DIY Vintage Framed Chalkboard for a Rustic Chic Wedding

Last week, I mentioned how hard it was for me to manage my time while working from home, mostly because I had the pressure of designing and styling a wedding for the first time. And not any wedding, a beautiful young couple’s wedding, a couple that is very close to my heart.

It was a challenging job but rewarding, to say the least.

You can do anything you set your mind to.

Benjamin Franklin

I honestly didn’t know where to start, but sometimes you just have to start somewhere, and everything will start falling into place. And that is what happened with this rustic chalkboard art.

DIY Vintage Chalkboard Frame

Not bad, uh? Considering it was my first time handwriting and doodling with chalk.

vintage framed chalkboard dancefloor wedding

And I didn’t just make one chalkboard; I made 4. I also made a chalkboard sign with the food menu and one with the bar menu. Yes, talk about a challenge.

Vintage Framed chalkboard Menu for wedding

How to Make YOur Own Vintage Frame

Finding ornate vintage frames for these chalkboards was not easy. We searched high and low, mostly at antique and consignment shops and thrift stores for them, but it was hard to come by 4 ornate frames with the dimensions we needed at a reasonable price.

So I took on – yet – another challenge and decided to handcraft them myself. When it comes to woodworking, my husband – who also happens to be the father of the bride 😉 – works wonders. So, off to Home Depot, we went.

We picked two types of chair rail molding: solid pine and polyurethane. We loved the ornamental look of both and the width of the pieces was exactly what we were looking for.

With a miter saw, we cut to size 4 pieces of  each molding and attached them together to make each frame.

DIY Vintage Framed Chalkboard for a Wedding

Depending on the size you want your frame to be, you will use more or less molding. The average molding piece measures 86 in L. When cutting at a 45-degree angle, you waste an average of 3 inches of molding per cut, so keep that in mind, too, when calculating quantities.

After cutting, gluing, and sanding, I painted the frames with Americana Decor Chalk Paint. I chose Lace and Vintage for the base colors, and both were finished with a coat of Cream Wax in Deep Brown.

Americana Decor Chalk Paint Vintage Wedding Chalkboard

It is important to know that before applying any dark wax, 1 or 2 coats of Clear Creme Wax are necessary in order to seal the chalk paint and be able to wipe off the dark wax easily without it sipping through the paint.

The finish with just clear crème wax is beautiful and clean with a nice, even sheen. I also learned that you can buff the clear wax for a beautiful glossy shine. But, if you are looking for a distressed, old-world world, and shabby chic look, the dark wax can help you achieve that.

DIY Vintage Frame Chalkboard for a Wedding

Have you ever used chalk paint?