Monday, November 28, 2016

Messing with tiles & giving up on the project

I had made a mess inside, so for the second coat of chalkboard paint, I took the project outside.   I even tried to clean up the mess I had made on my craft room table.

As I was adding more paint, I noticed it was starting to peel back.  Imagine my horror as I peeled the paint away from the tile.  It was like plastic, rather than a paint skin.  You can see what I peeled away because it is now on the pink bag.

 I noticed there were still lots of bubbles, too.

I kept removing paint and adding more, but the bubbles continued to appear.  The bubbles were unwanted because the idea behind chalkboard paint is to be able to write on these tiles with chalk.  That won't work when the surface isn't smooth.

I finally decided this was a lost project and the only thing to do was allow the paint on the tiles to dry, then figure a way to rework them. 

Since the project was a bust, I thought I would share a few photos from the trip my friend Scott and I took to his parents' home for Thanksgiving. 


I have a love of grain elevators, so I decided to take photos of as many as I could find on this trip.  After all, I was the passenger for once, so could sit back and enjoy the ride and the scenery.

Every new town presented me with an opportunity to shoot different grain elevators.

It's a sign of the times.

I can remember when, not too long ago, gasoline was over $4.00 a gallon.



I love how even though they are all grain elevators,

they are each so different and unique!

This is Day 28, and I am grateful that you joined me while I tried to turn these tiles into something functional.

I will be sharing more of my trip over the next few days.

14 thoughtful remarks:

Valerie-Jael said...

Sorry about the mess with the tiles, that's a pity. Those grain elevators are huge. Thanks for sharing the photos of your trip, it's always fun to be passenger and have time to look out of the window. Have a good, new week, hugs, Valerie

chrissie said...

Such a shame about the tiles project but I bet at some point they will be just the thing you need for something else.

Great industrial photographs along the way on your trip. Thank you for sharing those with us

Have a good day

Love Chrissie xx

My name is Erika. said...

Too bad about the tiles, but I did really enjoy seeing the grain elevators and the view from the road. It doesn't look very wintery there at all, so I can see why you haven't been motivated to finish your decorating. Even the sky was bright. We had snow flurries on the holiday. (But no accumulation-yahoo!). Happy Monday. Hugs-Erika

Darla said...

The grain elevators are interesting and stand out in the landscape.

I wonder if the paint was the problem. It looks pretty thick in the pictures. I haven't used chalk board paint but I would imagine it going on thinner and maybe needing a couple of coats. I've been using some "chalk paint" in colors and thinking it might be similar.

CJ Kennedy said...

Disappointing when materials don't work out. I wonder if the glaze on the tile needs to be removed so the paint can take? Maybe wash the tiles with TSP, a cleaner found in hardware stores? I'll ask Himself as he's a chemist. Maybe he'll have some suggestions.

Divers and Sundry said...

I'll be interested in seeing what you end up doing with the tiles since this first idea didn't work out.

I think of the landscape around here as being flat, but I realize I could learn lessons in what "flat" means from people in some other parts of the country lol

froebelsternchen said...

Sorry about the failed project - maybe they come handy for something else!
Those grain elevators are huge - wow!
Hope you enjoyed the trip! Always great to not drive and one can watch the landscape and architecture!
Thank you so much for your lovely comments Elizabeth! You are so nice and I feel honored!
♥♥♥
Susi
See you tomorrow!

Sandra Cox said...

Darn tiles and chalkboard paint.
The landscape looks a lot like central Illinois.
YOU have a great day.

Jeanie said...

Oh Elizabeth, I'm so sorry your project hasn't delivered the results you hoped for. Live and learn, I suppose, but when the Christmas clock starts ticking faster, it's just a little too much. I know whatever you come up with as a back-up project will be terrific!

Meggymay said...

So sorry that this project didn't work out as you planned, some things are not meant to be and maybe the tiles will eventually be used for something else.
Wonderful photos, the grain elevators look huge. Sounds like you enjoyed being the passenger and being able to take these fantastic photos.
Yvonne xx

Cindy McMath said...

Hi Elizabeth - disappointing about the paint project. It was such a good idea! I don't know about the bubbles, but I did read that if you are painting on a slick surface you should either prime it with primer, or rough it up with steel wool (I wonder if gesso would work in place of primer).
As to my address, just send to the address you have for me (Michigan St) as I have not fully moved yet and also have my mail forwarded for six months. I have been in the process of sending you a surprise package for about two months (well not quite - I suppose I've only been home two months), but at this rate you'll be lucky if it gets there in the new year. It will of course have my new address. I have gotten rid of so much stuff - and yes when I have to make a choice between keeping item A or B I usually keep the art supplies! Although I have gotten rid of quite a few of those too but only the stuff that is 'dated' - can't keep it all I'm afraid. Take care my friend and I will be in touch when things settle down a bit!

Anonymous said...

I suspect the glazing on the tiles had no porous surface for the chalk paint. I have great success on raw wood and fabric. I think that is more of what it is designed for. Too bad you had no success, great idea. Hope it comes off your finger soon. xox

NatureFootstep said...

sorry to learn about your tiles project. Not fun at all I think. And I understand the idea of writing on them. It must be smooth

pearshapedcrafting said...

Oh dear! I hope everything cleaned up OK! Great view of your journey! It's only when I see something like this that I realise just how much land is used for crops in the US! We have nothing like that here! Look forward to seeing more! Hugs, Chrisx