MyHShome

Bold and beautiful

Chalkboard cocktail menus are found in all the hippest cocktail bars, so why not make one for your NYE party? This one is easy to create and can be used time and again. Yo u w i l l n e e d

z Ruler or tape measure z Hacksaw z Balsa strip 13mm x 13mm x 91cm, £3.70 and Basswood block 5cm x 5cm x 30.5cm, £9, Hobbycraft z Grab adhesive z Rust-Oleum Metallic spray paint in Gold, £8 for 400ml, Dunelm z A4 Seawhite MDF board, £3, Hobbycraft z Rust-Oleum Black matt chalkboard paint (brush on) 0.75ml, £12.99, The Range z Paintbrush z 6B and HB pencils z Uni-ball PWE-5M liquid chalk marker pens, £22 per pack of 8, Hobbycraft

1Measure and mark the balsa strip at 30.5cm intervals in pencil. Then, using a small hacksaw, cut the balsa into two 30.5cm lengths.

2Make your wooden base. Stand the MDF board centrally on the long side of the basswood block and mark either side of the MDF with a pencil. Using this mark as a guide, position the lengths of balsa on either side, leaving a gap between them for the MDF to stand. Glue the balsa strips in place using grab adhesive. Leave to dry.

3Working in a well-ventilated area and protecting your work surface with old newspaper, carefully spray the wooden base using gold paint. Give the base two coats of paint, allowing it to dry thoroughly between coats.

4Make the blackboard. Using a small 2cm-wide paintbrush, carefully paint the front surface and sides of the MDF board using blackboard paint. Apply two coats of paint, allowing it to dry thoroughly between coats. Turn the blackboard over and repeat on the remaining surface.

5Make a lettering template. Use a computer to print: ’Cocktails & Mocktails’ using a font of your choice. Make sure you use a font size that will work on your A4 blackboard. With the printed side face down, use a 6B pencil to draw over the back of the letters. Turn the paper over and place it in your desired position on the blackboard. Use an HB pencil to draw around the outline of the letters to transfer them to the surface of the blackboard.

6Using your traced letters as a guide, go over the lettering using coloured chalk pens. Add simple sketches of cocktails and colourful flourishes to embellish the cocktail menu. Once the chalk paint is dry, carefully slide the blackboard onto the wooden base.

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