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How to Make a DIY Chalkboard Globe

Erica spotted this Soapstone Globe on Anthroplogie, and she sent me the link right away. I love anything globe or map related, and already have a small globe collection in our living room.

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However, the price tag on Anthro’s version comes in at $368 – yikes. If I was going to own this globe, it would have to be a Knock-Off.

I picked this vintage globe up at a yard sale back in the summer. It’s actually a toy, the globe is metal and the stand is plastic. I think Mike thought it was a little odd that I was adding a toy to my globe collection, but it was $2 and seemed silly to pass up.

Since it was such a steal, I figured it would be good for this project.

Apparently, I was so anxious to try out this project that I didn’t think to prime the globe first. Don’t make the same mistake. When I tried to put the globe back on the stand, paint was peeling off at the mere contact with the stand, let alone rubbing a piece of chalk across it. So, after a few coats of chalkboard paint, I ended up sanding it down a bit and applying a coat of spray primer. Once the primer was applied, I added 3 more coats of chalkboard paint.

Based on that experience, I decided to apply a little bit of matte mod podge to protect the paint at the top and bottom of the globe before I put it back on the stand.

Always remember to prep your chalkboard (i.e. rub a bunch of chalk all over it) before writing on the surface!

The stand got a couple coats of silver spray paint. It was a little too shiny for me, so I went back over the spray paint with some gold Rub’n Buff to give it a more natural patina.

I’m really liking how it turned out!

Right now we’ve got this verse from 1 Corinthians displayed on it.

Supplies

Craftivity Designs

Monday 14th of October 2013

Thanks :) I've been enjoying this link up series!

Craftivity Designs

Monday 14th of October 2013

Thanks so much, Mandy!!

Mandy Hank

Sunday 13th of October 2013

Hey girls! I am in love with this globe and even more in love with the verse you used :) Perfect! I am featuring it on my blog today! Thank you for linking up to Get Your DIY On this week :) Mandy @ The Hankful House Blog

Christy James

Saturday 12th of October 2013

So cute! I'm so used to using chalk paint, that I forget the prep step too when I'm using another kind of paint! Oh well...live how this turned out and yours is better than Anthropologies! Thanks so much for sharing with us at our Get Your DIY on Party! Hope to see you again Sunday with your thrifty Halloween project :)

Craftivity Designs

Wednesday 9th of October 2013

I know! It was a steal for sure :)