When we first moved back home to Chicago, I had to set up my home office in my mother’s living room. Thankfully, my brother had inherited a large, awesome desk and a few trappings that he couldn’t fit in his apartment, so I lucked out. In one of the drawers, I found a long wooden clipboard, pretty basic and boring. I naturally assumed it could be redone with a bit of panache. (And yes, I cleared its re-purposing with my baby bro.)
If you’ve got a clipboard, spray paint, and five minutes, you’re in the craft zone.
What You’ll Need
A wooden clipboard
Chalkboard spray paint (Rustoleum style)
Chalkboard sheet or vinyl (optional)
Vinyl or stickers for decoration—Cricut-ready or peel-and-stick
I already knew where I wanted to put it. My desk sits just outside the kitchen, and I have a view of the side of the cabinets, where this was hanging:
1. Prep and Paint
Tape off the clipboard’s metal clip to keep that nice shiny silver. One light coat of Rustoleum Chalkboard Spray Paint and you’re almost there.
Chalkboard paint comes in so many forms now, but I like quick ‘n easy. I love ANY paint I can spray.
2. Test the Surface
Let it dry, then write on it. For mine, the surface of the clipboard didn’t work so well with the paint, and ended up being very rough to write on. If you have the same issue, you can pivot and cover it with a chalkboard vinyl sheet for a smooth writing surface.
3. Add Personality
Using my Cricut’s Word Collage cartridge, I cut out the word “Remember” in craft vinyl. Stick it on the painted board, and suddenly it’s not just a clipboard, it’s a daily reminder spot!
Obviously, I did this quite some time ago, and this software doesn’t even exist for Cricut anymore! You could easily replicate in the new Cricut Design Space, or even in Canva.
4. Hang and Use
Mount it near your workspace; kitchen, office, living room. Perfect for jotting down to-dos, reminders, or motivational notes. I replaced my old paper calendar with this simple clipboard, and it instantly felt more … intentional.
Why I Love This Project
Functional: Jot reminders, menus, or quick notes daily
Fast: Under 30 minutes start to finish
Affordable: One clipboard, paint, and optional vinyl
Custom: Play with fonts, quotes, colors
More Ways to Use It
- Monthly menu board
- Kid chore checklist
- Self-affirmations or motivational quotes
- Mini calendar paste-in
Once the clipboard’s done, it becomes whatever you need it to be.
What would you make over in chalkboard paint?
