Vacation Countdown Mickey Mouse Chalkboard Tutorial (she: Adelle)

Hey Everyone! It’s Adelle from over at Packed with Fun, the official blog for Get Away Today. My kids are already counting down the days to the end of school, but today I wanted to share a different kind of countdown. The days leading up to a Disneyland Vacation are some of the longest days of the year!  Why not make the vacation countdown a little bit more magical and fun with a Mickey Mouse Chalkboard counting down your days until vacation?  Your kids can take turns being in charge of updating the vacation countdown and decorating it.  Watch the days pass by with chalk doodles and destination departure reminders on your family’s Mickey Mouse Board.

Want to make one?  Here is what you will need:

Mickey Mouse Ears Silhouette Wood Board

Chalkboard Paint

Paint Roller

Chalk

You can cut out your own Mickey Ears Board from medium weight MDF using a jigsaw.  Draw the shape outline onto the board and cut around the edges.  If you don’t have a jigsaw, you can buy the pre-cut shape from many craft stores, or order one online.  Etsy is a great place to look!

You can buy chalkboard paint at any home improvement store.  You will only need a tiny amount, so buy the smallest quantity of paint you can get.

Cover your working surface to protect it from paint.  Roll a thin layer of the chalkboard paint onto the front side of Mickey.  Make sure you have a nice even coat of paint across the entire surface.

To get the edges painted easily, elevate your wooden Mickey above the counter top.  I used a bowl.  This makes it easy to cover the edges without making a mess.

For best results, you will want to apply at least 3 coats of paint.  Wait 30 minutes between coats or until the paint is completely dry to the touch.  I like to wrap my roller in a plastic bag to keep it fresh between applications.  It saves a lot of rinsing and cleaning!

The manufacturer instructions suggest waiting two days before using chalk on the paint.  I got restless and tried it out after a few hours.  It seemed to work just fine!

It’s that easy!  My kids love our Mickey Mouse Chalkboard. Now, get creative and let the vacation countdown begin!

If you’re still looking for the perfect Disneyland vacation, be sure to check out Get Away Today’s 3rd, 4th and 5th night free specials and discount Disneyland tickets. There is so much to see and do at the Disneyland Resort from new shows, amazing rides, and my new favorite, Cars Land! This vacation countdown would also work perfectly for your Walt Disney World vacation, Disney Cruise, or even an Adventures by Disney guided tour. We can help you book any of these! Book online at www.getawaytoday.com or call our Disney Experts at 855-GET-AWAY. You can also read all sorts of fun Disney vacation tip and tricks over on our blog, Packed with Fun!  Use promo code: OSSS2014 to save an extra $10 off your Disneyland vacation and be sure to let us know that “Or So She Says” sent you!