AE Update | A New Home For The Advent Boxes

Some of you might remember these Advent Boxes I put together back in 2007 (inspired by a project I'd seen in Martha Stewart's Kids magazine).

For the last couple of weeks I've been working on a project (with a bunch of help from Chris) to paint the one long wall in our laundry room with both magnetic + chalkboard paint. I thought this would be a cool spot for this Advent calendar and a cool place for Anna (and Simon) to use chalk or play with other magnets (like this alphabet set).

Here's a couple before photos of our laundry room (it's right off the kitchen):

I stripped off the wallpaper border and then we got down to business of painting the magnetic paint first.

A couple of coats later we added a couple coats of chalkboard paint (they were just about the same color) and called it good.

To get the boxes to "stick" to the wall I used magnetic tape from Michael's. I used 2-4 strips per box. I put a couple strips on before I could tell that the adhesive on the magnetic strips needed a bit more reinforcement so I used red line tape to stick the tape to the back of the boxes.

So far they seem to be sticking ok. I'm not planning to put anything heavy inside the boxes and anticipate that they will get re-arranged and moved around throughout the month.

Now if I could just change up the floors...

She seemed to like it.

He definitely liked it.

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86 thoughts

  1. Kristi says…
    11/30/2010

    Love it! I've seen chalkboard paint, but magnetic paint is new to me! I can't wait to check it out!

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  2. Tweets that mention AE Update | A New Home For The Advent Boxes | Ali Edwards -- Topsy.com says…
    11/30/2010

    [...] This post was mentioned on Twitter by Ali Edwards, Josephina Mydreama. Josephina Mydreama said: AE Update | A New Home For The Advent Boxes: Some of you might remember these Advent Boxes I… http://goo.gl/fb/DF8ph [...]

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  3. Nicole LeBlanc says…
    11/30/2010

    Genius! Will be showing this project to my husband....now I need to find a place where I have that much wall space...my laundry room has no wall space left! Thanks for always showing your brilliant ideas to us all!

    Reply 0 Replies
  4. steffb says…
    11/30/2010

    Hmmm, just got a lake cottage and was trying to figure out a wall to chalkboard paint - doh! The entry/laundry area will do just fine LOL. Love it ;-)

    Reply 0 Replies
  5. Sally says…
    11/30/2010

    You lucky girl w/ a laundry room on the main level! What a great idea. This looks so cute!

    Reply 0 Replies
  6. Tracy says…
    11/30/2010

    That is the coolest thing ever!!! I love it!

    Reply 0 Replies
  7. cat123 says…
    11/30/2010

    i LOVE !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

    Reply 0 Replies
  8. America says…
    11/30/2010

    That's an awesome idea!! This will be my first year with the Advent Calendar and am a little lost on what to do. Wish I had time to do something like this, have always wanted the chalkboard wall paint!! Wonderful job!!!

    Reply 0 Replies
  9. Gabi says…
    11/30/2010

    Such a cool project and idea! I love it!

    Reply 0 Replies
  10. Jenni Hufford says…
    11/30/2010

    oohhh i love this! chalkboard paint is.the.best. also loved the peek in your kitchen - the glass cabinents are gorgeous!

    Reply 0 Replies
  11. Dawaila says…
    11/30/2010

    Always wondered how that magnetic paint would work. Glad you tested it forme! Just never know what I will find on your blog, thanks.

    Reply 0 Replies
  12. Katie says…
    11/30/2010

    We painted our dining room wall with magnetic paint years ago when we turned it into our desk room. Painted over it with bright yellow paint. Since dark grey is gloomy and well, dark. I found that you have to use alot - especially if cover with another color paint. Be prepared to paint. Flat magnets work best for putting stuff up on wall. Light weight items work best. Having something between the wall and magnet doesn't work - hence flat strips of large pieces for anything paper size or use those those photo frames. I love it.

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  13. marisa says…
    11/30/2010

    I did the same thing in our play room/family room. Not holding our magnets much lately though :( Not sure what happened

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  14. Liz Ness says…
    11/30/2010

    How fun!

    Reply 0 Replies
  15. Rebekah Pontow says…
    11/30/2010

    I've always wanted a chalk wall! So great and it makes your room look bigger! I bet the kids are loving it. Thanks for sharing!

    Reply 0 Replies
  16. Cynthia H says…
    11/30/2010

    so cool! I love the merry christmas you wrote in the midst of it.

    Reply 0 Replies
  17. Molly says…
    11/30/2010

    Very cool! Also like that shelf with hooks to the left of your (exterior?) door. Plenty of time for the floors ... never a shortage of projects for the home.

    Reply 0 Replies
  18. Anne says…
    11/30/2010

    The wall looks SO MUCH BETTER NOW! What a cooool thing for kids!! Great idea! I think I might have problems convincing my husband from this purpose for a wall... lol.
    Love from Germany!
    Anne

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  19. Charity says…
    11/30/2010

    What a great idea. I didn't realize they had magnetic paint. We've been talking about putting a thin sheet of metal with rounded corners in my boys' room, but I think this would work out so much better!

    Reply 0 Replies
  20. liz kartchner says…
    11/30/2010

    always love those darn boxes... someday I will make some. :)

    Reply 0 Replies
  21. Tamara says…
    11/30/2010

    I had no idea there was such a thing as magnetic paint, or that you could paint over it and not lose the magnetic nature of the paint. Love these tips! Thanks so much :)

    Reply 0 Replies
  22. madeline St onge says…
    11/30/2010

    Love that wall Ali, what a good idea. The kids are going to have so much fun with it

    Reply 0 Replies
  23. jenn says…
    11/30/2010

    The wall looks awesome! I think this could be an inexpensive solution to your changing up your floor: http://www.designspongeonline.com/2009/08/before-after-orlandos-striped-floor.html

    the boxes look like a 3D art installation!

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  24. annette says…
    11/30/2010

    Great idea!!!!!!!!!

    Reply 0 Replies
  25. judy in huntsville-al says…
    11/30/2010

    love this! I did an advent frame as well when I saw yours, but alas - the fabric backing is coming off [I didn't secure quite so well]- I may neeed to replace the whole back with a board painted with magnet / chalkboard paint - my husband bought some on sale a few months ago! Wheee! Thanks so much for sharing - your wall is fantasitic btw [Wonder what one wall inour playroom would look like black?- J

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