Do you ever complete a project and take a step back only to realize that it has confirmed some things you’ve always known about yourself?
Things you try to not dwell on because who wants to dwell on the things they know they aren’t good at, right?
Let’s just be honest here.
I KNOW I’m not an artist.
(There’s a reason no one wants to be on my team when we play Pictionary.)
And, I KNOW I don’t have the best handwriting.
(My mother didn’t want me addressing our wedding invitations. Oh the shame of bad penmanship!)
And, yet I’m just crazy enough to decide to put a chalkboard on my front door for Fall.
And write on it.
And draw leaves on it.
So, if you will all show me some grace on this one I would really appreciate it!
On a recent trip to the Union Gospel Mission Thrift Store I found this treasure waiting for me.
I’m pretty sure it used to be some kind of wall calendar.
This was all that was left of it and while the tag said $5 I only paid $2.50 for it!
I also scored some packages of fall grain/wheat/thingys and even though you see that .95 cent tag on it I only paid .25 cents! Either the lady at the counter thought I qualified for the Senior Discount or I just happened to be there on the right day!
My plan was to use this in my kitchen but I decided it could make a temporary detour to the front door for awhile. I painted the frame a creamy white and gave the inside piece a couple of coats of Chalkboard Spray Paint.
I gathered up my thrift store grain/wheat/thingys and tied them with some leftover jute webbing and tucked it in on top.
And then I just had to go and get too big for my britches.
(That phrase is used a lot lately in our house and not just referring to me!)
I thought, “If I can rescue this thing from the thrift store, paint it and hang it on my front door, then certainly I can write a simple phrase on it and draw some leaves, right?”
Look away, Mom, just look away!
I realized there was a problem when I was looking over my son’s homework and noticed a startling similarity between his 3rd grade level cursive and my…ahem…considerably older version.
And I’m pretty sure my daughter could draw better leaves.
So, would you please pretend that my children are responsible for the “artwork” on this
Front Door Fall Chalkboard?
I know I’m going to!
But, here’s something else I had confirmed this weekend.
And this time, I’m ok with it!
I can take our family photos
AND
save us money
AND
no one outside our family needs to hear me telling my kids that “if they don’t smile they are going to have a serious time out when they get home and no treats after dinner!”.
That’s a win/win if you ask me!
Of course, in order to make it up to my mom about my horrible handwriting, I have to include a couple of the photos (pre-editing) from our “session”. Love you Nonna and Poppa!
Thanks so much for joining me at the Fence today,
I think it looks great, Vanessa! I like how you were able to use both the items you purchased at that thrift store. They come together beautifully. Great family photo, too!
What a beautiful family photo Vanessa!! I think the chalkboard looks fabulous!
Have a great week!
ha! you should see the stuff on our kitchen blackboard (made from an old frame and hangs on the pantry door)….tacky handwriting and all but we love it and I simply adore your new door decor. Pure genius! Now won’t it be fun if the mailman leaves you a note….. Have a happy week! xo
I have picked one of those calendar things too….still deciding what I want to do with it….I think your idea is cute. Your family is precious!!
Nancy
http://wildoakdesigns.blogspot.com
Oh I just love this. I am cracking up because I have the very same piece from Goodwill! I love what you did with yours. Happy Monday!
I LOVE how this turned out! I think you did a great job! 🙂
Love the chalkboard and your writing looks fine. Mine isn’t good either. I print more than using cursive. Love the family shot.
That turned out to be a great piece! Love the touch of wheat! And your family is beautiful, great pictures! …Look forward to meeting you at the conference this weekend! I am so super excited! 🙂
Vanessa – I think you did a MARVELOUS job with your chalkboard – printing, leaves and all. That’s really a cute idea. Your family pictures are awesome.
Judy
Your door looks very festive as well – you did a great job! What a great family photo! Don’t you just love our fall weather we get to experience here in Oregon? Perfect setting for some special pictures 🙂
Vanessa.
How creative and it looks beautiful. I think you’re going to start a trend here, as I have not seen this done before, such a unique idea. Love the fall family photo, y’all are so adorable! XO ~Liz
It’s just perfect and so unique:)
You are way too hard on yourself. So glad you decided to post photos anyway. Keep it real–the decor looks great (artwork, handwriting, and all!)
Who says you’re not an artist? Isn’t photography an art??
I had terrible handwriting in 3rd grade. . . then I had a 4th grade teacher who said, “I’m not going to accept this. You’re going to learn to write in cursive ALL OVER AGAIN.” Honestly, I’ve always been grateful for Mrs. Degraffreed! 🙂
Hi Vanessa, you little silly. Your project looks great! Now who would think to close up that space at the top with the burlap ribbon? You! Your handwriting looks great and your leaves too. Heck, after I graduated High School, I quit writing all together and started printing. I’ve printed since I was 18 years old! 🙂
Love your lovely family snaps. You have such a beautiful little family.
Be a sweetie,
Shelia 😉
Remember beauty is in the eye of the beholder… and I think it’s beautiful and so are you!
Vanessa I love this idea!!
Vanessa, what a beautiful family you have!!! LOVE your photos… and your chalkboard. I would like to try this for my door that comes in from the garage. It would be a whole lot more utilitarian… great idea! You must have had a good handwriting day!
You have an eye for great bargains and a vision for using them!!!
Please stop by TUTORIALS TIPS AND TIDBITS and share this on Wednesday evening… link goes up at 8:00.
I love that you put this all together with thrift store finds. I love anything with a chalkboard right now so I absolutely love this. You are always super creative and you know I think everything you do is great!!
What a cool idea for a chalk board! LOVE this on your front door!You did a great job on your chalkboard art!!!! What a beautiful photo of you and your family!
xx
Anne
Vanessa,
You go girl! I love this chalkboard…..and wedding or no wedding invitations….your handwriting is so pretty!
Have a great day rock star!
karianne
Vanessa, You are hiding your light under a bushel(le?)! When I write on a chalkboard, I reach for the sky and look like my dog found the chalk! Nothing wrong with your board, my girl. I love it. What a beautiful family. Blessed thou art. Love The Picket Fence. Regena in TN
Vanessa, I think your project turned out perfect for your front door. The fact that it is your handwriting for your home makes it that much more special. I love it and am glad that you shared it with us. Hugs, Shelly
I love chalkboards for decorating and yours is particularly cute.
Don’t be so hard on yourself, I’m trying not to be and I’m 57 with no better writing (though it once was beautiful at one time)I can draw a covered bridge that vaguely resembles one, that’s about it. My leaves would be no better. Have you ever read “400 Days til 40”? Within the week one post was about the wonder of creativity in children before they grow up to be adults who think they have to be Picasso good or they can’t draw. I’m a reforming one of that lot. Join me? We’ll have fun up & down the east coast by several hundred miles. 🙂 Janet
I love this look. Great job!
Cynthia
You are too funny! I think that the idea of putting this whole thing together for your front door is genius. It has so much personality. I think you did fine with the leaves and the writing. I am no artist either. I have artists in my family that can draw and paint like a pro…..not me! That gene just passed me by. ha! Glad to know that there are others out there like me. My son’s can both draw and I’m so jealous. Hey, you may feel like you can’t draw, but you can create!
Vanessa, this could have been me writing this post! I was thinking, poor penmanship, me. Mother not wanting me to address wedding invites because of this. ME! Cannot draw, which baffles my husband being that I can paint anything and everything, as long as you don’t ask me to paint a shape of something!
What a great idea to put this on your door! I can hear Van Morrison singing this song as I read your cute little note. You definitely did not have to put all those disclaimers on this project, it turned out perfect!
We are on the same track here . . . I was just brainstorming last night for ideas to decorate ‘on the cheap’. I came up with a few things but I love your chalkboard and how you decorated it and yes, the writing and the leaves ARE cute!
Vanessa, love the chalk board. You and I can be on the same Pictionary team. The photos are beautiful. You redeemed yourself by including the pictures.
Mom
Hey it’s cute as can be…not as cute as those adorable kids but it’s a nice decoration and creative / different !
You have the most beautiful family!! I LOVE the front door chalkboard!!! Christie
Nice!! I actually like it — you can’t have it looking all Starbucks/menu board-like — just wouldn’t be homey. 😉
You go, girl!
xo Heidi
Vanessa, love your sense of humor and thank you for posting your family portrait it inspires me to go out and try this with my own family. I love taking pictures but this year we couldn’t even afford school pictures and now that I saw your picture I decided to give it a go too.Love your thrifty door chalkboard it puts me in the mood for Fall. Great work!