Discover how to transform a mystery box of craft supplies into a stunning and functional Chevron Chalkboard Photo Frame, a perfect blend of modern design and personal touch. This inspiring DIY project was created as part of the Scribble Shop Challenge, pushing the boundaries of creativity with unexpected materials.

Crafting a Unique Chevron Chalkboard Photo Frame: The Ultimate DIY Challenge

Embarking on a creative journey with a mystery box of craft supplies can be both exhilarating and daunting. As one of over 40 creative bloggers invited to participate in the Scribble Challenge by ScribbleShop.com, I faced the exciting task of transforming a random assortment of items into something truly special. The moment I opened the box, a wave of laughter mixed with a touch of playful exasperation washed over me. “Good grief!” I thought, “How am I going to use all this stuff?” It seemed Scribble Shop had quite the sense of humor in curating these eclectic boxes.

This challenge immediately transported me back to my days working in display, where I was constantly tasked with conjuring decorating miracles using only the items available in the prop room. It was a familiar test of ingenuity, requiring me to put on my thinking cap and keep it firmly in place for quite some time. Among the diverse materials, the wool roving and feathers presented the most intriguing puzzle, pushing my creative problem-solving skills to their limits.

The thrill of such a challenge lies in its constraints, forcing you to think outside the box and find unconventional uses for everyday items. I’m incredibly excited to announce that I managed to incorporate every single item from the mystery box into my final creation. Yes, even the tissue paper that cushioned the contents and a few packing peanuts found their purpose in this project, culminating in what I proudly present today:

The Versatile Chevron Chalkboard Photo Frame

A Dynamic Display for Cherished Memories

One of the most exciting features of this frame is its adaptability. I found myself in a delightful dilemma, unable to decide which of my cherished little dollies to display. So, I decided to feature both! This frame’s ingenious design allows for effortless photo changes and updates to your chalk message. Simply unfasten the Velcro-attached frame, swap out your picture, and personalize the chalkboard with a new message or drawing. It’s a dynamic piece that can evolve with your decor and memories, making it a truly unique and practical addition to any home.

Presto-Change-o! Instant Photo Updates

The beauty of this design lies in its flexibility. No more struggling to open difficult frames or committing to a single photo. When you want to refresh your display, it’s remarkably simple – just pull the Velcro-secured frame off the board, slide in a new photo, and unleash your creativity on the chalkboard surface.

Unboxing the Challenge: The Mystery Supplies

The contents of the Scribble Shop mystery box truly presented a diverse palette of crafting possibilities, or rather, challenges. Here’s what I received:

Pre-cut Fabric Squares in vibrant green and turquoise
American Brand chalkboard paint, a key element for the functional aspect
Felt Works wool roving, which initially stumped me but ultimately led to a new skill
An assortment of feathers, adding a touch of whimsy
Martha Stewart glitter and glue, perfect for adding a touch of sparkle and unifying elements
Three distinct colors of Elements brads

Interestingly, the box also contained a three-pack of delightful treats – Ferrero Rocher chocolates. Not only were they delicious, but one of the shiny gold wrappers was ingeniously repurposed to cover a button, which became a charming center for the flower embellishment on the frame. This truly exemplifies the spirit of utilizing every available resource.

Supplementing the Stash: My Own Crafting Essentials

To complete this ambitious project, I added a few foundational items from my personal craft stash:

A 14” x 18” piece of plywood to serve as the main board
A 4 x 6 photo frame, which would become the removable chalkboard element
A Needle Felting Kit, an essential acquisition for working with the wool roving
Mod Podge, a versatile adhesive and sealant
Sticky back Velcro, crucial for the interchangeable frame design

Beyond these, several common crafting tools were necessary for execution:

Cardboard for creating a precise template
Ruler and pencil for measurements and marking
Paint brush for applying paint and Mod Podge
Scissors and a craft knife for cutting various materials
Plastic wrap to protect my work surface
A saw-tooth picture hanger for easy wall mounting
Hot glue gun and glue stick for quick and secure attachments
Sewing needle and thread for fabric embellishments

The Creative Process: Bringing the Chevron Chalkboard Frame to Life

Creating a chevron pattern from pre-cut fabric squares was a significant undertaking, especially compared to working with a full yard of fabric. This required meticulous cutting and piecing. To prepare the fabric for this intricate work, I first covered my worktable with plastic wrap. Then, I applied a single coat of Matte Mod Podge to each fabric square, allowing them to dry completely. This step served two crucial purposes:

It made the fabric more rigid, significantly easier to cut into precise patchwork pieces.
It prevented the fabric from fraying along the edges after cutting, ensuring a clean and professional finish.

Designing the Chevron Pattern

Accuracy was key for the chevron pattern. I taped two pieces of cardboard together to match the width of my plywood board, creating a large enough surface for the template. With a pencil and ruler, I meticulously drew the chevron pattern onto the cardboard, ensuring symmetrical and clean lines.

Once the pattern was drawn, I carefully cut it out using a craft knife. This resulted in a perfect template to guide my painting and fabric placement.

I then used this cardboard template to trace the chevron pattern onto the plywood board with a pencil. This established the clear boundaries for both the chalkboard paint and the fabric elements.

Applying the Chalkboard Finish

Following the traced lines, I applied the chalkboard paint to the designated chevron sections on the top surface of the plywood board. I also extended the chalkboard paint to cover the sides of the board, creating a cohesive and finished look. Chalkboard paint is not only functional but also adds a sophisticated matte black contrast to the vibrant fabric.

To create the removable frame, I repurposed a gold frame from my basement stash. After a thorough cleaning, I applied two coats of the same chalkboard paint to its surface. This ensured that both the main board and the removable frame shared a consistent and elegant chalkboard finish.

Assembling the Fabric Mosaic

Once the Mod Podge on the fabric squares had completely dried, making them firm and ready for precision cutting, I proceeded to cut them into shapes that perfectly fit the unpainted sections of the plywood. My goal was to maintain a consistent color scheme within each zig-zag stripe of the chevron pattern, alternating between green and turquoise. Using Mod Podge, I carefully adhered each fabric piece to the board, ensuring a smooth and lasting bond. The result was a vibrant and intricate fabric mosaic that brought the chevron design to life.

Mastering Needle Felting: A New Skill

Working with wool roving was an entirely new experience for me. However, I distinctly remembered seeing a needle felting demonstration on Martha Stewart’s show and knew that if I wanted to utilize the roving, I would need a proper felting kit, including felting needles and a foam block. A quick trip to the craft store secured the kit for a mere $4 – a small investment for a new skill! The process of needle felting involves breaking up the wool roving slightly, layering it onto the foam block, and then repeatedly stabbing it with the barbed felting needle. This action interlocks the wool fibers, allowing you to sculpt and shape the wool into desired forms. It’s a surprisingly meditative and satisfying process.

Using the green wool roving, I carefully felted two delicate leaves. With a combination of the blue and green wool, I crafted a small, perfectly spherical ball. These felted elements would later become integral components of the frame’s floral embellishment, adding texture and a handcrafted touch.

Crafting Custom Embellishments

Beyond the felted wool, I set aside two fabric squares to transform into charming fabric Yo-Yo Rosettes. These classic fabric embellishments add a lovely dimensional quality. For those interested in learning how to create these delightful rosettes, you can find detailed step-by-step instructions in my previous post: How To Make DIY Decorative Trim. Furthermore, I cut a petal shape from one of the remaining fabrics and incorporated the delicate tips of five white feathers to form a beautiful, multi-textured flower embellishment.

The Removable Frame Feature

To ensure the ease of changing photos, a core design principle for this project, I affixed sticky-back Velcro tabs to the back corners of the chalkboard frame. These tabs allow the frame to be securely attached to the main chevron board while providing the flexibility to effortlessly remove it whenever a photo refresh or a new chalk message is desired. This thoughtful design element adds significant functionality to the decorative piece.

Creative Edge Finishing with Tissue Paper

In keeping with the challenge’s spirit of utilizing all materials, I found a clever use for the tissue paper that originally wrapped the mystery box contents. I carefully cut the tissue paper into half-inch wide strips. These strips were then attached around the sides of the plywood board using Mod Podge. This provided a subtle yet elegant finish to the edges, neatly tying in one of the most unexpected materials from the box and demonstrating resourceful upcycling.

Unifying Elements with Glitter Brads

The brads included in the box came in four distinct colors, which didn’t quite fit the aesthetic I envisioned. I wanted them all to have a cohesive, aged brass appearance to complement the overall design. To achieve this, I used the Martha Stewart gold glitter and glue to transform them into a matching set. This simple yet effective customization technique not only unified the brads but also added a touch of refined sparkle to the frame, demonstrating how a small detail can elevate an entire project. You can find more tips on achieving an aged brass look here.

Ingenious Bumpers from Packing Peanuts

To prevent the frame from marking or scratching the wall when hung, I devised a clever solution using another unexpected item from the mystery box: packing peanuts. I cut two packing peanuts in half, creating four small, soft bumpers.

I then hot-glued one of these half-peanuts to each corner on the back of the plywood board. These simple bumpers effectively create a small gap between the frame and the wall, protecting both surfaces. Lastly, I evenly spaced the gold-glittered brads around the sides of the plywood board, adding a decorative edge that ties in with the overall shimmer.

Ready for Display: The Hanging Hardware

To prepare the frame for hanging, I securely nailed a saw-tooth picture hanger to the center of the top edge on the back of the plywood board. This standard hardware ensures easy and stable mounting on any wall, allowing the beautiful chevron chalkboard frame to take its place as a focal point in your home decor.

The Finished Masterpiece: Details and Display

The intricate flower embellishment truly pulls together all the diverse elements of this challenge. It’s a layered symphony of textures and materials:

The soft, organic form of the wool roving, felted into delicate green leaves.
The ethereal lightness of the feathers, adding a touch of natural grace.
The handcrafted charm of fabric Yo-Yo’s, painstakingly hand-stitched.
A precisely cut flower shape from one of the fabric squares, providing a base.
The unexpected metallic gleam of a button, cleverly covered with the Ferrero Rocher candy wrapper.
And finally, a small, vibrant ball crafted from blue and green wool roving, adding a contrasting pop of color and texture.

Each component, seemingly disparate at first, found its perfect place, contributing to a harmonious and visually captivating design. This project wasn’t just about making a frame; it was about the journey of discovery, the triumph over creative puzzles, and the joy of transforming ordinary supplies into extraordinary art.

Your Turn: Embrace the Crafting Challenge!

This Scribble Challenge was a fantastic reminder that creativity often thrives within constraints. It taught me the value of resourcefulness and the satisfaction of seeing a project through, using every last scrap. The Chevron Chalkboard Photo Frame stands as a testament to imagination and the joy of DIY. Now, I turn the question to you: given this unique assortment of materials, what incredible creation would you have brought to life? Share your ideas and inspire fellow crafters!