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Did you ever have to write something down while looking in your pantry (Affiliate Link)? Do you have a place to write your weekly meals? Do you have a place to write your needed groceries? Here is a DIY Chalkboard Pantry (Affiliate Link) Doors project anyone can do.
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Supplies I used
First, you need to purchase the Con-Tact Chalkboard Contact paper. Here are the links from Amazon (affiliate). Chalk works great but can be a little messy if you use it often. If you don't like chalk, you can buy the Liquid Chalk marker, which will dry and can be removed with a wet paper towel.
How I made my own chalkboard inside my pantry door
Now that you have all the supplies you need. You can begin. Measure the distance between the inlays of the pantry (Affiliate Link) cabinet doors. Add a ¼ of an inch or 2 cm to each side of the measurements. Cut the Con-Tact Chalkboard Contact paper to size and adhere it to the inlays for all four door panels. I added it to all of my pantry (Affiliate Link) doors.
While applying the Con-Tact chalkboard paper, use the edge of a credit card to smooth out the bubbles. Run the credit card in different directions from the center of the paper to the outside as you go.
Now, where to place the marker or chalk? I found these great Command Medium Caddy. It's clear and not very deep so it allows the doors to close. I added one on each side. Don't they look cute?
Here is the other door. I added the Con-Tact chalkboard on the top and the bottom of the cabinet door on this side as well.
Add the days of the week on the menu side.
I added the days of the week to the left-side pantry (Affiliate Link) doors, and my grocery list is on the right side. If you don't have a pantry (Affiliate Link), you can also add chalkboard paper to the inside of the other cabinet doors. You can use it in a cabinet next to your phone or on a wall in your office.
If you prefer to use dry-erase boards, they have that as well. Here's the link for the Con-Tact Dry-Erase Contact Paper (Amazon Affiliate Link). You can then use Dry-Erase Markers (Amazon Affiliate Link).
Another option: You can use markerboard (Affiliate Link) self-stick paper to do the same thing if you want to use dry-erase markers instead.
I hope this inspires you to utilize your pantry (Affiliate Link) doors. Do you use the back of your cabinet doors for anything? Please share it below.
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UPDATE 2020 - Adding Labels With a Cricut Cutter Machine:
There are some additional things you can add to your chalkboard pantry (Affiliate Link) doors. Instead of rewriting the days of the week and Grocery List on the boards after you wipe them, you can add labels (Affiliate Link). They are vinyl and can be removed pretty easily.
Read on to see how I added my labels (Affiliate Link) with my Cricut machine.
Printed out labels
First, I started out by picking the right font with the Cricut (Affiliate Link) Design Space app on my computer (Affiliate Link). I picked a very plain font so it will cut easily. I used a cream-colored vinyl sheet square. It wasn't fancy, but I made it fun anyway.
On the one side, I wrote "Daily Specials" at the top, wrote the days of the week, and left about 5 inches or so between each weekday name.
On the other side, I added "Grocery List."
I cut the letters out using the Cricut machine (Affiliate Link) and removed the unwanted vinyl. Then, I took this and pulled out the inside of the letter.
I added the transfer vinyl to the top of the letters and then pressed down and rubbed hard. This transferred the letters to the transfer vinyl so I could place it on the chalkboard.
Lining up the letters with the lines on the transfer vinyl allowed me to keep my letters straight.
I took it to the pantry (Affiliate Link) door and pressed the transfer vinyl with the letters on it to the chalkboard vinyl on the door. Then, at a 45-degree angle, I peeled away the transfer vinyl, and the letters were left on the door. I then continued and did the other words the same way. And, that's it.
I like it, and I hope this inspires you to make more permanent labels (Affiliate Link) for your pantry (Affiliate Link) doors.
Please note these are affiliate links through Amazon, and at no additional cost to you, I will earn affiliate fees if you decide to make a purchase.
Marina says
This is a great idea! I have the Chinese take-out and local pizza place menu inside my pantry doors right now, but this is far more useful! I had no idea you can get Contact paper that is chalk and marker paper. Thanks so much, your site has a lot of helpful ideas!
William Rusho says
What a wonderful DIY project.
It is so useful, to be able to write down things that are in your pantry. Now the trick is to make sure when someone removes something, they take it off the list.
Thanks for sharing this with us.
Rose Mary Griffith says
What a fun idea! I would think families would really do well with a system like this one. I have a magnetic notepad stuck to the side of the fridge that seems to work for us. Of course I love the dry erase idea--colored pens, you know!
lenie says
I used to have a chalkboard door, made with chalkboard paint, on the inside of the children's bedroom when they were very little but I've never heard of chalkboard contact paper. What a great idea, especially applied to a pantry door. I'm thinking this could also be used for the freezer. I often forget to mark down what I add or remove so never really know what's in there. Great tip. Thanks.
Catarina says
What a clever idea for a kitchen, or any other room, for that matter. Kids will most likely love having such doors.
Ken Dowell says
That's a pretty cool idea. I'm sure my son would adorn it with some art work. But that would be okay to.
Jeri says
I've seen chalkboard paint but was not aware of chalkboard contact paper, but its existence makes complete sense. I can't stand chalk though so would give the liquid chalk marker a try. Being left-handed means everything I write tends to get dragged over by my hand as I go.
Marquita Herald says
What a wonderful project Sabrina! I never heard of chalk contact paper but it sounds brilliant. I actually have a combination cork/chalkboard on the wall right next to my desk and it really comes in handy! There's a lot to be said for being able to just reach out and jot down an idea that pops into your head when you're in the middle of something - for me it's usually an idea on another article or book. Thanks for the inspiration!
Michele Harvey says
Wow! The doors look really nice! What a practical idea and a great way for leaving someone a note as well! I never knew there is such a thing as chalkboard contact paper.
Erica says
This looks very useful. I used to keep a chalkboard in my living room when I had a roommate. We would put messages for each other on it as well as things we needed for our home. Using a chalkboard is so much easier than using an endless supply of post-it notes.
Phoenicia says
The child in me would escape if I had access to a blackboard!
I write my shopping list on a blank sheet of paper. It is fairly easy as I am familiar with the layout of the supermarket.
Unfortunately we do not have a larder.
Seana Turner says
I had no idea you could get chalk Con-Tact paper. Very cool option, Sabrina!
Sabrina says
It's fun to use. I started using it a few year ago and have done a variety of projects with it. It works great. Thanks for commenting, Seana! =)
Donna Janke says
What a great idea. I didn't know you could get Contact chalk and dry-erase paper. I can see a number of uses for that. I'd be inclined to use it for messages and reminders more than grocery lists. We have a pad of paper on our kitchen counter where we write things that need to be added to the list. It is not a perfect solution, but when my husband does the shopping (he does the grocery shopping in our household), the list is there and ready.
Sabrina says
Great idea! Let me know now it goes. =)