Crib Chalkboard Assembly Tutorial

Hey all!  Time for a tutorial.  Awhile ago, I saw this super, fantastic idea HERE. UNFORTUNATELY, the "how-to" was a little scant in the assembly department.

Here is the finished product:

Materials needed:

• two ends of a crib
• primer/paint/paint brush
• 2"x2" pieces of wood cut to desired length
• Miter saw 
• Eight wood screws approx. 2 1/2" long (depending on the depth of your crib end)
• Drill 
• Two strap hinges

This is what I did.  (And, you can, too!)

1.  Find crib parts on Craigslist, or other source.  Yes, I did.  A woman had a dismantled crib that she was intending on using for a project, but had too much on her "to do" list (sound familiar to anyone?). 
2.  Take off remaining hardware
3.  Cut 2"x2"s to the length of the crib trim pieces.  (I purchased them in the fencing section.  I don't know the difference in the wood, but the corners were rounded and they were a lot cheaper than the regular-grade pine. )
4.  Cut each end at a 45^o angle
5.  Drill pilot holes all the way through ONE 2x2 near each end of the piece (mine are about 9" from the top and 5 1/2" from the bottom).
6.  Prime and paint the pieces (the sides and mattress "springs" will be saved for another project) and the 2"x2"s.  (*NOTE:  You may want to prime and paint just the "inside" of your chalk board and save the outside till all of the drilling/screwing has been completed.)
7.  Screw the 2x2s to the inside of one of the sides of the crib, using your pilot holes.
8.  Take the strap hinges and mark their placement on the 2x2s that were just attached and screw them in.  
9.  Take 2ND 2x2s and match up the angles with the 2x2 boards in previous step, making a right angle.  Mark and attach the hinges to the 2ND 2x2.

**At this point you will have BOTH 2x2s hinged, but only one of them will be connected to a crib end.**

10.  Take the 2ND crib end, mark and drill pilot holes completely through the crib frame.  Use your counter sink bit on the top front of the crib pilot holes.

11.  With the assembled pieces lying on a flat surface, place the 2nd crib end on top.  Line all of the pieces up.
12.  From the FRONT of the crib (chalkboard side) drill the screws all the way through into your 2x2"

Congratulations!  You now have a completely assembled chalk easel!

13.  IF desired, fill your counter sunk screw holes with wood filler and touch up with paint..
14.  Paint color, now, if you didn't do it previously.  When dry, tape off color portion and use chalk paint on your large, flat surface.

Enjoy!

 

P.S.  Just in case you are wondering--you have to drill from the outside, otherwise, there is no room to get a drill or screw driver up close to the hinge angle (which I didn't even think about till I had attached the 2x2s to the crib and couldn't get them together--trial and error!)
Note:  My paint color is Okra--a Martha Stewart color from Home Depot.  A sample pot is not quite enough to do this project!
Note II:  Confession, I have not "seasoned" it yet.  I purchased marker chalk in bright colors to use in the store. 

Consign DeZigns is my furniture consignment store in the Tampa Bay area.  You may also "Like" me on Facebook!  {wink!}