{pretty it up}

Our poor fireplace. It really is in need of a major makeover.

But since we haven't gotten around to that yet, mainly for lack of budget, I'm doing my best to pretty it up in the mean time. I've been gathering mantle inspiration photos every since we moved in, but lately I've been adding them to my Pinterest. A few that I really loved are this one with a great chalkboard...

Source: splendidmissm.blogspot.com via Mandy on Pinterest

And this lovely piece that has been making its way around lots of blogs and being pinned left and right...

Source: bananneliese.tumblr.com via Erin on Pinterest

But since my budget was basically zero for this project, I decided to marry the two together, use mostly items I already owned, and came up with this...

Wanna see where this chalkboard started out? The frame had been in storage since we moved to this house two years ago, so it felt like a freebie.

{the picture that as previously in there was of the Goodyear blimp...my Grandpa was one of the original designers of them...pretty cool, huh?}

To transform the frame to a chalkboard, I picked up a can of chalkboard spray paint from Hobby Lobby {$6 after my 40% off coupon}...

And gave the glass two good, even coats...

 

Gave it 24 hours to dry per the instructions on the can. Then I gave the frame three coats of blue craft paint from my stash, followed by a coat of mod podge to seal it...and voila!

And now for the rest of that fireplace...








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