just how I’d transform them:
As well as chalkboard placemats at Uncommon Goods ($35 for 4) and Crate and Barrel ($10 each, though they’re made of wood) and other places, I knew another chalkboard transformation was in my (and your!) future.
Chalkboard Placemats DIY
Thrifted Supplies
Here is the set I found at our local Goodwill, $4.99 for a set of 4.
Most of the time I find cork placemats for about .99 each, but these came in a box – and looked like they had never been used – so they were priced .99 higher.
I know that dollar stores sometimes carry cork placemats as well, but you know how much I love rescuing something that is being thrown out, right? Plus the thrift stores I shop at all support good causes, so I just prefer to not buy new, if I can help it.
Directions
Oh my gosh, this is so easy you’re gonna love it!
Use the same black flat brush-on paint that we use on the chalkboard napkin rings, but this time apply it with a foam paint roller.
If you don’t have one, you’ll want one for sure for this project – and any project you want a smooth finish with no brush lines.
Simply cover the entire surface with an even coat of the black paint. Let dry and add one more coat.
Once your placemats are completely dry, condition the paint with chalk like all our other chalkboard projects.
Rub the entire surface with the side of a piece of chalk and then wipe with a rag.
Ta-da! You’ve now made a chalkboard without any fancy chalkboard paint.
To give these as a gift (if you can part with them…), use a long ribbon to gather them together and tie a box of chalk into the bow.
I decided to draw a place setting on the top placemat with a chalk marker, just to make sure the recipient could tell right away what they were, but it’s not necessary.
And a $5 (and change) gift – mats, dollar store .33 chalk, and probably .50 worth of paint – that looks like a $20 to $40 gift? You know how much I love it!
I’m sure by now you can tell how much I like these (duh…), so much so that I’m planning a whole Thanksgiving table with a gold and chalkboard theme – which of course I will share with you!
Update: Here’s the Chalkboard Thanksgiving Tablescape!
In the meantime tell me, are you going to make these? And if you do, will you keep them or gift them?
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Thrifted Chalkboard Placemats DIY
Tools
- Foam paint roller
Materials
- 4 Thrifted placemats
- Black flat brush-on paint
- Chalk
Instructions
- Apply black flat brush-on paint with foam paint roller.
- Once entire surface is covered with an even coat, let dry and add one more coat.
- Once your placemats are completely dry, condition the paint with chalk.
To Condition:
- Rub the side of the chalk over all painted surfaces
- Buff surface lightly with a rag, leaving a film of chalk behind.
Love your place mats just discovered chalkboard paint have you ever used it on a coffee mug
And would it be microwaveable also can you use old plastic place mats plain colored ones like green blue etc and then do you just paint both sides I purchases some paint chalkboard at Walmart do you half to let sit for seven days before you can use as that is what label says
But they might mean for walls its gliden Disney chalkboard paint not the magnetic one or spray its just regular chalkboard paint
Also wonder if you can paint just clear contact t paper with this
Your designs are great could you email me thanks
Thanks, Pat! My sister used some on mugs, but they have to be hand washed or the paint comes off. You have to use it on rigid material, if it’s bendy plastic the paint may chip off, I think. I only let mine sit for a couple days before using. 🙂
Hi just signed up for your emails x I’ve just revamped my old placemats and cup mats , thankyou so much for fab idea x I discovered chalk paint last year but never new I could do so much with it other than paint it on my wall in kitchen for notice board or shopping list x I have loads of ideas already x thankyou for making my Thursday x
Wow, thanks so much,Francis! That makes me so happy to know. 🙂
Super cute !
So fun!!! I hit up Goodwill this weekend looking for something specific, and wouldn’t you know it, I ACTUALLY found it!!! I got an old piano bench, with storage in the seat, for $12 buckaroos. I’m gonna upholster the top, paint the legs, and give it as a Christmas present. Wahoo! Gotta love the junk stores.
Sounds lovely, Mindy! I’ll look for your post on how it turned out. 😉