• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer
  • Blog
  • Reno Projects: House by House
    • Colonial Revival Cottage Reno (our current home)
    • Old House Reno (our last home)
    • Coastal Cottage in Maine
    • Aaron and Melissa’s 1970 Redo
    • Condo Renovation (a client’s home)
  • Details
    • Before & After
    • Holiday & Seasonal Decorating
    • Gardens
    • Details about House Parts
      • Interior Windows
      • Mantels
      • Details on Creating Tablescapes, Vignettes and Hanging Pictures
      • Lighting and Lamps
      • Closets and Storage
      • Furniture, Antiques & Accessories
    • Chalkboard Art and Hand Lettering Projects
    • Travel to Inspiring Places
  • DIY, Tutorials & Tips
  • My Favorite Shopping Links
  • e-Decorating Consultation
  • Blog
  • Reno Projects: House by House
    • Colonial Revival Cottage Reno (our current home)
    • Old House Reno (our last home)
    • Coastal Cottage in Maine
    • Aaron and Melissa’s 1970 Redo
    • Condo Renovation (a client’s home)
  • Details
    • Before & After
    • Holiday & Seasonal Decorating
    • Gardens
    • Details about House Parts
      • Interior Windows
      • Mantels
      • Details on Creating Tablescapes, Vignettes and Hanging Pictures
      • Lighting and Lamps
      • Closets and Storage
      • Furniture, Antiques & Accessories
    • Chalkboard Art and Hand Lettering Projects
    • Travel to Inspiring Places
  • DIY, Tutorials & Tips
  • My Favorite Shopping Links
  • e-Decorating Consultation

Trophy Wall with DIY Chalkboard Paint

December 3, 2015

HometoCottage.com Creating a Trophy Wall in a Whimsical Library Last time I showed you the whimsical library we created on the attic stairway wall, with a promise to show you the rest of this fun spot. So in this post I’m going to show you the ‘trophy wall’ and give you tips on creating your own DIY chalkboard paint like I did for this one. To really play up the whimsical library fun of this small space, which is a 6′ landing wall on the attic stairway, I decided that trophies and trophy like things would really be fun. The wall trim ledge is only a few inches deep, so whatever I put there would need to be quite shallow.

Instead of buying faux trophies that look beautiful, but are totally meaningless to our family, I opted to put up vintage trophies of my husband’s.

HometoCottage.com trophy's in whimsical library

They are fun and so unique!

HometoCottage.com full trophy wall done

How many people do you know have a trophy for selling the most vacuums? Or a goat trophy! And of course there is the racquetball and tennis trophies among them. The wooden shoe form is from my husband’s grandfather, an Italian immigrant that was a cobbler. The double handled urn thing that sort of looks like a trophy was found at the bottom of a lake by my son when he was a teen practicing diving, presented to me as a precious gift, like a bouquet of dandelions when he was a 4 year old. My husband was the tennis coach in high school for our two sons, 15 or so years ago, and that antique tennis racquet, found by one of our sons a few years ago at a tag sale, is a really special reminder of that time, and special because our son felt inspired to get it for his dad so many years after the coaching days with him were over.

That’s the thing… These ‘trophies’ aren’t precious in themselves, but they are precious in memories. They are reminders of my husband’s history, of our history together, of God’s provision in our lives. In one way it seems like a lifetime ago, but in another way it seems like just yesterday, when we were first married and we were struggling in so many ways, like to stay married when the odds were against us, and to try to keep our heads above water as my husband provided financially for our family selling vacuum cleaners… Now we can look back and see God’s providing hand through it all.

Wow! Where did the time go? At this point in life we’re becoming so very aware of how life on earth is a fleeting moment… a vapor…  What really is our goal in life? Surely, it’s not just things like these earthly trophies…

With the one life we’re given, what do we do with it? Our life happens one moment at a time… one choice at a time…  then becomes one memory after another, until it’s a lifetime of memories. Yes, we accumulate earthly treasures and trophies, but also, I’m striving for something more than just that…

Which brings me to this fun project with just that message on it. I love the verse in the Bible, Philippians 3:4, and that’s what I wanted to add to this ‘trophy wall’ with a reminder of our everlasting trophy. Working on PowerPoint, this is the font and clip art that I put together for reference when I hand printed it out on the chalkboard.

HometoCottage.com verse on power point

And here’s how I made the actual chalkboard, with homemade DIY chalkboard paint!

I’ve read a little from some of you about making your own chalkboard paint. Since I am not planning to keep re-using this chalkboard, I decided even if the homemade chalkboard paint wasn’t super durable, it really didn’t matter because I just needed it to work once. (I probably could have just used flat black paint for this single purpose, but since I had the necessary ingredients for the homemade chalkboard paint, I really wanted to try it out)

HometoCottage.com primed board

First, I started out with this pre-made plaque board I found in the garage. It was the perfect shape and even better with the finished edges. I painted primer to the face and around the edges… and oops a little on the countertop too.

Now to the ingredients for the homemade chalkboard paint…

It’s simple, only 2 ingredients: 1 part of unsanded grout added to 7 or 8 parts of flat paint, in any color you want… (I wanted a traditional black color for this project)

HometoCottage.com unsanded grout

Since I was doing such a tiny small amount, this little craft size of flat black paint was the perfect amount, and I was lucky to have this partial bag of grout leftover from doing one of the marble floors in our 100 year old house. Remember, it must be UNSANDED grout for this project.

HometoCottage.com grout added to black paint

For this little project, we’re talking spoonfuls instead of cups or quarts for a larger project… but once I started to stir even this small amount of the grout into the paint, it did change the consistency of the paint.

HometoCottage.com chalkboard 1st coat of black

After the 1st coat of black chalkboard paint it was obvious more coats would be necessary… I did 3 total coats on the top only…

The edges I finished with a gold metallic paint. Then with my PowerPoint reference, and my chalk dipped in water to make bold dark lettering I finished the message on the board.

HometoCottage.com phil. verse done

This is such a truthful reminder for me, as I succeed in life, in earthly quests and goals, is that my priority, or is there a much bigger, longer lasting goal I am striving for?

 

Please feel free to share this blog with your friends, as well as on Facebook and Pinterest and Flipboard and Houzz the more the merrier! I appreciate you stopping by.

Want to read more?

Click here to see my other chalkboard and hand lettering projects.

Click here to see the whimsical library and why and how I created it in this space.

Click here to read about arranging tips for vignettes, pictures and mantels.

 


Shop World Market

AntiqueFarmHouse

CLICK.BUY. CREATE. Shop Michaels.com today!

 

I am thrilled to use BlueHost for my self-hosted blog, their customer service is awesome!

  This post is linked at the following other sites:

Posed Perfection

From My Front Porch to Yours

The Charm of Home

Design, Dining & Diapers

Too Much Time on My Hands

French Country Cottage

Must Love Home

Chic on a Shoestring

Share this:

  • Click to share on Pinterest (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Tumblr (Opens in new window)
  • More
  • Click to email this to a friend (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window)

Reader Interactions

Share Your Thoughts Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Primary Sidebar

Our Whole House Renovation: Mid-Century into Colonial Revival Cottage Style

Re-Thinking the Living Room Furniture Plan
Re-Thinking the Living Room Furniture Plan
Simple DIY Curtain
Simple DIY Curtain
Dining Room Progress SimpleDecoratingTips.com
Dining Room Progress SimpleDecoratingTips.com
SimpleDecoratingTips.com Cedar Closet Lining
SimpleDecoratingTips.com Cedar Closet Lining
Wall Mounted Pot Rack
Wall Mounted Pot Rack
Tiling the 2nd bath floor
Tiling the 2nd bath floor
SimpleDecoratingTips.com Renovating Update Post
SimpleDecoratingTips.com Renovating Update Post
how to install a vintage ceiling light fixture simpledecoratingtips.com
how to install a vintage ceiling light fixture simpledecoratingtips.com
Vintage Window Awning Redo SimpleDecoratingTips.com
Vintage Window Awning Redo SimpleDecoratingTips.com
SimpleDecoratingTips.com Luxury Vinyl Planks
SimpleDecoratingTips.com Luxury Vinyl Planks
hall closet into library simpledecoratingtips.com
hall closet into library simpledecoratingtips.com
SimpleDecoratingTips.com How I Made Curtains without a Sewing Machine
SimpleDecoratingTips.com How I Made Curtains without a Sewing Machine
Creating a Built-In Faux Fireplace
Creating a Built-In Faux Fireplace
Before and After Front Entry Renovation SimpleDecoratingTips.com
Before and After Front Entry Renovation SimpleDecoratingTips.com
SimpleDecoratingTips.com Adding a Front Porch
SimpleDecoratingTips.com Adding a Front Porch
SimpleDecoratingTips.com Repurposing Cabinets
SimpleDecoratingTips.com Repurposing Cabinets
SimpleDecoratingTips.com we had to cut down 13 trees
SimpleDecoratingTips.com we had to cut down 13 trees
front porch addition mostly done SimpleDecoratingTips.com
front porch addition mostly done SimpleDecoratingTips.com
SimpleDecoratingTips.com Basement Apartment Progress
SimpleDecoratingTips.com Basement Apartment Progress
SimpleDecoratingTips.com
SimpleDecoratingTips.com
SimpleDecoratingTips.com How to tips Window Well Installation
SimpleDecoratingTips.com How to tips Window Well Installation
Antique Inspired Kitchen Island
Antique Inspired Kitchen Island
Repurposing Vintage Screen Door
Repurposing Vintage Screen Door
SimpleDecoratingTips.com How to Change a Door Lock
SimpleDecoratingTips.com How to Change a Door Lock
Before and After Living Room Renovation
Before and After Living Room Renovation
Hang a Group of Pictures with even spacing SimpleDecoratingTips.com
Hang a Group of Pictures with even spacing SimpleDecoratingTips.com
How to Install an Interior Storm Window SimpleDecoratingTips.com
How to Install an Interior Storm Window SimpleDecoratingTips.com
SimpleDecoratingTips.com Renovating the Basement Apartment
SimpleDecoratingTips.com Renovating the Basement Apartment
SimpleDecoratingTips.com Progress Report on our Whole House Renovation
SimpleDecoratingTips.com Progress Report on our Whole House Renovation
Incorporating Vintage & New Light Fixtures SimpleDecoratingTips.com
Incorporating Vintage & New Light Fixtures SimpleDecoratingTips.com
Fireplace Renovation SimpleDecoratingTips.com
Fireplace Renovation SimpleDecoratingTips.com
Main Floor Completion Celebration Giveaway SimpleDecoratingTips.com
Main Floor Completion Celebration Giveaway SimpleDecoratingTips.com
Front Entry Portiere
Front Entry Portiere
SimpleDecoratingTips.com Renovating a Whole House is a Lot
SimpleDecoratingTips.com Renovating a Whole House is a Lot
SimpleDecoratingTips.com Surface Mounted Suspended Ceiling
SimpleDecoratingTips.com Surface Mounted Suspended Ceiling
SimpleDecoratingTips.com Door & Window Decisions
SimpleDecoratingTips.com Door & Window Decisions
SimpleDecoratingTips.com From a Tub to a Shower
SimpleDecoratingTips.com From a Tub to a Shower
SimpleDecoratingTips.com Basement Apartment Bathroom Renovation Done
SimpleDecoratingTips.com Basement Apartment Bathroom Renovation Done

Footer

Shop Decor Steals

AntiqueFarmHouse

Have you noticed this site is faster?! It’s because I switched to SiteGround!!

Web Hosting

Disclosure Policy: According to FTC guidelines, I want you to be aware that some of the content of this blog may be a source of income and therefore may be used to promote products, services, or other businesses. I will only choose to promote products/services/businesses that I feel will be beneficial to my readers. While I hope to generate a small profit for my time and effort to create this blog, I hold myself to the highest standard of integrity. I appreciate my readers, and make it my goal to deliver quality, honest material on this blog through each post. Thanks for reading along, Liz

Copyright

Sharing is great! Please feel free to share this blog with your friends, as well as on Facebook and Pinterest and Flipboard and Houzz and YouTube the more the merrier! I appreciate you stopping by. But please remember that all photos, images, text and content are owned by SimpleDecoratingTips.com. So anything you share, please be sure it always links back to my original post it came from. Please do not remove watermarks, crop or edit anything without written permission from me first.

Disclosure Policy: According to the FTC guidelines, I want you to be aware that this blog is a source of income and may occasionally incorporate endorsements or testimonials and shopping links. It is important to me to disclose this to you. The content of this blog is a source of income and therefore may be used to promote products, services, or other businesses. I will only choose to promote products/services/businesses that I feel will be beneficial to my readers. Products provided to me by my advertising partners for my review are given to me free of charge with no cost to myself. This does not ensure a positive review of the product in any way. While I hope to generate a small profit for my time and effort to create this blog, I hold myself to the highest standard of integrity. I appreciate my readers, and always make it my goal to deliver quality, honest material on this blog through each post. Thanks for reading along, Liz

Graphics Fairy

Graphics Fairy

Feedspot

Feedspot


My Household Tips and Tutorials for You:

How to Remove Pet Urine Stains
How to Remove Pet Urine Stains
how to install a floating shelf
how to install a floating shelf
Housekeeping Naturally
Housekeeping Naturally
How to Remove Carpet Depressions
How to Remove Carpet Depressions
How to Mount a Door Knocker in a Hollow Steel Door
How to Mount a Door Knocker in a Hollow Steel Door
Hang a Group of Pictures with even spacing
Hang a Group of Pictures with even spacing
Make your own Natural Potpourri
Make your own Natural Potpourri
7 Simple Hangers and How to Use Them
7 Simple Hangers and How to Use Them
How to Hang a Wall Mounted Lamp
How to Hang a Wall Mounted Lamp
Plate Hanger
Plate Hanger
How to Avoid a Greasy Mess when Frying on the Stove
How to Avoid a Greasy Mess when Frying on the Stove
Five Ways Hardware made a Difference
Five Ways Hardware made a Difference
First Aid Remove Sticky Residue
First Aid Remove Sticky Residue
how to install a vintage ceiling light fixture simpledecoratingtips.com
how to install a vintage ceiling light fixture simpledecoratingtips.com
DIY  natural sachets
DIY natural sachets
DIY Natural Simmering Potpourri simpledecoratingtips
DIY Natural Simmering Potpourri simpledecoratingtips
Packing & Moving Tips
Packing & Moving Tips
How to Clean Spilled Wax
How to Clean Spilled Wax
How to hang a window box SimpleDecoratingTips.com
How to hang a window box SimpleDecoratingTips.com
how to naturally clean silver
how to naturally clean silver

Gardening Tips

Before and After Landscape and a DIY Pergola
Before and After Landscape and a DIY Pergola
DIY Window Well Installation
DIY Window Well Installation
raised bed container gardening title
raised bed container gardening title
Kid's Craft DIY Miniature Fairy Garden
Kid's Craft DIY Miniature Fairy Garden
Creative-Planters
Creative-Planters
before and after front terraced garden
before and after front terraced garden
spring-planter-arrangement
spring-planter-arrangement
moving-a-screened-gazebo-onto-the-property
moving-a-screened-gazebo-onto-the-property
Transplanting Stella D'Oro Daylilies
Transplanting Stella D'Oro Daylilies
Turtles and Window Boxes
Turtles and Window Boxes
How to Prune a Peegee Hydrangea
How to Prune a Peegee Hydrangea
Creating-an-Oasis-with-a-Water-Fountain
Creating-an-Oasis-with-a-Water-Fountain
Ingenious Tips to DIY this Planter
Ingenious Tips to DIY this Planter
What-is-this?
What-is-this?
1-in the garden with water walls and cloches
1-in the garden with water walls and cloches
we had to cut down 13 trees
we had to cut down 13 trees
Growing Grass in a Vintage Scale
Growing Grass in a Vintage Scale
Potting Shed
Potting Shed
Garden & Landscape Inspiration
Garden & Landscape Inspiration
DIY Compost Bins
DIY Compost Bins
2 pergolas  garden update
2 pergolas garden update
Humidity Tray for Orchids
Humidity Tray for Orchids
Tips on Forcing Bulbs Indoors
Tips on Forcing Bulbs Indoors
rooftop-garden
rooftop-garden
before  after circular garden
before after circular garden
Window-Boxes-inside-a-2nd-story-porch
Window-Boxes-inside-a-2nd-story-porch
DIY Hanging Terrarium
DIY Hanging Terrarium
Backyard Boat Pond
Backyard Boat Pond
The-Beauty-of-Fences1
The-Beauty-of-Fences1
How I re-did these Concrete Lions
How I re-did these Concrete Lions
DIY Brick Edging
DIY Brick Edging
DIY Simple Deer Proofing
DIY Simple Deer Proofing
The-Story-of-a-Blue-Jay-Title-Page
The-Story-of-a-Blue-Jay-Title-Page
snug-harbor-farm
snug-harbor-farm
install this arbor and fence in one day
install this arbor and fence in one day
before  after front garden landscaping
before after front garden landscaping

Copyright © 2021 · Genesis Sample Theme On Genesis Framework · WordPress · Log in

  • Blog
  • Reno Projects: House by House
    • Colonial Revival Cottage Reno (our current home)
    • Old House Reno (our last home)
    • Coastal Cottage in Maine
    • Aaron and Melissa’s 1970 Redo
    • Condo Renovation (a client’s home)
  • Details
    • Before & After
    • Holiday & Seasonal Decorating
    • Gardens
    • Details about House Parts
      • Interior Windows
      • Mantels
      • Details on Creating Tablescapes, Vignettes and Hanging Pictures
      • Lighting and Lamps
      • Closets and Storage
      • Furniture, Antiques & Accessories
    • Chalkboard Art and Hand Lettering Projects
    • Travel to Inspiring Places
  • DIY, Tutorials & Tips
  • My Favorite Shopping Links
  • e-Decorating Consultation
↞
↠
loading Cancel
Post was not sent - check your email addresses!
Email check failed, please try again
Sorry, your blog cannot share posts by email.