Repurposed Antique Fireplace Cover To Chalkboard

I know, I know. You want before pics! I just jumped right into this project and before I knew it I had finished so I don't have any, but I can describe it for you.

I saw this very old, chipping, dirty fireplace cover at a consignment store way back in the summer. I didn't want to mess with it because it was in bad shape, chipping and painted Pepto pink!  However the cover was still in the shop when I dropped some things off a couple of weeks ago. I looked it over more closely and noticed the awesome shield design and other cool details.

 I already had a contractor garbage bag in my car, so I asked the the associate to bag it up for me. I'm really sensitive to dust mites, molds and anything else so I didn't want to touch it. The associate obliged and my sweet husband handled it for me when I got it home. Once it was shop-vac(ked) I just painted the whole thing with some homemade chalk paint. 

I took this grate thingy from the center and filled the hole with my "chalkboard" which is actually just a black foam poster board from Jo-Ann Fabric. I just stuck it on the back wedging it into some little metal notches. No cutting. No glue. It just worked. I'm sure you could cut and hot glue to fit whatever opening you need though. Then I drew my "Noel" as on a normal chalkboard. 

I copied my hand lettering from this ornament. I just free handed instead of messing with a printable but there are tons of free printables you can download if you want.

I was even able to clean up messes with a damp q-tip like on a regular chalkboard. 

Even up close you can't tell it's a foam board. With my coupon it was only around $3.00. I don't think it can be erased but the back is blank so I'll probably flip it over after Christmas and do a non-seasonal design. Easy! 

The house is really coming together now. I hope you'll stop back in next weekend for my full Christmas tour.

Hope you like it!  Do you think we will get sick of chalkboards anytime soon? I'm still loving them!

 A Merry Christmas to you!

Amber

Parties:

Show and Share http://linda-coastalcharm.blogspot.com/2015/12/show-and-share-no291.html?m=1

Vintage Inspiration Party http://knickoftime.net/2015/12/vip217-christmas-roundup.html

Make it Pretty Monday http://www.thededicatedhouse.com/2015/12/make-it-pretty-monday-week-160.html?m=1

Feathered Nest Friday http://www.frenchcountrycottage.net/2015/12/feathered-nest-friday_10.html?m=1

Holiday Home Sneak Peak

Hello fellow busy bloggers!! Today I'm sharing some photos of some of my Christmas decorations. I'll be doing a home tour for all the linky blog parities on Friday and Saturday so I hope you'll come back! Today's posts will just be photos but I'll elaborate more on the home tour. 

It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas around here. Do you like it so far? We moved in right before Christmas last year and it was rushed, so I really feel like this is the first "decorated" Christmas here. The home is a lot different than our last with all the rich, dark wood and colors, it's been a fun challenge to incorporate my shabby decor but it's coming together. I really hope you'll come back next weekend for the tour!

Merry Christmas!

Amber