5 Tips for Creating Chalkboard Signs
Last month my best friend married my brother-in-law, and along with being in the wedding party, I had the pleasure of creating some chalk art for the festivities. I love having the opportunity to create custom pieces for special events, and a family wedding was the best!
Chalkboard signs are a wonderful addition to weddings, and other special events. They can add personalized, beautiful custom touches to any space. And if you're a DIY-er, they can be inexpensive to create, especially if you already have some chalkboards on hand, or can borrow them from a friend. (Find another money-saving tip below!)
I've been creating chalkboard signs for different events for several years now, and over time, I've picked up some tips and tricks. These can help if you're planning to create your own signs, or if you're planning to help a friend.
1. Choose your chalk.
I love good old-fashioned regular chalk. It has a rustic, textured quality that can be wonderful to draw with and look amazing on signs. At the same time, depending on the surface of your chalkboard and the type of sign you're creating, it's not always the best.
For some signs (like the one immediately above), I did use traditional chalk. For others (like the first two in this post), I used a chalk marker. There are pros and cons to both, so it's important to consider your chalking priorities.
Traditional chalk is easy to wipe away if you make a mistake. It's also easily erased by small hands. Chalk marker has to be erased with a damp cloth, and once dry is harder to erase. Chalk marker also goes on uniformly, giving an even appearance to designs.
In general, for special event signs I would recommend using a chalk marker. For the chalk marker signs in this post, I used Marvy Uchida Bistro Chalk Markers, which can be purchased at Hobby Lobby or Michaels. The markers come in several sizes and tip shapes, which is important to consider in relation to the size and style of your design.
2. Map out your design.
I love to make designs up as I go, but that usually results in having to start over at least once or twice. The best thing to do is map out your chalkboard design on a piece of paper before you get started. This will help you figure out letter and word spacing and make the best use of the overall board. If you're doing a design for a friend, this is a good time to get their input before you get to work.
You may also want to practice your design on paper several times before you get started on the board. It's important to take your time with art and chalk art is no exception!
3. Gather your supplies before you begin.
You will want to have some tools at hand before you get started. Make sure to have a cloth for erasing (dry if using traditional chalk, damp if using a chalk marker). Additional tools will vary based on your preferences. You may want to have a ruler or drafting compass, depending on your design.
If you are working with traditional chalk, you may want to have some q-tips as they can help you touch up smaller areas. If you are making thin lines, it also helps to sharpen traditional chalk with the larger opening in a duel makeup pencil sharpener.
4. Season your chalkboard.
Whether you are using traditional chalk or a chalk marker, you will want to season it first. If you're using a new board, this will help break it in. If it's an older board, I look at seasoning as a chalkboard "reset." Using the long edge of a piece of traditional chalk (sidewalk chalk is great as it has a larger surface area), rub it all over the board, horizontally and vertically until the board is covered. Wipe away the chalk with a dry cloth or paper towel.
5. Get creative.
Don't be afraid to try new things or incorporate new techniques. The best part of chalkboard art is that it's very forgiving, you can always start over.
If you're trying to save money or quickly create your own board, an alternative to a chalkboard is a dark piece of card stock paper or poster board. You can write on it with traditional chalk or a chalk marker, use as-is, or pop it in a frame. The photo below features a sign I made with traditional chalk on a piece of black poster board.
We used this technique for the wedding, creating signs for the gift table using navy card stock in rustic wood frames.
Thanks for checking out this post! What are some of your favorite chalk art tips and tricks?
Chalkboard signs are a wonderful addition to weddings, and other special events. They can add personalized, beautiful custom touches to any space. And if you're a DIY-er, they can be inexpensive to create, especially if you already have some chalkboards on hand, or can borrow them from a friend. (Find another money-saving tip below!)
I've been creating chalkboard signs for different events for several years now, and over time, I've picked up some tips and tricks. These can help if you're planning to create your own signs, or if you're planning to help a friend.
1. Choose your chalk.
I love good old-fashioned regular chalk. It has a rustic, textured quality that can be wonderful to draw with and look amazing on signs. At the same time, depending on the surface of your chalkboard and the type of sign you're creating, it's not always the best.
For some signs (like the one immediately above), I did use traditional chalk. For others (like the first two in this post), I used a chalk marker. There are pros and cons to both, so it's important to consider your chalking priorities.
Traditional chalk is easy to wipe away if you make a mistake. It's also easily erased by small hands. Chalk marker has to be erased with a damp cloth, and once dry is harder to erase. Chalk marker also goes on uniformly, giving an even appearance to designs.
In general, for special event signs I would recommend using a chalk marker. For the chalk marker signs in this post, I used Marvy Uchida Bistro Chalk Markers, which can be purchased at Hobby Lobby or Michaels. The markers come in several sizes and tip shapes, which is important to consider in relation to the size and style of your design.
2. Map out your design.
I love to make designs up as I go, but that usually results in having to start over at least once or twice. The best thing to do is map out your chalkboard design on a piece of paper before you get started. This will help you figure out letter and word spacing and make the best use of the overall board. If you're doing a design for a friend, this is a good time to get their input before you get to work.
You may also want to practice your design on paper several times before you get started on the board. It's important to take your time with art and chalk art is no exception!
3. Gather your supplies before you begin.
You will want to have some tools at hand before you get started. Make sure to have a cloth for erasing (dry if using traditional chalk, damp if using a chalk marker). Additional tools will vary based on your preferences. You may want to have a ruler or drafting compass, depending on your design.
If you are working with traditional chalk, you may want to have some q-tips as they can help you touch up smaller areas. If you are making thin lines, it also helps to sharpen traditional chalk with the larger opening in a duel makeup pencil sharpener.
4. Season your chalkboard.
Whether you are using traditional chalk or a chalk marker, you will want to season it first. If you're using a new board, this will help break it in. If it's an older board, I look at seasoning as a chalkboard "reset." Using the long edge of a piece of traditional chalk (sidewalk chalk is great as it has a larger surface area), rub it all over the board, horizontally and vertically until the board is covered. Wipe away the chalk with a dry cloth or paper towel.
5. Get creative.
Don't be afraid to try new things or incorporate new techniques. The best part of chalkboard art is that it's very forgiving, you can always start over.
If you're trying to save money or quickly create your own board, an alternative to a chalkboard is a dark piece of card stock paper or poster board. You can write on it with traditional chalk or a chalk marker, use as-is, or pop it in a frame. The photo below features a sign I made with traditional chalk on a piece of black poster board.
We used this technique for the wedding, creating signs for the gift table using navy card stock in rustic wood frames.
Thanks for checking out this post! What are some of your favorite chalk art tips and tricks?
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