I know what you're thinking, why mess with an already adorable puppet theatre, like this one from Melissa and Doug? Don't worry, I haven't gone Pinterest insane! This theater was handed down to Mia from her sweet cousins. It was obvious when I received it, that it had logged a lot of playtime hours! Originally, I was planning on painting over some marker stains and washing the curtains, but then this happened, and I absolutely adore it.  

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What you will need:

I started with this theater. 

• Chalk paint - let's pretty much assume this is all I am painting with, from here on out. It's so amazing! 
• Wax creme - don't skip this! It will condition, seal, and protect your paint. You can purchase glossy, matte, or darkening wax. 
• Chalkboard paint
• Photos or other decorations, to personalize with. You could add some fun lettering, or stencils designs! 
• Fabric for curtains and side panels
• Mod Podge - I used matte

Tools:

• Screwdriver for assembly
• paint brush
• wax brush
• sewing machine, because I don't recommend trying to hand sew these curtains! 

 

 

 

I had so much fun picking out paint colors and fabric, as well as taking these "head shots" of Mia for this DIY. She really hams it up for the camera! If she ever get's any siblings, does this mean I'll have to build them their own puppet booth?! ;)

I used two coats of chalk paint, which each took about 30 minutes to dry. Then I sealed it with a cream, matte wax. It dries quickly, and looks beautiful! The wax makes it easy to wipe clean with a damp cloth. A huge bonus when you have a toddler! 

For the chalkboard part, I also used two coats of paint. In between coats, I let it dry for an hour, and I let the second coat dry all day. DId you know that your chalkboard paint needs to be "seasoned"? I didn't until recently, and it makes all the difference! After it's seasoned, the chalk will go on better, and wipe off easier. To season your chalkboard, let the paint dry completely, then smear chalk over the entire surface. Let it sit for a minute before wiping off the chalk.  Now your chalkboard is ready to use! 

 

To add the images, I smothered the back side in some good old Elmer's glue, and pasted them on the particle board. After the glue dried completely, I used a paint brush with very fine bristles to add a top coat of Mod Podge. It will look milky when you first paint it on, but it will dry completely clear and help protect the images for years to come. I think I love Mod Podge almost as much as chalk paint. It's what crafting dreams are made of! 

 

Lastly comes the sewing (did I just hear some screaming?!).  Never fear, if I can do this…you absolutely can! This is not a lie, I literally google searched: "how to sew" when I began this project.  Ha! I had to look up videos on how to thread my bobbin. Yikes! It's been awhile since my old Singer came out,  but I persevered and the curtains and side panels are almost decent! I know they're perfect for my three year old daughter anyway, who has already begun making lasting memories with her new favorite toy. That's what matter most…and it was totally worth the effort! 

 

The possibilities with this are endless. I'm still contemplating some gold lettering at the top, and possibly wiring it for some flashing bulbs around the edges. Too much? Hmm…I'll update you if I make any adjustments. 

 

Questions, comments? Want to show off your latest D.I.Y?! I'd love to see it! Share your thoughts in the comments below. 

Bye now!