Useful appliances are great, but cute AND useful appliances are even better! I personally can’t get enough of the light blue Blendtec blender in our studio’s kitchen. And it’s not just blenders – you can find all sorts of small appliances with a variety of color and design options to choose from. I even came across an autumn-themed crockpot the other day on Amazon. (I don’t personally see the appeal of owning an seasonally-themed appliance… but to each their own!)
But one appliance design trend in particular has caught my eye – a chalkboard crockpot. Not only does it look sleek and sophisticated as-is, but you also have the option to use chalk to customize it any way you like! The chalkboard surface makes this crockpot perfect for potlucks, because you can write the name of the dish right on the side (You could also jot down your name and phone number in case it gets left behind accidentally.) Or just use your crockpot as your canvas, and doodle to your heart’s content! The possibilities are endless with this project.
And best of all? It’s SO easy to do. Here’s how you can give your own crockpot a chalkboard makeover!
DIY Chalkboard Crockpot
You’ll need:
- A crockpot
- Painter’s tape
- Chalkboard paint
- Paint brush (or a brush top)
Directions:
Step 1 – Tape
First, remove the ceramic crock from your crockpot, and make sure the exterior of the crockpot base is clean. (A few passes with a damp rag should do the trick.
Next, use your painter’s tape to all the parts of your crockpot you don’t want to paint. We taped off the knob, the handles, and the top and bottom edges of the base.
Step 2 – Paint
Once everything is taped off, it’s time to paint! We used a bottle of chalkboard paint with a foam brush top, which made things really easy and virtually mess-free.
It will probably take a few coats of paint to get complete coverage. We ended up applying 3 coats, with additional touchups as needed. Make sure to let each coat of paint dry completely before adding another, to make sure you get a smooth, even finish.
When you’re finished painting, carefully peel away the painter’s tape. (We weren’t very careful about removing the tape and some of the paint along the edges peeled off. But we just touched it up with a small paint brush, no big deal!)
Step 3 – Label
If you have a digital crockpot, you can skip this step. For crockpots that have a selector knob, you may want to re-label each knob position after painting over it. Rather than using chalk that would have to be reapplied often, Kaitlyn had the smart idea to make some small vinyl stickers. She used our Silhouette CAMEO to cut out 4 letters to label each position: O for Off, L for Low, H for High, and W for Warm. (You could just as easily use a paint marker or something similar.)
Step 4 – Decorate!
All that’s left to do is decorate your crockpot! Use a piece of chalk or a chalk marker to write what you’re serving right on your crockpot. Or if you’re feeling artistic, use your chalk to draw some festive seasonal designs. Whatever floats your boat! And when you’re ready for a new label or design, just use a damp rag to wipe it clean.
