A Custom Sign from Adhesive Blackboard Paper

I can’t remember where I found it or who wrote it, but these few simple lines make me smile every time I read them.  They also serve as a constant reminder of how truly blessed and thankful I am to have my little boys. 

I wanted to put this quote up in the mudroom for a while now, but was at a loss as to how I should go about it.  Vinyl wall letters were too expensive and briefly I considered going the subway art route that is so popular these days, but the message is so simple that I didn’t want it to get lost in the typefonts.

I happened upon this blackboard sticky paper for a dollar at the dollar store and knew right away that it was the perfect medium!  If you haven't tried this adhesive blackboard yet you should; it's great stuff!   Apparently you can also get adhesive white board now too for about $4.99 at Michaels .... ah, the potential!

I dug out an old gold frame that I wasn’t using and painted it white. 

Then I cut the blackboard adhesive paper to size using the glass from the frame as a template. This cutting was made even easier by the grid markings on the back of the blackboard paper.  No math, no tracing … my kind of project!

After cutting the blackboard adhesive to size, I carefully peeled the backing paper away and pulled and pressed it firmly to the piece of cardboard that belonged in the back of the frame to smooth out any bumps or lumps.  That took all of, oh, one minute.  

Placing the mounted blackboard in the frame, I made small marks to indicate the dimensions of the chalkboard that would show through once framed as I didn’t want any of my quote to be covered up by the frame.

Now the fun part – the lettering!  I could have used chalk here but I didn’t want it to get wiped off by those little inquisitive hands, so I used a white pencil crayon for the lettering.  The pencil crayon provided that streaky/distressed/chalky look that I wanted.  Emulating that look with paint would have been time consuming (but definitely a medium to consider along with vinyl letters if you were going for a more “solid” look).

I sketched out my quote then went back over the letters more thoroughly so that it would be easy to read.  Now it isn’t perfect – some letters are bigger than others and I didn’t use a ruler for straight lines (any erasing you do on the blackboard paper will always be visible), but I don’t mind that, it just adds character :o)

I popped the new chalkboard message into the frame, secured the tabs in the back and voila, a simple and easy custom piece for our home. 

Why I like this adhesive blackboard paper :

•     Peal and stick application
•     No messy painting or clean up
•     Easy to use

 

What do you think?  Easy and inexpensive ... my kind of art!
I hope you are enjoying your day!

- Kristin -

Linking to some of these places today:
madincraft.blogspot.com, craftskeepmesane.blogspot.com, thegirlcreative.blogspot.com, makingtheworldcuter.blogspot.com, sumossweetstuff.blogspot.com, craftomaniac.blogspot.com, skiptomylou.org, creatingawesomefreethings.blogspot.com, betweennapsontheporch.blogspot.com, dittledattle.blogspot.com,todayscreativeblog.net, craftedition.blogspot.com/

bellabeforeandafter.blogspot.com, sewchatty.blogspot.com myuncommonsliceofsuburbia