I have a love affair with wreaths. We live in an apartment and don’t have a yard, so really, it’s the only thing that I get to decorate to welcome our guests. And I love summer and patriotic holidays. I think it’s the color scheme that makes it so much fun to decorate for!
Prior to this craft, I steered away from chalkboard art because, frankly, I’m not that great with art work. But my curiosity got the better of me, and I thought I’d try it out. Spoiler alert: it’s much easier than it looks!
I’ll take you through step-by-step so that you can create your own chalkboard art. I’m sharing the same printable I made for my sign, so you can make exactly what I’ve made, too, if you like!
Supplies:
- 7×9 chalkboard
- 4 different rolls of ribbon (I used varying patterns, widths and materials. The widths were anywhere from 1/4″ to 3/4″. The materials included grossgrain and satin. I used 1 roll of white, 1 patterned roll of red, 1 roll of blue that had a ruffle, and a roll of striped red white and blue ribbon.)
- 1 package of 2 1/4″ wooden stars
- masking tape
- white acrylic paint
- red acrylic paint
- chalkboard markers
- jute twine
- paintbrush
- drill or eyescrews
- printable
- pen
- glue
- chalk
Prepping the chalkboard
Cut pieces of maskiing tape the length and width of the inside of the chalkboard and carefully press them down along the edge of the frame. You’ll want to get the tape as close to the edge of the frame without overlapping. This masking tape seal will prevent paint from getting onto the chalkboard while you’re painting.
At this point, you can also drill two holes (one in either corner) if you like. You can also do it after you’re done painting (which is what I did).
Once you have this done, paint the frame and edges white. Let dry and then add a second coat. Let dry again. (If you want a shabby chic look, paint one layer and then use sandpaper to distress the frame.)
Paint one wooden star red and set aside to dry.
Creating the chalkboard art
Once the frame is totally dry, get out the printable, a piece of chalk, and a ballpoint pen.
On a hard surface, turn the printable over on the back and using the long side of the chalk, rub chalk all over the design. You’ll want to cake it on as heavily as possible.
Turn the paper over and adjust it over your chalkboard so that it’s centered. Using a little bit of masking tape, tape the paper down so it won’t move. Then using the ballpoint pen, trace the design. You will have to press down and might have to retrace to get an outline of the pattern transferred onto your chalkboard.
Once you have the pattern transferred, use your chalkboard markers to trace and fill in as desired.
Finishing the sign
Cut a length of jute cord about a foot long. If you would like a longer hanger, adjust the length before you cut. You will also want to have a few inches of cord on either side so you can tie the hanger onto the chalkboard.
Cut 4-5″ lengths of all of the ribbon colors. How much you’ll need will depend on how tight you want the bunting to look. Tie the ribbon on using random colors to create a “crazy quilt” look, or make a pattern and stick to it to create a more uniform look. Once the hanger is completed to your liking, tie both ends onto the holes in the chalkboard and use a double knot. If you didn’t drill holes, you can also put in eyescrews at the top of the chalkboard and tie the hanger onto those instead.
Glue the red star into the corner and let dry.
If you are hanging this outside, you can cover the chalkboard in a matte Mod Podge to protect it from the elements.
This is a great option for any patriotic holiday and it stores really easily– it’s not bulky at all!
PS. Looking for another patriotic wreath idea?
This post is sponsored on behalf of Lincoln Military Housing.
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