What to do with slate....?

[craftymadam]

I've recently been given some lovely pieces of slate and i'm desperate to turn them into something. The big pieces are about 1ft long & 0.5 ft wide and I also have some smaller pieces too.

Thought I could turn them into lovely Christmas presents? DH says he can try to put some holes in them - I was thinking of maybe writing something on them like 'Home sweet Home' or something similar.

Has anybody ever tried to do anything with slate or have any ideas of things that would make nice presents?

This is simple to make and very pretty IMO...

Also, you may get some nice ideas here :)

I love that first link IawnCont, that's the kind of thing I was thinking of. Thank you

I was thinking of making one of them into a chalk board as it has a perfectly flat surface, but the others I'm thinking of writing something on that's permanent, any ideas as to what paint I should use? (Don't think i'm up to engraving standards!!)

Acrylic I think. I come from a slate quarry area so I feel like a bit of an expert :o

Although, if you have children, you could keep a smallish bit in the garden, and spend one afternoon engraving your names/dates/doodling on one piece of slate with a sharp stone. It will be there forever, and slate is ever so pretty in the garden. I recently found some slate at my grandparent's farm that had my mother's initials carved messily into it from when she was about eight. :)

Great ideas thank you!!

I have plenty of acrylic paint here so i'll give it a go. The engraving bit sounds good fun, might be tempted to let the DC's have a go.

Thank you IawnCont

[slate nerd emoticon] :o

I knew there would be a slate nerd hiding somewhere on Mumsnet!!

Acrylic ok for indoor use, but for outside you'd need something tougher like enamel.

What a nice idea. I think these key rings on IawnCont's link would be fairly easy to do (wouldn't have to be round and you could put any picture you like on them).

I see under accessories on their products list, they have slate sealer - just thought I'd mention (in case like me you'd never heard of such a thing!) - which suggests you have to coat your craft items with this to protect and finish them.

I've been here at least ten times :o