Thursday, December 19, 2013

Framed Chalkboard Fabric...

Hi everyone! You know I love thrift store finds and frames are one of the best buys. I found 2 large frames for $3.50 each and I knew they would be great for the chalkboard signs I wanted to make. The large sized frames are perfect to fill up wall space, so I wanted to use them for my Christmas party.

Here are the 2 frames and you won't believe how easy they were to make…with FABRIC!!!

framed chalkboard fabric

Yes, chalkboard fabric.

framed chalkboard fabric

These frames took no time to make!!

My first thought to make the chalkboard frames was to either use the contact chalkboard paper or use chalkboard spray paint. When I went to Joann's Fabric and Craft store to find the contact paper, they said they only had chalkboard fabric. What?? Fabric?

They couldn't cut it fast enough! I love it…

It's 28 inches wide (it's single fold though) and is $4.99 a yard. It was on sale and and I had a coupon, so it was even cheaper than that. You can find it in the Utility Fabric section.

framed chalkboard fabric

 It is truly like fabric. That whitish gray on the right is the fabric backing.

framed chalkboard fabric

Here is the frame…29"x39".

framed chalkboard fabric

I went to Home Depot and bought a 4 foot by 8 foot by 1/8 inch piece of hardboard. It had a label on the back that says eucaboard, but it's the thin brown board that looks like peg board without the holes.

That large piece was only $9.00. I had to buy the large, because I needed 2 pieces. They also sell 2 foot by 4 foot pieces.

I had mine cut to the size of my frames. Home Depot will cut for free.

framed chalkboard fabric

Place your board on the chalkboard fabric and cut to size.

Attaching it was another question. I just used a staple gun along the very edge. I didn't want to use a glue, because I wasn't sure if it would bleed through. I did try an adhesive spray, but it didn't work and there was over spray on the front of the fabric.

framed chalkboard fabric

I used tiny nails and hammered them into the back of the frame to hold the board inside the frame.

framed chalkboard fabric

It's done, but according to the directions that come with the fabric, you have to "prime" the chalkboard.

framed chalkboard fabric


framed chalkboard fabric

I just rubbed chalk over the whole surface.

framed chalkboard fabric


framed chalkboard fabric

Then use a dry cloth to wipe it all away.

framed chalkboard fabric

During the party, I had another table here to serve the wine. I wanted to write a saying on my chalkboard that I saw on Pinterest, but it didn't look the same as their sign, so mine said Merry Christmas. Their sign said...

"I'm dreaming of a white Christmas, but if they run out of white...I'll drink red!"

framed chalkboard fabric

I used the other sign for the "Reinbeer" table.

framed chalkboard fabric

I made Reinbeer at the last few Christmas Parties I've had.

Here's what you need to make your own…

  • brown pipe cleaners
  • red pom poms
  • google eyes 
  • hot glue gun


framed chalkboard fabric

Take one long pipe cleaner for the antlers.

framed chalkboard fabric

Wrap it around the top of the beer bottle and twist in the back.

framed chalkboard fabric

Now take another pipe cleaner and cut it into 4 equal sections. You will need 2 per bottle.

framed chalkboard fabric

Place the cut piece across the antler on the bottle and then twist it to secure.

framed chalkboard fabric

You will get the 3 stems on each antler.

framed chalkboard fabric

You can either hot glue the eyes and nose on the top of the bottle or…

framed chalkboard fabric

on the front!

framed chalkboard fabric

 Fill up the buckets with your Reinbeer and you are good to go.

framed chalkboard fabric

The Chalkboard fabric is so much like a fabric, you can use it for so many things…

  • kid's tablecloth, especially for holiday parties where they can write all over the table to keep them busy
  • place mats, just cut with a decorative scissor or make a nice border
  • I haven't sewn with it yet, but omg imagine little gift bags etc.

I hope you can get this in your area store or maybe try buying it online. You're going to love it!!


Two easy holiday projects for you and there's still time to make them!

Thanks for stopping by,
~Karen~

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13 comments:

  1. What a wonderful idea....
    My English isn't very fine...so I send you only MY board full of ideas
    for you...the best tip I found their is to use a pencil sharpener for the chalk

    http://www.pinterest.com/saphiraswelt/tafel-freuden/

    Wish you a wonderful chrismas time from Germany

    Saphira

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  2. OMG...chalkboard fabric...I had no idea! Thanks so much for sharing this find as well as the tutorial. Guess I'll be adding JoAnn's to my list of stops for tomorrow...gotta try this!
    Merry Christmas! Cheryl

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  3. Ha ha reinbeer!!! LOL! great idea , simple , big effect!
    Thank you for introducing me to chalkboard fabric. At school we have just a few chalk boards left, like mine in the art room. All of the others have been replaced by socalled smartboards which are technically touchscreen computers, huge ones, with a lot of fun software. I think I need to make one of your frames to get my chalkboard "fix" at home too!
    Esther
    esthersipatchandquilt at yahoo com
    ipatchandquilt dot wordpress dot com

    ReplyDelete
  4. Thanks for sharing! I have had this frame for a long time wanting to make it a chalk board... now that there is chalkboard fabric it may actually get done! lol.

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  5. What great ideas! Have a wonderful Christmas holiday with your family and friends!

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  6. Great ideas. I would love to come to one of your holiday parties!

    Happy Holidays Karen, thanks for all the great posts this year :-)

    Claire

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  7. My quilting friends ( crafty too) were raving about the chalkboard fabric just last week. I saw the sign you were referring to on Pinterest also. It was really cute. The Etsy show was sold out. Love your Reinbeers. Now I wish I was hosting a party! Great ideas!

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  8. I've known about this fabric for years! I have a ton of the green color. I've made little in the hoop "hangman" games for the car for my grands. I love your ideas too :)

    Nancy

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  9. Woah. That's crazy. I never knew. How cool is that? Thanks for sharing.

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  10. On my way to make reinbeers now!!! The Dutch version, renbier for the boys! Thanks for sharing!

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  11. Thanks for the idea! I have chalkboard fabric for a project I never did. This is so much easier. Got a chuckle out of your reinbeer. That's what my 3 yo grandson calls reindeer. lol

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  12. There is a nice rum called White Christmas that we use for Hot Buttered Rum.

    The priming of the fabric is the same way they prime the regular chalk board. If you do not prime it first then the first thing you write stays forever.

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Thanks so much for taking the time to leave a comment...I just love hearing from you!

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