DIY Craft: Chalkboard Dog Bowl

This super cute project just so happens to be super easy. With just a few items—a ceramic bowl, chalkboard finish spray paint, and painter’s tape—you can whip up a cool new bowl for your dog and then personalize it with cute sayings! Why not make a few extra as gifts while you’re at it? This DIY costs less than $20 start to finish!

Here’s what you’ll need:

• A white ceramic bowl. A six-inch cereal bowl is a solid choice. We picked up two different styles of bowls at HomeSense, each under $5!
• Chalkboard finish spray paint, available at your local hardware store for less than $10
• Frog tape/painter’s tape
• Chalk

How-to:

1. Now let’s get started! Using the tape, cover all areas of the bowl you do not want to cover with the chalkboard paint. The only area left exposed should be that which you wish to spray paint. We tried three different designs—a banner, an oval, and the whole bottom of the bowl—all to great success.
2. Now take the taped off bowl outside or into a well ventilated workspace and spray the unmasked area with the spray paint. Once the paint is dry, peel off the tape, and voilà—you’re ready to take your chalk and write  your dog’s name or a statement on his cute new dish!
3. Pro tip: make sure to firmly adhere the edges of the tape so that the spray paint cannot seep beneath! If you peel off the tape (once the paint has dried!) and find the edges of your painted area aren’t as crisp as you’d like, refine the line by using a dry paper towel wrapped over your fingernail to scrape away the part that’s not smooth.
4. Cleaning the bowl: be sure not to use anything abrasive when cleaning the outside of the finished bowl. The chalkboard paint can be scraped away if you use a scouring pad.