Chalk it up...to a busy day.

...to another busy day in the life of Pretty Handy Girl!

I had fully intended on posting a tutorial on distressing furniture for you today. But, I got side tracked today and then let's just say that my evening ended up with a visit from these guys:

 Thank you Raleigh Fire Department for putting out my oven fire! 

Let me tell you, it is a scary thing to see your heating element turn into a 4th of July super-sized sparkler! Luckily no one was hurt and our kitchen is still white (not smoky gray.) Needless to say, we will be in the market for a new oven this week. Any recommendations or "steer clears" would be appreciated. And a word of advice, if your heating element shorts out, sparks and catches fire, turn off your circuit breaker.

Not exactly what I planned on dealing with today! I did have plans for one tiny little project. This little project had me on a hunt for the illusive and extremely rare chalk marker. I have been looking everywhere for one of these exotic creatures. 

Target - nope

Walmart - nope

Ace Hardware - nope

JoAnn's Fabrics - nope

Jerry's Art-a-rama - Ding, ding, ding! Finally found it!

If you've been around the blogosphere lately, you have seen chalkboard paint projects everywhere! I probably wouldn't be surprised to see a chalkboard painted dog next week.

I had some leftover chalkboard wall decal material, so I cut a little label for our jar of colored pencils. But, I really wanted a chalkboard marker so I could write on the label and not worry about it smudging from little hands using it daily.

So, naturally after using my new chalkboard marker and LOVING IT! I decided to paint some more things with chalkboard paint and use my new marker. 

I put up my homemade spray tent (I'll have to show you how I made it later.)

And got busy. My mind played "Back in Black" in my head as I sprayed. (Any other AC/DC listeners out there?)  I decided to use automotive black primer (for better adhesion on the plastic spice lids.)

First up where these Goodwill candy jars all four and the rack for $6.99!

U-G-L-Y oak lids, but not for long...

Blackified, labelled and now looking good.

Next victim was a spice rack and jars (I'm embarrassed to say)
that I repainted years ago.

That's right, back in the sponge-era.
The gold ink labels are impossible to read.

I carefully lined them up and made a list of the order 

they were in to make re-labelling them easy.
Seemed like a great idea, UNTIL my oven caught fire.
Then I swept everything off the counters and away from the stove.

 After testing my sense of smell, I put the lids back on. And now that I can read them,
I shouldn't mix up red pepper and paprika anymore.

The rack received several layers of treatment to give it a distressed look.

Here is the tutorial on distressing.

Finally, I spray painted a Goodwill picture frame heirloom white and distressed it.

I cut a piece of foamcore to size (since I accidentally broke the glass) and sprayed it with chalkboard paint. Easy framed chalkboard.