DIY Thrift Store Chalkboard Placemats: An Easy Upcycled Craft for Unique Home Decor & Handmade Gifts

Transforming ordinary cork placemats found at your local thrift store into stylish and functional chalkboard placemats is incredibly easy, budget-friendly, and perfect for creating unique home decor or thoughtful handmade gifts. All you need are some inexpensive cork mats, regular black paint, and a little chalk to bring this creative vision to life!

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Oh wow, I’ve been bursting with excitement to share this fantastic DIY project with you: these incredible chalkboard placemats! They are undeniably cool, offering endless fun and functionality for people of all ages. While they undoubtedly make a magnificent handmade gift, I must confess, I’m absolutely keeping this particular set for myself. There’s just something so satisfying about a project that’s both practical and playful.

Imagine these charming placemats gracing your dining table, perfectly complementing the thrifted chalkboard napkin rings we made previously. Don’t you think they’ll create a beautifully cohesive and inviting tablescape? The possibilities for personalization are truly endless, making every meal a little more special.

For quite some time now, I’ve been eager to tackle a thrift store transformation involving the abundant cork placemats I frequently encounter in second-hand shops. My inspiration truly sparked about a month ago when I stumbled upon a flash sale on Jane.com. Seeing their elegant designs instantly illuminated the path for transforming those humble cork mats into something extraordinary:

Beyond the Jane.com find, I’ve also admired similar chalkboard placemats at upscale retailers like Uncommon Goods (where a set of four costs around $35) and Crate and Barrel (priced at $10 each, though their versions are typically made of wood). These observations solidified my conviction that another delightful chalkboard transformation was definitely in my – and your! – future. The desire to achieve that high-end look without the hefty price tag fueled my creative fire.

Chalkboard Placemats DIY: Your Step-by-Step Guide

Gathering Your Thrifted Supplies

The foundation of this project lies in discovering the perfect cork placemats. I was fortunate enough to find a complete set of four at our local Goodwill, priced at a very reasonable $4.99. While individual cork placemats are often available for about $0.99 each, this particular set came in its original box and appeared to be brand new, hence the slightly higher (but still excellent) price. Keep an eye out for these gems!

You might also find cork placemats at dollar stores, though their quality can vary. However, as a passionate advocate for sustainability and supporting local causes, I always prioritize rescuing items that might otherwise be discarded. Thrift stores not only offer incredible value but also often contribute to wonderful community initiatives, making them my preferred shopping destination for project materials whenever possible. Choosing to upcycle and buy second-hand is a small but impactful way to reduce waste and give new life to forgotten items.

The Magic of Black Paint: Why It Works

This is where the real magic happens, and believe me, it’s so astonishingly easy you’ll wonder why you haven’t tried it before! The secret lies in using ordinary flat black brush-on paint. That’s right – no need for specialized “chalkboard paint” if you have a can of flat black paint handy. The matte finish of flat black paint provides the perfect slightly porous surface for chalk to adhere to, mimicking the texture of a traditional chalkboard.

We’ll be using the same type of black flat brush-on paint that proved so effective for our chalkboard napkin rings. However, for these larger surfaces, the key to achieving a beautifully smooth, streak-free finish is to apply the paint with a foam paint roller. If you don’t already own one, this project is the perfect excuse to invest in this incredibly useful tool. A foam roller is indispensable for any project where you desire a flawless, even coating without the tell-tale brush lines.

Directions for Painting:

1. **Prepare Your Workspace:** Lay down a drop cloth or newspaper to protect your work surface. Ensure your cork placemats are clean and free of dust or debris. A quick wipe-down with a damp cloth and thorough drying is usually sufficient.
2. **First Coat:** Simply cover the entire surface of each cork placemat with an even, thin coat of the black flat paint using your foam roller. Roll gently and consistently to avoid drips or puddles.
3. **Drying Time:** Allow the first coat to dry completely. This is a crucial step to ensure adhesion and a smooth finish. Depending on your paint and humidity, this could take a few hours.
4. **Second Coat:** Once the first coat is fully dry, apply a second even coat. This will deepen the color and create a more durable, consistent chalkboard surface. Again, allow it to dry thoroughly, ideally overnight, to ensure the paint is fully cured before the next step.

Conditioning Your New Chalkboard Surfaces

Once your placemats are absolutely, completely dry and cured – usually at least 24 hours after the final paint coat – it’s time for an essential step: conditioning the paint with chalk. This process is vital for all our other chalkboard projects, and it prevents “ghosting” or permanent impressions from your first drawings. Conditioning creates a fine layer of chalk dust over the entire surface, preparing it for future writing and erasing.

To Condition:

1. Grab a piece of ordinary white chalk.
2. Lay the chalk on its side and rub it thoroughly over the entire painted surface of each placemat, covering every inch. Don’t be shy; you want a visible layer of chalk dust.
3. Once fully covered, take a soft, clean rag or a dry paper towel and gently wipe the chalk away. You’ll notice a faint, ghosted layer of chalk remaining – this is exactly what you want!

Ta-da! You’ve now successfully created a perfectly functional chalkboard surface without needing any fancy, expensive chalkboard paint. The satisfaction of this simple transformation is immense!

Creative Uses and Gifting Ideas

These chalkboard placemats are not just for decorating; they are incredibly versatile. Use them for:

• Dinner Parties: Write guests’ names as personalized place cards, jot down menu items, or leave fun conversation starters.
• Kids’ Table: Provide endless entertainment by letting children draw, play games, or practice their letters while waiting for food.
• Everyday Reminders: Use them in a kitchen nook for grocery lists, daily affirmations, or quick messages to family members.
• Interactive Fun: Host a trivia night or play Pictionary right at the dinner table!

If you can bear to part with these fantastic creations, they make truly exceptional and thoughtful gifts. To present them beautifully, gather the placemats together with a long, elegant ribbon. Tie a small box of chalk into the bow, adding to the charm and immediate usability of the gift. I decided to go one step further and draw a simple place setting on the top placemat using a chalk marker. This isn’t strictly necessary, but it instantly communicates what the item is and adds a lovely personal touch for the recipient.

Consider the incredible value here: a gift that cost me about $5 (including the mats, a box of $0.33 dollar store chalk, and perhaps $0.50 worth of paint) looks and feels like a $20 to $40 designer item! This kind of budget-friendly brilliance is precisely why I adore DIY projects.

Care and Maintenance for Your Chalkboard Placemats

To keep your chalkboard placemats looking their best, a few simple care tips will go a long way:

• Cleaning: For everyday cleaning, simply wipe the surface with a soft, dry cloth or a felt eraser. For a deeper clean, a slightly damp cloth can be used, but always ensure the placemat dries completely afterwards.
• Avoid harsh chemicals: Do not use abrasive cleaners or harsh chemicals, as these can damage the paint finish.
• Storage: Store them flat to prevent warping.

I’m sure by now my enthusiasm for these chalkboard placemats is abundantly clear (duh!), so much so that I’m already deep in the planning stages for a complete Thanksgiving table design featuring a beautiful gold and chalkboard theme. And yes, you can absolutely expect me to share all the details and photos with you!

Update: The Chalkboard Thanksgiving Tablescape is now live! Go check it out for more inspiration.

In the meantime, tell me: are you going to make these super easy and stylish chalkboard placemats? And if you do, will you be selfishly keeping them for yourself or generously gifting them to friends and family?

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