Framed Magnetic Chalkboard Spice Rack

I finished a project this morning, and I’m so excited about how it turned out.  Let me introduce you to my new framed magnetic chalkboard spice rack.

If you’ve been around here much, you probably recognize that frame.  It used to be a dry erase message board.

I made that dry erase message board in January of this year, and since then I have learned an interesting thing about myself.  I don’t use message boards.  In the months that this has been on my wall, I’ve written on it once.  That’s it.  Once.

So, having no need for a message board, I started thinking about other ways I could use that space.  Let’s face it, when you live in 834 square feet, every single inch is valuable, and that includes the limited wall space I have as well.

I didn’t need a message board, but what I desperately needed was a way to better organize my spices.  The spice shelf in my cabinet had become so messy that it was useless.  Little jars piled on more little jars, and everything overflowing to the point that my lazy susan wouldn’t even turn anymore.

Before making mine, I searched online for some instructions.  Obviously this idea isn’t an A2D original.  You can even buy magnetic spice racks at Ikea and other stores.  I did make some changes to mine, though.  Here are the details:

Tools & Supplies:

• 1/4” plywood or MDF,
• Metal duct,
• Decorative frame,
• 4 oz. jelly jars,
• Neodymium magnets,
• Epoxy adhesive,
• Chalkboard paint,
• Sandpaper,
• Chalk,
• Gloves,
• Tin snips,
• “L” square or yardstick, and
• Jigsaw.

 

Instructions:

1.  Using a jigsaw and “L” square (or yardstick), mark and cut out a piece of 1/4” plywood or MDF to fit into the frame.

2.  Use a jigsaw to cut out the plywood (or MDF).

3.  Next, using a metal duct that looks like this (available at any big box home improvement store)…

…use tin snips to cut the metal to fit the plywood.  Be sure to use gloves!!  The edges of the cut metal will slice right through your skin if you’re not careful!

You can also purchase a flat sheet of metal (also available at big box home improvement stores), but the cost is significantly higher.  This metal duct was under $5, while a flat sheet of metal would have cost $20.

4.  Using a strong adhesive like this one…

…adhere the metal to the plywood and weigh it down with heavy items so that it’s completely flat.

5.  When the adhesive is completely dry, use 220-grit sandpaper and sand the surface of the metal, then cover with chalkboard paint.  Remember, when using spray paint, several thin coats is better than a couple of thick coats!

6.  Next, assemble the jars.  *Don’t use hot glue for this!  I learned the hard way that hot glue doesn’t hold those super strong magnets!

So using an epoxy type of adhesive, glue the lid of the jar into the ring, and then glue two 1/2” x 1/8” neodymium magnets to the top of the lid.

With everything assembled, it should look like this.

If you use larger neodymium magnets, you could probably get away with using only one per jar.  Unfortunately, this was the largest size I could find locally.

7.  With all of the jars assembled, you’re ready to fill them with spices.

8.  Before assembling everything, be sure to condition the chalkboard by rubbing the side of a piece of chalk over the entire surface, and then wiping off the chalk.

9.  I also chose to write the names of the spices on the board before nailing the chalkboard into the frame.

10.  Nail the plywood into the frame, attach the spice jars, and you’re done!

I think I’ll definitely get much more use out of this than I did out of the dry erase board.

As a side note, I’ve read from many sources that spices retain their flavor much longer if they’re not always exposed to light.  Unfortunately, my kitchen gets almost no natural light, so I’m not worried about these spices losing their flavor.

However, if your kitchen does get a good deal of natural light and/or if you find that you leave your lights on in your kitchen quite a bit, then it might be better to use the inside of a cabinet door for a magnetic spice rack, or you could make this framed spice rack to put inside a pantry if yours is large enough and has enough wall space.

I still have a lot more organizing to do in my kitchen.  Remember when I said I’d give myself two weeks to get it organized?  Ha!  Yeah, right!  But it’ll get there, slowly but surely, one project at a time.