DIY Menu Board

So I may be a tiny Pinterest obsessed.  I pin so much, but hardly ever follow through (unless it’s food – I make a lot of Pinterest recipes!)

One of the first things I pinnned when I joined several years, a new house and a baby ago, was a dry erase menu made out of a picture frame.  I pinned it so long ago that I actually cannot find the pin anymore.  I feel like my DIY skills have really matured since then so I could probably try it on my own – and yes, there was a touch of sarcasm in that last sentence!

We had a wall in our new kitchen just begging for something like this so I began the hunt for frames to use – man are big frames expensive!  Then I had a brilliant idea, check out a consignment shop for an old print.  Ten minutes and $6 later I was headed home with this:

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And I ended up with this:

DIY Dry Erase Menu Board Tutorial

I was even able to do most of it during nap time – since paint takes a while to dry, I can’t consider it a one-nap project, but it’s pretty close!

Here is what you’ll need:

Frame

Spray paint

Iron

Fabric

Scissors

Hot glue gun

Ruler or measuring tape

2″ permanent stick letters

1/2″ permanent stick letters

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I forgot to include the spray paint since it was already waiting for me out in the garage!

First things first, remove the backing from your frame (I had to use a knife and cut tape and pry up staples, just be careful if you have this type of frame, but remember no one will see the back.

Second, use a good spray paint (one that includes a primer) to paint the entire frame.  Remember to stay in a well ventilated area (I use our garage with the door open) and to allow it to dry overnight.  If you’re going to need a second coat, read the instructions on the can, but most say to apply the second coat within one hour or after 48 hours.

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While I was waiting for the paint to try I took some extra fabric I had, ironed it (the worst part in my opinion), and measured and cut it to fit the print in the frame.

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I used the glue gun to secure the fabric as I wrapped it around the print.  Putting the print side to the back was a must for me since my fabric was lighter and the print a little dark.  I also tried to make the corners as tight as possible, since it was already a tight fit in the frame.

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Here is an close-up for the corners:

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Then I took the 2″ letters and applied them to spell Menu at the top of the fabric covered print.  What’s For Dinner would also be a super cute header in my opinion!

Next I measured out the spacing for the days of the week. Mine were about an inch apart, but make it even spacing depending on how big your frame is.

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After getting the first day applied, I put the first letter of the remaining days down as a placeholder and I think it made this step a little faster!

At this point it became a waiting game for the frame to dry, but after that it was time to put everything together.

I gave the frame a glass cleaning with some cleaner and then started the assembly process  – glass, then fabric covered print and then the backing.  I had to use the tape to secure the backing (mainly since I didn’t want to get the staple gun out!) but once it was all put together you couldn’t even tell!

Dry Erase Menu

I was so excited to get the menu up and meals for the week added!  I just used a regular dry erase marker to write the meals on the glass – although I do think I need a thicker one to make it easier to see!  This has definitely stopped the “What’s for dinner?” question at our house and will have a place in our kitchen for years to come.

 

 

 

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