Vieux Tableau de Fenêtre - {Old Window Blackboard}

I have quite the addiction my friends to writing lists. To do lists....shopping lists....renovation lists.....things I want to make lists...present lists.....the list goes on (get it...ha!!). Coupled with a love affair for old casement windows I had a list lovers match made in heaven. This blackboard was easy peasy lemon squeezy.....so easy in fact I thought I'd show you how.

Step 1 : Find yourself an old casement window. It needn't look exactly like mine but something with a large middle panel is best. (I particularly liked this one and it was a bargain but I did have to remove a few pieces of timber from the centre.....an easier version would just have one big central piece of glass)

Step 2: Decide which glass panel you want to turn into a blackboard and which ones you want to leave just cause they're pretty! Turn your window over and using a hammer and chisel chip away the old putty holding the glass in place. Go slowly and please, please, please wear safety glasses. Your peepers can't grow back!

Step 3: Wearing gloves very carefully remove the glass.....old glass like this can really bite! Using your hammer flatten back the little naily things that help hold the glass in place and then measure and cut a thinnish piece of MDF to fit your new space (make sure you measure right to the edges of the space so the MDF can sit on the little rebate all around the sides) . Apply a few good coats of blackboard paint trying to paint in one direction. When dry, lay your blackboard face down into the space.

Step 5: Using a hammer, gently tap weeny nails into the back sides of the window to hold the blackboard in place (hammer the nails on a bit of an angle and only tap them in about half the way). I used one every 15 centimetres or so. Attach a good sturdy picture hook to the back....

Et voila! Your funky shopping list/menu board/Mumma's taxi bookings/lusty date night with your Hubby schedule etc. is complete.

May your shopping list always read like so: 2 bottles of Moët, truffle oil, a slab of triple cream brie, double cream, fresh raspberries, un baguette, portobello mushrooms, white asparagus, fresh tortellini, chocolate of all shapes and sizes.....


To see the list of all lists head over here to see all the creative lovelies and what they've been up to. Mmmmm....I really should make a list of which blogs I have visited over at Kirsty's this week....