I had plans for this panel- to make a choreboard with clips. As I mentioned, it's been a few years because I've been trying to envision how this was going to look. I wanted to frame it, but wasn't quite sure how to go about that... (despite having a Kreg Jig, and a mitre saw, and a power drill.. ) um, yeah... I get intimidated easily. Despite having these tools, and they are mine- and I have used them, I get nervous about trying new things. And hello, I still have really bad flashbacks to wood shop in junior high. I pretty much sucked wind trying to make mitered edges for a frame- and that was with a hand saw. I can still remember the teacher, too- he also doubled as the boys P.E. coach. But I digress...
Just as I was getting geared up to perhaps start this project, my drill charger pooped out on me. See, I TOLD you that I used my tools. It's probably just as well, because the drill didn't hold its charge- talk about REALLY aggravating! When you charge your drill up at night, so you can use it the next day, and it's already lost its charge after sitting all night.. GRRRRR!!! So I had to wait until Christmas to ask for a new drill- 'cause that's a big ticket item! I now have in my nervously excited and cracked chapped hands, wait for it:! a Dewalt drill with 2 lithium ion battery packs!!! Now THAT'S what I'm talking about, people!! Awesome, simply awesome. Christmas, birthday, Mother's Day, think: tools. Or Home Depot gift cards. :D The home improvement store is my favorite "craft store". I get super excited just going in there and walking around.. Okay then, but I was talking about the chore board.
This weekend I found some motivation- it had been hiding out somewhere, and I finally found some and grabbed on. I went to my favorite craft store (Home Depot :D ), and bought some 1x3's. Two to be exact. I wasn't quite sure how much I'd need (no, I didn't measure edges, which would have helped, but I think I would have needed more than one piece no matter what, so I figured I could use the scraps for other projects).
I had purchased some metal clips from the office supply section of Walmart about the time I found the paneling scrap, so I had those on hand. They're pretty inexpensive- a package of 2 for under 2 dollars- they might even have been around a dollar-ish. These clips had holes at the top so that I could screw them into the board rather than hanging on a nail or hook.
I decided to try the stained/dark on cream approach, so I stained the wood pieces after I cut them- now here's the getting out of the mitering part ( I wasn't quite ready to try that with a big project yet): I measured one side and added on about 2 inches for overhang, then cut an identical piece. I layed it how I wanted it on the board, then measured the distance between the two sides for the other pieces.
I then used wood glue to attach the wood frame temporarily, and screwed in several screws through each of the pieces in the back.
I drilled holes approximately the same size as the very short screws I planned on using to attach the clips. I centered them where I wanted them first, then marked the spots and drilled. I used a small screwdriver to attach my screws.
Now all I need to do is attach some hardware on the back so I can hang it, and I'll be done- other than laminating those sheets so I can write on them with a dry erase marker. From being resourceful in how I found my supplies, I spent less than $10 on this project. You could find sheets of the MDF panels (not beadboard, but completely flat) for in between roughly $3-$6 at Home Depot- it depends on the thickness with the cost- and those panels would be 24x48 inches- a great size for this. They will cut them to smaller pieces if you ask. You could then paint them with either spray or bottled paint. You could ALSO try using chalkboard paint with the flat MDF board. There are SO many things you could do!! I'm getting all excited just thinking about the crafty possibilities :D
