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I’m going to go where The Almond Eater has never gone before…… I’m going to do a DIY “how to” post. AHHHH. I figured after I showed off my new photo board in this post that it might be helpful to show you how to go about making one 🙂 There are several ways to make these type of boards, but I like to think this way is the easiest because it doesn’t involve any tools. NONE. You may be shocked to know that me+hammer+nails=disaster. Also, I’m not usually into crafts and DIY type things. In fact, in most cases I would rather pay a little extra and have someone build something for me/buy something that’s already built rather than doing it myself, but this board is SO easy I would have been mad if I didn’t make it myself.
Here is a brief overview of the supplies you’ll need to purchase in order to make your own food photography board:
The first thing you’re going to want to do is go to the nearest Home Depot and purchase tongue and groove planks. If you can’t find them, just ask! Home Depot employees will most likely be able to find them more quickly than you will. …..not that I’m doubting you, because I’m not.
Once you find the right boards, be sure to get a Home Depot employee to cut the wood for you. I grabbed three 8’ boards and cut them in half, creating six 4’ boards. HOWEVER, feel free to cut yours to whatever size you desire.
You will place the wood glue inside of the groove and, when properly aligned, both boards should fit into one another perfectly—no tools required! The glue is conveniently located in the same aisle as the wood—woohoo!
It’s most helpful if you have someone with you to help glue the boards together, unless you cut them smaller than I did, which in that case, it may be doable on your own. Place the glue inside and then place the one board’s “tongue” into the other board’s “groove”.
Be sure to use a paper towel to wipe away any excess glue.
Wait a few minutes for the glue to dry, and then paint a thin layer of the stain overtop. After that, wait 10-15 minutes and then paint the actual paint overtop. In order to get that “rustic” or older look (if that’s what you’re going for), my suggestion is to paint as though you are the complete opposite of a perfectionist. You want some of the brown stain to show through, but you also want the color to show. So, in my case, I painted the brown stain on, waited 10 minutes or so for it to mostly dry, and then sloppily painted a white coat overtop.
Viola! It is THAT easy. And, if you’re really feeling awesome, buy two different paint colors so you can paint a different color on either side. Sort of like two for the price of one…. sort of.
This is what my final product looks like in action….
This is a preview of a recipe that’s coming next week… stay tuned!
YAY. Hopefully this was helpful. *Note: Everything together cost me approximately $30. This cost covered the wooden boards, the wood glue, the stain, paint and paint brushes. If you want to learn more money-saving tricks to improve your blog, check out my eBook on food photography & styling.
Q: Are you a DIY-er?
Wow! I love DIY stuff! Thanks for guide!
Your board turned out awesome! I love DIY projects so I’m definitely going to try this and experiment with colors. Thanks for sharing!
I was about to ask for a really expensive backdrop for Christmas, but yours looks WAY better and WAY less expensive! And I can’t believe how easy this will be after I buy the supplies today! Thanks for the great resource and my boy friend probably thanks you too since I won’t be asked for the $$$ one anymore!
Yes!!! It’s so much cheaper and a really simple DIY. Let me know how it turns out 🙂
Wow this is awesome!!
Went to home depot last night and got the stuff. Finally making this happen today 😀
Yaaaay! I’ll be looking forward to seeing it in your posts 🙂
Just googled this post after seeing what Georgie referred to on the Facebook group. Great tutorial – I tend to use our outdoor deck for my food pics, but this would be great to use, too!
Hi Erin! Thank you SO MUCH for this post! I am actually reading this and painting my very first wood board at the same time! i just started food blogging last December and came across your site just now 🙂 I was confused about how to paint the board and using what colours first to get that rustic old finish. thank you for this post, it’s very helpful! Can i ask you what’s the plugin do you use to get the side pop-up box that appears on the right hand side corner of your post?
Yayyyy I’m glad you’re making your own board! They really come in handy. As for the Facebook box in the bottom corner.. I’m sorry I can’t be more helpful. I actually had my web designer figure that one out for me because I’m clueless!
It’s so funny that you posted this because I was looking for this exact thing over the weekend for photos. Thanks for sharing! Yours looks great!
Thank you! 🙂
Thanks oodles and oodles Erin – this is BRILLIANT!!!! And only $30 – thank you so much! I need boards in a bad way – I got a $3.00 scrap pice of wood I painted and have been using – but this looks so much better…
It’s so simple! $3 scrap wood sounds like a bargain though!
Thanks oodles and oodles Erin – this is BRILLIANT!!!! And only $30 – thank you so much! I need boards in a bad way – I got a $3.00 scrap pice of wood I painted and have been using – but this looks so much better!!
Where’s the good-looking guy in my life ready to make this for me while I whip up the first meal to photograph on this later on? Totally cliché here but I have two left hands – shh, never mind that I’m left-handed – when it comes to this kind of projects. Hence why the white box that’s been on my to-do list forever has still to come about …
I need you to come to SF and make this for me because I am NOT a DIY-er. I have about 20 DIY projects I’ve thought about doing that I just… haven’t. Whoops.
You make it look so easy! I’ve been thinking about doing this so thank you for the tutorial 🙂
It is so easy 🙂
Love this look! I definitely need something soon because I hate trying to find places to take pictures, ha.This looks easy enough.
Dude, this is awesome. I am such a twat though, I’d probably still eff it up!
I’m in AWE of this. I honestly had no idea this is what the pros (aka YOU) did haha. So, so smart! And for $30? That’s nothing! Thanks SO so much for this
LOL so not a pro…. but YES so worth $30!
You actually have nooo idea how helpful this was for a DIY newb like myself, and a total “I’d rather pay extra and have this done by someone else” kind of girl. PLUS I have been dying to up my food photog skills now that I am about to start having more time to create more bloggy recipes… so this came at the perfect time. Woo!
This looks amazing and sounds so easy to do! Thanks so much for sharing! I’m in the process of building my prop collection and trying to find inexpensive new surfaces and this is a total winner. You rock 🙂
Thanks girl! It’s so simple and definitely my favorite prop.
Amazing! Basically did the same thing but got my idea from Running to the Kitchen.
OMG love this. I’ve been trying to find a table to do the same stain process on. I never thought of just making a board! You are a genius! Thanks for sharing!
Thanks Sam! I’m no genius… just a lazy crafter 😉
I love doing crafts!! I made some boards not too long ago, I just painted an oak board instead of gluing planks together. This looks awesome!
Hey good job on your DYI! I think I could follow along! I absolutely suck at food photography (although, in my defense, I’ve only really tried like twice) but this is definitely something that I could use to make my photos better without it being anything camera related!
Thank you! Yes I think the board can add a bit of flair to any photo.
I actually found a site that you can buy backdrops that look like real boards. I love the idea of making my own but don’t have the time.
Great tutorial. I really need to do this to help me with my photos.
Loved this!!! I love doing DIY things, I find them a lot of fun 🙂
This is adorable. It would also be awesome to make a cover for my cheap Ikea table!
Loooove that this doesn’t need any tools! I love DIY projects, but I find I don’t do them as much as I used to. I was super crafty as a kid, but that kind of died off as I’ve gotten older. I blame that on blogging and photography taking up all my creativity 😛
That’s a good excuse though! I’m not crafty at all….. this is about as craft as I get.
Hi there – fellow Pittsburgh blogger here! I found you through Instagram and really enjoy your posts! Our blog is a mixture of DIYs, recipes, etc. and I DEFINITELY need to make one of these boards for our shoots! Thank you so much for sharing and nice to (pseudo) meet you!
Sarah
Hi Sarah! Yes I think we connected on Instagram the other day–thanks for stopping by 🙂 Nice to “meet” you and going to check out your blog now!
This is so cool! I never found a chalkboard last weekend – boo 🙁 – so I’m gonna do this AND attempt to make my own chalkboard. Thanks for the inspiration 😀
Yayyy do it!! It’s so easy I promise.
Nice! I think it’s been like a year since I actually posted a recipe, but I think if I did I would want pretty wood to put it on haha.
Great DIY! It seems pretty doable and totally worth it! I love the way it turned out!
Thank you! It’s definitely doable.
so…. can i hire you to come make that for me? will pay in healthy bites. and maybe some wine. hehe
Cotter you bring the Healthy Bites and I will bring the wine…Double since I need her to make one for me too! 😉
Haha! YES this sounds like a deal!!
That looks awesome! So perfect for photos! I keep telling my husband I want a farmhouse style dining room table… for food pictures 😉 I love DIY projects!
Haha! I want an actual wooden table for food photos too 😀