It's amazing what a coat of paint can do.....

My parents have had this old chalkboard longer then I can remember.

 Honestly it is older than me.

Every once in a while when I visit my parents my mom tells me to take some of her "treasures" home.

She is an obsessive collector and knows that she needs to get rid of things but she would much rather see them go to a new home then just toss them out.

They have had this chalkboard screwed to the wall in their staircase since before I was born. Last time I was at their house I just mentioned that someday I was going to "steal" that old chalkboard from them.

 Not more then a minute later my dad came up to me (screwdriver still in hand) and pushed the chalkboard into my arms. (You don't think he is eager to de-clutter do you?)

 Knowing that it was one of my moms many treasures I had to make sure she agreed, and when I turned to her she happily exclaimed that she already knew exactly what she was going to hang in its spot.

Poor dad,...I had to laugh.

It was a little beat up and wouldn't really even take the chalk anymore.

 The chalk would just sort of make a squeaking noise and jump along only marking spots.

 So I got a $3.00 bottle of chalkboard paint from Walmart and repainted the surface.

Now it works like a charm!

(warning,...major yellowed pictures coming up...pffhhttt!)

It even has this nifty little wooden chalk tray attached to it.

I gave it a thin coat of ivory paint and sanded the edges so that it still had a rustic feel.

 It's as good as new and is finding its new home in my office on my art wall!

See the nifty little tray?!

Thank you mom and dad,...I love my new treasure!!!!