Recipe Make Your Own Custom Color Chalkboard Paint and My Favorite Knock Off Knock Outs

*****NEWS ALERT*****Amazon has Southern Living 1 yr subscription for $5-HURRY. It ends soon. All the others are $10 or more so I will wait for a sale on the others.

Followers-if you haven't received a visit, please e-mail me because I can't get to your blog.
I added a picture-sorry it's a wedding photo I'll work on an updated one.


Hudson Paint
$24.99 a can

Apartment Therapy
Chalkboard paint is easily purchased at any hardware store. But it's only available in black or green. This recipe allows you to create the paint in any color you please:

3 teaspoons acrylic paint (color of choice)
1 1/2 teaspoons glazing medium (water-based)
1/2 teaspoon powder tile grout

Mix all ingredients together, blending very well. Make only as much as you need, as it does not store well...

Martha Stewart

If you thought chalkboards were just for schoolrooms, think again. These wipe-off writing surfaces make handy helpers around the home, too. Thanks to paint that dries into a chalkboard finish, your board can be whatever size you desire and placed wherever you like. Store-bought formulas come in traditional green and black. But you can also follow our recipe to mix your own batch in any shade. Cleverly applied chalkboard paint means new places to track appointments, keep lists, and leave messages. Or simply use the surface to draw or doodle, which will appeal to kids and the kid in everyone.


Wall Calendar
A home office is the ideal spot for a family planner. Six weeks' worth of squares in a variety of shades can accommodate several schedules. The entire wall is also coated with chalkboard paint for more memos. Start with a base coat of store-bought black chalkboard paint, and then mix in varying amounts of white chalkboard paint for lighter squares.
Martha's Recipe:
Custom Colors How-To
Start with flat-finish latex paint in any shade. For small areas, such as a door panel, mix 1 cup at a time.


1. Pour 1 cup of paint into a container. Add 2 tablespoons of unsanded tile grout. Mix with a paint stirrer, carefully breaking up clumps.

2. Apply paint with a roller or a sponge paintbrush to a primed or painted surface. Work in small sections, going over the same spot several times to ensure full, even coverage. Let dry.



3. Smooth area with 150-grit sandpaper, and wipe off dust.

4. To condition: Rub the side of a piece of chalk over entire surface. Wipe away residue with a barely damp sponge.

The Knock Offs were amazing this week. It is hard to pick just a few-they are all so good. I did eliminate people from being showcased if they didn't link to me. I have left those up but eventually I am going to get too busy to e-mail people asking them to add the link and I will have to take them off. That isn't to be mean-everyone has that as a rule, it helps people find the party and you get more recognition. If you weren't showcased it doesn't mean I didn't think your piece was great, I am trying to show a variety here. The way I decided to arrange the showings this week: If someone had my button at the top of the post they are going first, if the button was at the bottom they go next and if they linked third. It's just my fun way of mixing it up this week. So, with that said let me first THANK Kelee from Katillac Shack for allowing me to unveil the secret behind the $100 hints and for giving us such a great tutorial.

I love doing unique paint treatments and can I say just one more time how much I love that little curtain. Now I want my own camera crew(SMILE).

My first feature is Kim oops that would be Dianne (I blame all mistakes on the meds still in my system) from Red House Happenings


Kim did a kitchen makeover and only wanted the best in cabinetry. She would make sacrifices in other areas. They could only afford one of the drawer dividers so they made their own and I say that is a great Knock Off. She didn't mention what each of those drawers cost through the cabinet co and how much they made them for but I am quite certain they saved themselves a lot of money. They Knocked it OUT of the park on this one.

Next is Alicia from Thrifty and Chic Motif
She fell in love with the Ballard Motif waste basket but couldn't imagine paying $79 so she decided to make her own version with what she had around the house and hers cost her ZILCH, Notta, NOTHIN'.


Now that is one Knock Off that is definitely a KNOCK OUT.

Our third showcase is Jennifer from Hope Studios.
She showed us how to make some Knock Off SEX-IN-THE-CITY shoes. Remember all those lovely girly girl shoes.

She started with a pair of shoes from Target-we all have those don't we and went to work.


She gives a great step by step tutorial on how to create THE LOOK. Once again Jen you have created a KNOCK OUT. Don't we all want Jenn back each week--?



#4 is a buget DIY frugal Kitchen redo from Jane at Frugal Fine Living

She used the very popular bead board wallpaper and did a faux granite counter top. Her counter top kit cost her #39.95
I would have loved to have seen a further shot back as well of the counters, here is a close up of the marbelling

What a Knock Off Knock Out not only with the bead board but the granite as well.

Next is a Pottery Barn Knock Off by Tiffany from Happy Day
The Pottery Barn jars were $12 a piece or $39 for all 3 online. She found these jars at a garage sale for $3 each and grabbed 3 for a total of $9.

Her sister had black glass paint so she scored there-aren't sisters the best. She went to work and created a Knock Off Knock Out that I now NEED to make. Have I ever mentioned how much I love numbers and letters?


Miss Cathy from The Stylish House gave a GREAT tutorial on how to make new drawer glides.

If you find a great piece at a great price but it needs new glides-now you know how to make your own.

She spent $30 on the dresser and $30 on supplies-What a great piece.

To view all the Knock Off that were Knock Outs click on Par--TAY!!
Thanks ladies. Keep them coming.

If you want to thrill my kids and participate in the poll it is up till Friday POLL INFO because you all know you really do want to know what a fly swatter is supposed to be called so the next time you ask someone to get you on, you are using the correct name.

I really do appreciate links back to me and if you do one let me know and I will do a link back to you as a sign of appreciation. In my book, it's just proper etiquette.

Remember I LOVE reading every single comment and coming to visit you. Join my followers and subscribe and I will do the same. Once you subscribe, you will get all new posts from anyone you follow. Need more info on that
GO HERE