From Hulk To Happy

My fantastic mom picked up a couple of these framed "posters" when the local Blockbuster went out of business. She got them for next to nothing...honestly, I have no idea what Coldplay even sings so I had no problem painting over their serious stares! It's about a 2'x4' frame and the picture has a rough texture to it...could be ok for painting, but not so much for chalkboards.Flip that baby over and Viola! Smooth surface, but cruddy cheapo frame needs some major tlc!

3 coats of chalkboard paint and a million pieces of scrapbook paper mod poged on there...and....ehhhh...it's really not speaking to me! (after I took this picture, I sanded down the raw edges on the inside of the frame...still...ehhh)

I tried doing a multi media approach, but blech....even worse! Sorry that there's no picture because I went from mild mannered mom of 3 to The Incredible Hobby Hulk~and kind of sort of ripped the frame off with a screw driver and shear muscle!

Jim came in at this point and I could see it in his face~he was wondering if he'd been spotted and if he had enough time to make a get away! I asked him if he could cut it down and take some scrap molding and just nail this to the wall (because I originally wanted it on this space by the garbage cupboard, but with the frame on it wasn't even close to fitting). When I went to show him how much to cut off, Surprise!...it fits! Someday I'll have him finish it off better, but for now I'm happy :)

For those of you who don't have much chalkboard experience, all ways, all ways, all ways rub it down with chalk to season the paint (otherwise could end up with the image or words burned into the paint).

Wipe it off with a damp cloth and go for it!

We made a summer list (idea totally stolen from whatever...whom I adore!).

My goal this summer is to make it to at least one park a week to hike or bike and then squeeze in a fun thing whenever possible. My new found blogger friends from the breakfast last month really inspired me to take the boys to more parks. It almost seems like society has lost that love of the outdoors...who'd want to get all sweaty when you could sit in an air conditioned theater and watch Shrek 3!?! (by the way...have any of you heard that McDonalds recalled ALL of their 12 million cadmium tainted Shrek glasses? Nice...my mom bought the boys 6 of those puppies and they've been drinking out of them all week...Stupid McDonalds...Stupid company that they bought their cups from....Stupid government...anyone else to blame for this?...well, they're stupid too! Who puts toxic metal in paint that will be on something a kid's lips will be on?!? They must have been drinking the same koolaide as the bp execs!)