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The chalkboard itself is homemade rather than bought: a scrap of 1/4" hardboard (paneling backing works fine) painted with chalkboard paint, which is what keeps this a genuinely small-cost gift instead of a project built around a purchased surface. Painting the frame and chalkboard panel separately before joining them is what gives a clean, even coat on both — painting after assembly means fighting the inside corners where the frame meets the board.
The dowel across the tray is a paper-roll holder, not decoration: drilled pilot holes through the tray sides let the dowel spin freely so a roll of paper can pull off it, with a little extra length on each end so the dowel can't easily slip through the holes. A level across the finished tray is worth the extra minute — an easel that leans forward or back is a chalkboard a toddler can't actually draw on.
| Item | Qty |
|---|---|
| Pine, 1x2, 8 ft | 4 each |
| Pine, 1x4, 8 ftCut down to the 23" tray piece. | 1 each |
| Hardboard scrap, 1/4"The chalkboard panel — paneling backing works. | 1 each |
| Chalkboard paint | 1 can |
| Hardwood dowel, 3/4", 28" | 1 each |
| Wood screws, 2" | 1 box |
| Wood screws, 3/4" | 1 box |
| Wood glue | 2 oz |
| Finish | 1 can |
Overall cost: $. Lumber prices vary by region, species, and season, so we give a band rather than a figure we would only be pretending to know.
| Part | Qty | T × W × L |
|---|---|---|
| Frame top and bottomPine 1x2 | 2 | 3/4" × 1 1/2" × 20" |
| Frame legsPine 1x2 | 2 | 3/4" × 1 1/2" × 36" |
| Chalkboard panelHardboard scrap, 1/4" | 1 | 1/4" × 19" × 23" |
| Back frame, shortPine 1x2 | 2 | 3/4" × 1 1/2" × 23" |
| Back frame, longPine 1x2 | 2 | 3/4" × 1 1/2" × 31" |
| Tray bottomPine 1x4 | 1 | 3/4" × 3 1/2" × 23" |
| Tray backPine 1x2 | 1 | 3/4" × 1 1/2" × 23" |
| Tray sidesPine 1x2 | 2 | 3/4" × 1 1/2" × 15" |
| Tray frontPine 1x2 | 1 | 3/4" × 1 1/2" × 24 1/2" |
| Paper holder dowelHardwood dowel, 3/4" | 1 | 3/4" × 3/4" × 28" |
Buy 7 boards at 8 ft.
1 board
4 boards
1 board
1 board
Assumes 8 ft stock, a 1/8" saw kerf, and buying each part at its own width. Change the board size or kerf on the full board plan →
Glue and screw the frame top, bottom, and legs together, checking for square. Paint the frame and separately paint the chalkboard panel with chalkboard paint before assembly.
With the frame and chalkboard panel both painted, screw the panel to the frame using 3/4" screws.
Build the back frame from the short and long back pieces, adjusting for square.
Screw the tray back to the tray bottom with 2" screws and glue.
Attach the tray sides, then the tray front, completing the tray assembly.
Mark the tray sides and drill 3/4" pilot holes, then thread the dowel through, leaving about 1-1/2" extending past each side so it can't slip through.
Assemble the frame, back, and tray together, and use a level to get the tray sitting straight relative to the floor.
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