Magnet Board for My New Office...

As the new school year approaches my "to do" lists get longer and longer. For this week's post I decided to make a new magnet board for my speech therapy room. I've had my husband make several of these for me before. He owns a heating and cooling business so I have easy access to the galvanized sheet metal he uses to build duct work.

Here's s a pic of

my favorite magnet

board to date.

It's approximately

49" x 34".

Yeah...it's pretty BIG!






I picked up the frame at a garage sale for $2. It holds all of those family photos and Christmas pictures I hate to take down...my kids' awards and certificates...appointment cards and invites...important telephone numbers....and everything else that used to clutter my refrigerator. It's hard to tell from the photo but it hangs in a narrow hallway off the kitchen. It's the perfect place for this over sized frame. (Hint: hanging an over sized piece in a smaller space tends to add a modern element to your home.)

 
For today's project

I painted on old frame

with chalk paint.

I used a combination of 

Annie Sloan's Florence 

and Emperors Silk. 



Then I applied a coat of Annie Sloan clear wax and distressed it with sand paper. On my second coat of wax, I mixed dark wax with the mineral spirits to create a thick glaze consistency. Next I used a pair of tin snips to cut a piece of left over sheet metal to fit my 16"x 24" frame. The edges are really sharp so please be CAREFUL when you're working with sheet metal.

I also cut a piece of foam board I had on hand to add a little support behind the sheet metal. I used these inexpensive "Glazier Points" from Hobby Lobby to secure the back.  

I wanted the option to hang it vertically or horizontally so I took it to the framing department at Hobby Lobby. Did you know they will add a wire hanger for only $1? (Don't you just love that little electric screw driver they use to mount hardware on frames! I really need to get one of those;)

Here's the final product with a few magnets.

 

I hope to pair it with a

Hyllis galvanized shelving unit

from Ikea ($14.97 each) and

some lidded wicker baskets

($10) from Walmart shown below.

 So excited to put my office together

and get to know my new kiddos!

 


Let me know if you have an old frame you'd like made into magnet board...I'd love to help!

~Wendy