I've been wanting to make a felt board and a wall-mounted chalkboard for a while now and finally got around to both. They were super easy (and cheap!) to make and I think they look great.
Here's what I did:
First, Harry had two pieces of 1/4 inch thick board cut to size (2 feet square I think) for me at Lowes. For the chalkboard, I painted it with regular wall primer first, then sprayed with two coats of Rust-Oleum chalk board spray paint. So easy!
And the felt board was easy too. I sprayed the wood with a spray adhesive (I used Elmers), then quickly attached a large piece of cream-colored wool felt that I bought at the fabric store, smoothing out the wrinkles with my hands. I turned the board over so the felt was underneath (but sticking out a couple inches on each side), sprayed the adhesive around the edges of the back, then smoothed the felt ends up and over. I used a couple of tacks at each corner to help hold the felt in place, but probably didn't need them.
Harry screwed them both into the wall for me. And Maia got straight to work with her chalks, and then her felt pieces. I haven't made any new felt pieces for her yet, but will soon. I think I'll start with some fall-themed cut-outs -- maybe a tree, some leaves, pumpkins, etc.
I love this area and think (hope!) that it will get a lot of use over the next few years. It's still a work in progress. I need to figure out a place to keep chalk and felt pieces nearby -- perhaps a bag or basket under each board. And I may add a corkboard strip or a wire above for displaying current artwork.
By the way, there are so many great felt board ideas out there. Thanks everyone for sending me links, especially Amber who was kind enough to send hers again after I lost the first e-mail! Here are a few:
Three Sneaky Bugs has a great step-by-step tutorial for making a framed felt board. She also has a post about making flower felt pieces.
What Caroline Says uses a flannel and felt combo and talks about using it as a storyboard.
Here's a portable felt board at A Little Hut.
Scrumdilly-do! has wonderful felt pieces that are embellished with fusible webbing and drawings.
Teaching Tiny Tots made a large felt board on foamcore and a few smaller ones (travel anyone?) on pizza boxes.
Did I miss any?
Oh, and there's even a felt board flickr group with more ideas. Bring on the felt!
