Aug 28, 20223 min read

DIY Front Porch Chalkboard Sign

Updated: Jan 17, 2023

Check out our TikTok how-to video HERE

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There is nothing I hate more than having what everyone else has; but there is nothing I love more than making what everyone else has for significantly less money than everyone else paid for!...and putting my own twist on it ;)

The first DIY:

My mom found this mirror on clearance when we were planning my wedding. She took wooden letters, spray painted them navy blue and added glitter (to match our wedding colors and theme), glued together some popsicle sticks and made our wedding hashtag sign! We used it at my shower (pictured) and my wedding.

So what do I do with it now?

Brainstorm. Recycle. Repeat.

I knew I wanted to update our porch decor and I knew I wanted to spend $0 so I rummaged through my craft room and came up with the idea to turn our hashtag sign into a front porch sign THAT I could update with each season/holiday/event!

Supplies:

Mirror (Already had it. Cost me $0. Can be found as cheap as $3.99 on clearance at stores like Bed Bath and Beyond, Target, or Walmart)
Chalkboard paint (Already had it. Cost me $0. But a 30oz can can be purchased for $17 at Home Depot, Lowes, and Walmart)
Paint brushes (Already had it. Cost me $0. But I find that the Tool Bench Brushes from Dollar Tree worked best! $1.25 for a pack!)
Painter's Tape (Already had it. Cost me $0. But I use the roll from Dollar Tree!)
Chalk! (Already had it. Cost me $0. chalk can be found nearly anywhere for very cheap)
Sanding Block: (Already had it. Cost me $0. You can purchase for under $10 at any home improvement store)
Windex or any other cleaning solvent

Steps:

I had to remove the letters that were already on there, but in the event that you are working with a brand new mirror, step one would be to sand! Sand the surface so that it is rough. You want a rough surface so the paint has something to stick to.
Clean the mirror completely with Windex or any other cleaning product. you don't want anything left on the mirror surface that will stick under the paint and cause bumps and an uneven surface.
Tape off the edges of the mirror. I put this step AFTER sanding and cleaning so that you don't accidentally sand/peel some tape off.
Paint the surface with chalkboard paint. Make sure you mix the paint WELL. I needed three coats of paint. Wait at least 24 hours between coats (annoying, I know.) If you don't wait long enough, the paint will peel off completely. I let the paint dry outside during the last coat, in the sun, for an hour or so. You don't want any leaves, grasses, or bugs sticking to the paint.
Remove the tape
Chalk away! Create your first design on the board. DO NOT USE CHALK MARKERS. Chalk markers, which I LOVE, are too strong on chalkboard paint. It can rip away the paint upon application and/or erasing. Use sidewalk or standard chalkboard chalk.
To change your design, use a wet paper towel and then dry with a soft cloth. Use mild soap if absolutely needed.

Easy Peasey!

I had no problem leaving mine outside in the elements. It held up perfectly fine during a thunderstorm. As you can see, mine is tucked in a corner so I recommend positioning yours the same way.