DIY Chalkboard Signs (Tutorial)

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Thanks for all the love and sweet comments 
about my Chalkboard Christmas shelves. 🙂
Lots of you loved my chalkboard creation
so today I want to share with you a tutorial on how I made this wonderful sign.

It all started with this awesome Christmas printable from {aka} design.
(please visit their site if you would like to print your own copy)
I knew this design would look great on my new chalkboard.
Oh right, the new chalkboard that I didn’t have.
I guess it was time to make myself one!
I grabbed a few items from my garage:

-chalkboard paint
-1/4 inch birchwood plywood (18 x 24)
-paint brush
-chalk marker
 I painted the board once, waited an hour then painted another coat.

While that was drying,
I focused on getting my large print.
I had a copy of the Vintage Joy to the World printed at Staples.
Now I know what you are thinking…
“A print that size must have been so expensive!”
Nope. It set me back a whole $1.87!
I went online and downloaded the print to their copy and print center, 
selected the link Oversized Prints, then clicked on Engineering Prints.
I selected  the 18 x  24 size and black and white print.
I completed my order online and then picked it up the next day at the store.
Simple.

Next step was to season my chalkboard.
What does that mean?
It’s just a fancy way to say, lay a piece of chalk sideways 
and completely color the entire surface of the board.


Then simply erase the board and now it is ready to use.
Now that I had my printed sign and my seasoned board, 
it was time to move on to the next step.


I took my piece of chalk and completely colored the surface of the
blank back side of my print.


Then I carefully flipped the paper over and placed the chalk
 colored side on top of my chalkboard.
I secured with a piece of tape on each side of the board.
Then I grabbed a very bright florescent pen and I
started tracing the outline of the words and designs.


Once you are done tracing, carefully lift off the paper.
You should see something like this…


Pretty, cool huh?!
Now the last step takes the longest, 
but it will be wroth it…I promise!

I grabbed my bistro chalk marker…


and started tracing over my chalk lines.
When I finished, this was the end result…


A simple way to get a professional looking chalkboard sign.
Any size and any style.
 Even if you have a chalkboard wall, this same method would totally work.
The really beauty about this project…it only cost me $1.87 total!

I love the classiness the sign added to my Christmas shelves…

Do you have any chalkboard signs in your home?

I Love To Link To:

Skip To My Lou
Domestically Speaking
Today’s Creative Blog 
The Shabby Creek Cottage  
The 36th Avenue
The Shabby Nest
Tatertots and Jello 
House of Hepworths  
DIY Show Off 
My Uncommon Slice of Suburbia
It’s Over Flowing
The Southern Institute
At The Picket Fence
Setting for Four 
Fox Hollow Cottage 
French Country Cottage
Remodelaholic 
Not Just a Housewife 

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17 Comments

  1. Thx… I think I could actually do this! I took a chalkboard class. I don’t know what I was thinking. I have terrible handwriting and my chalkboard print… Well, Thx again!

  2. This is a super great idea! I really appreciate the information on how to basically make your own “contact” paper with the chalk. I can use this for many other projects as well! Thanks for sharing!

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  4. I’m trying to order the print on staples.com, and I clicked on the 18X24 engineering print, but the image isn’t enlarging. Do you know what I’m doing wrong?

    1. Amber, when you click on Media a window will pop open. Select 18×24 and make sure at the bottom of that window, you check FIT CONTENT TO PAPER. It should enlarge then. Hope that helps! 🙂

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  7. Such a great tutorial!! Question- when erasing the chalk pen did you find that the chalkboard paint would come off the wood? Is this any tutorial for a re-usable chalkboard sign?

  8. I’m not much of a DIYer but I’m going to make this my first DIY project. Thank you for the step by step instructions with pictures.

    1. Awesome Kimberly! I would love to see your first finished DIY project. Please shoot me an email when your done! 🙂

  9. Ok.. I always wondered what the secret was for getting the letters near perfect.. now I know! Cover the backside of the print with chalk! Yea! Watch out home improvement store here I come… thank you for sharing these tips.

  10. Laura, I love that sign. I am not good at all at free writing so I will try your method! Pinned! Thanks for sharing with us at #2usestuesday
    Hugs,

    Pili

  11. Lovely chalkboard sign. Your steps are so clear to follow.Thank you for sharing with us at #HomeMattersParty. We would love to have you again next week.

  12. Love the sign. Would make a perfect host gift for the holidays. Thanks for sharing with us at #Throwback Thursday. Hope to see you again this week.

  13. I love this method for creating chalk art. I love changing up my chalkboard and this way is awesome! Thanks for linking up to the Creative Exchange.

  14. I have a chalkboard in my living room and my writing NEVER turns out cute! I need one of those chalk markers~thanks for stopping by the Funtastic Friday Blog Hop! Hope to see you again soon!

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