Crafting A Wedding Chalkboard Sign: Tracing Your Way To Perfection

Wedding signage is an important detail that can add a personal touch to your special day. While there are many options available, from neon signs to banners, chalkboard signs are a popular choice as they offer a blank slate for customisation. Creating your own chalkboard sign can also help you save money, which is especially useful considering that wedding signs can be unusually pricey. In this article, we will discuss the steps and techniques you can use to make your own chalkboard sign for your wedding, including how to trace designs onto your sign.

Choosing the right paper and printing your design

The first step to making a chalkboard sign is deciding on the right paper. For a large sign, you can use a 22"x28" black poster board. If you're going for a more modern and crisp look, you can opt for a white poster board instead. Another option is to use an MDF board or artist's board and spray paint it with chalkboard spray paint. This gives you more flexibility in terms of size and shape.

If you're making smaller signs, 8.5"x11" black cardstock works well. You can also use chipboard, which is the thickness of the back of a sketchbook, and cut it into your desired shape.

Once you've chosen your paper, it's time to design your sign. Decide on the fonts and layout, and create your design using a program like Word. Remember to set the paper orientation to "landscape" if needed. Print out your design on regular paper, making sure to use black text if you're printing on black cardstock.

Now you're ready to transfer your design onto your sign. For large signs, you can use graphite transfer/tracing paper. Place the printed design on top of the graphite paper, with the graphite side facing down. Put this combination where you want it on your poster and use a sharp pencil or pen to trace over the design. This will transfer the design onto your poster.

For smaller signs, you can simply load your black cardstock into your printer and print directly onto it. You may need to give the cardstock a little extra push due to its thickness.

If you have a Silhouette Cameo machine, you can also use that to print your design. Create your design using the Silhouette Cameo program, ensuring the dimensions match your cardstock. Once you're happy with your design, load a white sketch pen into the machine and your cardstock into the cutting mat. Follow the machine's instructions to print your design.

Now that your design is printed or transferred, you can start adding your chalk lettering and any desired embellishments.

Tracing your design onto the chalkboard

Now that you've decided on your design, it's time to transfer it onto your chalkboard. Here are a few different methods you can use:

Printed Design Transfer

Print out your design onto regular paper. Flip the paper over and colour the backside with pencil or chalk. Place the paper, coloured side down, on your chalkboard and use a pencil to firmly trace over your printed design. This will transfer the chalk or graphite onto the chalkboard. You can then trace over your transferred design using chalk or a paint pen. This technique works on any surface, but dark surfaces work better with chalk, while light surfaces work better with pencil or transfer paper.

Paint Over Stickers

First, paint your chalkboard the colour you want your letters to be. Then, arrange your chosen stickers on the board, firmly pressing them into the wood. Paint over the stickers and then remove them to reveal your design! You can use letter and number stickers, as well as other shapes, or even cut your own stickers with a Cricut machine.

Stencils

Arrange your stencils on the chalkboard and firmly adhere them. With gentle pressure and a small amount of paint, dab paint through the stencil. Remove the stencils as soon as you've painted over them to reveal your design. Make sure your stencils are fully adhered to the surface to avoid paint bleeding underneath.

Chalk Ink Marker or Paint Pen

If you don't want to trace over your design, you can use a chalk ink marker or paint pen to write or draw directly onto your chalkboard. This method might be better if you're confident in your handwriting or drawing skills.

Using paint to create the chalkboard effect

Creating a chalkboard effect using paint is a simple and inexpensive way to add a personal touch to your wedding decor. Here are some detailed instructions to guide you through the process:

Choosing the Right Paint

Chalk paint is the perfect choice for creating a chalkboard effect. It gives furniture an antique look and makes refinishing easier due to minimal prep work. While you can purchase ready-made chalk paint, it tends to be expensive. A cost-effective alternative is to make your own chalk paint using baking soda, calcium carbonate, plaster of Paris, or unsanded grout mixed with water-based latex paint. These ingredients can be found in grocery stores, hardware stores, or craft stores.

Preparing the Surface

Before you begin painting, ensure that the surface you intend to use is smooth and free of bumps. A slightly textured wall can be sanded down to create an even writing surface. If you're using a chalkboard as a sign, consider using a poster board, cardstock, or chipboard as your base.

Applying the Paint

When applying chalk paint, aim for a consistency similar to pancake batter. Start by applying a base coat of paint in the direction of the wood grain, if applicable. Allow this coat to dry thoroughly before proceeding. Next, apply at least two coats of chalkboard paint, letting each coat dry in between. The number of coats required may vary depending on the surface and the brand of paint used. It is recommended to use a chalkboard paint specifically formulated for this purpose.

Finishing Touches

Once the final coat of paint is completely dry, you can test the surface by writing on it with chalk and then erasing it with a towel. This will ensure that the chalk can be easily erased without leaving residue. To enhance the vintage or rustic look, you can lightly rub chalk over the entire surface and then wipe it off with a paper towel to create a "vintage/worn" vibe.

Additional Tips

When creating your chalkboard, keep in mind that black is not the only colour option. You can choose from a variety of colours, such as green, beige, or white, to coordinate with the surrounding walls and lighting. Additionally, consider using a magnetic primer underneath the chalkboard paint to add creative possibilities. This will allow you to use magnets on your chalkboard. Remember to allow sufficient drying time, and always use the appropriate type of chalk or chalk markers to ensure they can be easily erased from the surface.

Adding embellishments and decorations

For my vintage-style wedding, I added roses and green branches to my sign. First, decide where you want to place your embellishments. For example, I put flowers at the top and bottom of my sign. Then, get out your acrylic paints and a plate to mix them on. Choose colours that match your wedding colour palette. For my wedding, I used dark blue, purple, and white paints.

To make roses, start with a dot in the middle of your sign in your darkest colour. Then, take another colour and use your paintbrush to paint in a sweeping motion counter-clockwise around the centre dot – just one stroke. Repeat this step with another colour, this time painting in a clockwise stroke. Keep painting with different hues in alternating clockwise and counter-clockwise strokes around the centre dot until you have your desired rose size.

You can also add branches and leaves as desired. Make sure to use at least two different colour hues for your greenery, as well as white, to mix colours and give your embellishments a lifelike feel.

Finally, take a piece of chalk and lightly rub the long end over the surface of the poster. Take a paper towel and wipe off any parts that have too much chalk to give it that "vintage/worn" vibe.

Framing your chalkboard sign

Choosing a Frame

When selecting a frame for your chalkboard sign, consider the overall style or theme of your wedding. For a rustic or vintage look, opt for a wooden frame with a distressed finish. You can find these at craft stores or even make them yourself by distressing and painting the frame. If you're going for a more modern or elegant style, consider a metallic or white frame. These can be found at most home decor stores or online. Another option is to use a picture frame as your chalkboard sign base. Simply remove the glass panel and replace it with chalkboard contact paper. This method allows you to choose from a variety of frame styles and sizes.

Sizing the Frame

Ensure that the frame you choose is proportional to the size of your chalkboard sign. If you're creating a large sign, such as a welcome sign or a menu, opt for a larger frame that will make it stand out. For smaller signs, such as table numbers or place cards, a simple, thin frame will do the trick. You can also opt for frameless chalkboard signs, especially if you're going for a more casual or rustic look.

Mounting and Display

Consider how you want to display your framed chalkboard sign. For a standalone sign, you can attach it to an easel or a sturdy stand. This works well for welcome signs, schedules, or menus. If you're creating a smaller sign, you can use a tabletop easel or simply lean it against a wall or prop it up on a table. For a more permanent display, you can hang your framed chalkboard sign on a wall or a backdrop. This is a great option for signs with important information that you want your guests to see, such as the schedule or seating arrangements.

Embellishments

To add a touch of elegance or whimsy to your framed chalkboard sign, consider embellishing the frame. You can wrap the frame with vine rope, twine, or ribbon that matches your wedding colour palette. For a rustic look, you can add some greenery or flowers around the frame. If you're crafty, you can also paint designs or patterns on the frame to make it more unique.

Combining with Other Decor

Think about how your framed chalkboard sign will fit into the overall decor of your wedding venue. You can place them near floral arrangements or greenery to create a charming display. Combine multiple chalkboard signs of different sizes and frames to create a visually appealing setup. For example, you can have a large framed sign with a welcome message and smaller signs with table numbers or quotes.

Frequently asked questions