Celebrate dad this Father’s Day with an easy craft the kids can make! Chalkboard paint isn’t just for walls or for creating DIY memo boards. Your kiddo can get artsy and use this specialty paint to make the perfect picture frame for dad.
Why make a chalkboard frame? Other than the fact that dad probably doesn’t already have one of these awesome art projects (unlike the stockpile of ‘#1 Dad’ mugs, ties and t-shirts that are stashed in the back of his closet), it’s a gift that keeps on giving. Write a Father’s Day message on the frame, erase later and create a something new. This means that your child can write ‘Happy Father’s Day’ today, ‘You’re the best’ next week and ‘Love you dad!’ next month. She can keep erasing and adding to the chalkboard picture frame any time that she wants. Celebrate other special days or change the decorations when you change the photo.
Materials:
- Chalkboard paint – Buy the craft kind, and not the type that is meant for walls. You can find this at most arts and crafts supply stores.
- Wide popsicle sticks
- Cardboard –Instead of buying board, reuse an old box.
- Scissors
- A ruler
- A pencil
- A paintbrush
- Clear-drying school glue
- Colorful chalk
- Tape
- Optional: An unfinished wood frame
Before you start the art-making, decide if you want your child to make her own frame or use a pre-made one. If you are looking for a quick project, go with an unfinished wood frame. These are inexpensive, and most craft stores sell them. For a more homemade feel your child can create her own version with popsicle sticks. And now, on to the crafting…
How-to Steps:
- Cut a piece of cardboard into a rectangle. Make it twice the length that you want the picture frame to be (your child will be folding it in half). For example, if she wants to make an 8×10-inch frame, draw an 8×20 rectangle onto the board.
- Position the board vertically. Fold the rectangle in half to make a tent (the opening should be at the bottom so that the board stands up on its own).
- Draw a picture window on the front. Size the window so that it is slightly smaller than the photo your child wants to frame.
- Cut out the window. Cutting through cardboard is challenging. Your child may need help doing this. Poke through the cardboard with the scissors. Cut upwards and out to make the picture window.
- Glue the popsicle sticks to the front of the frame, around the window. Let the glue dry.
- Paint a layer of chalkboard paint over the popsicle sticks.
- Let the paint dry, and then add another layer.
- Open the frame up, place the photo behind the window and tape it to the interior of the frame.
- Design away! Your child can draw on a Father’s Day message or add a pretty picture to the chalkboard paint.
If you’re going the wood frame route, simply start at step six and go from there.
Are you proud of the cute creation that your child crafted? Show us, so that we can inspire others with your child’s awesome art! Submit your chalkboard paint frame photos to us at connect@angelibebe.com for us to share.
