For my birthday this year my sister gave me this book.
We were out shopping one day and I happened to see it and mention to her how much I would like to have it. And then I believe I handed it to her and she put it in her shopping basket. LOL. Yet another benefit of having her live nearby!
She wrapped it up and gave it back to me on my birthday.
I have quite a few chalkboards around my house. I still love them. I know some people consider them to be so ‘yesterday’ and they are over them. Not me. But my biggest problem is that I’ve never been happy with my attempts at making ‘chalkboard art’. They have been pretty lame, to be quite honest.
Last Christmas I even resorted to ‘faking it’ on the chair chalkboard in my kitchen.
Which was a total failure when the double sided tape I used to attach the printed ‘chalkboard look’ art wouldn’t come off and I ended up having to repaint the chalkboard itself.
I also tried using Martha Stewart’s liquid chalk and a stencil, which was also pretty much a fail.
Now that I have the book, I’m determined to improve my chalkboard drawing skills. I started really small with adding this little flourish underneath the ornament wreath on the chalkboard door in my Q Branch.
Don’t be fooled by the chalkboard design above the wreath. I accomplished that by printing the design on paper, rubbing chalk on the back of the paper, placing the paper over my chalkboard and then going over the entire design with a pencil. Thus transferring the design to my chalkboard door. Then I went back over it with a white chalk pencil. Rather time consuming and putzy, but it looks pretty cool.
But the design under the wreath is free hand and drawn using some of the hints from the book.
I next moved on to the chalkboard in the kitchen. I tried a couple of different lettering styles on this one with another free form flourish at the bottom.
Not too bad. Still not gorgeous, which is what I’m aiming for, but OK.
So I’m going back to the old adage, practice makes perfect. I need a lot more practice. But luckily, as I mentioned, I have quite a few chalkboards to practice on.
q is for quandie 
I am right there with you I just love chalkboard lettering. I applaud all of your past efforts. I think the newest are grand as well. The “Let it Snow” is perfect. And what a terrific shopping budding. Lucky you!
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You are too kind Victoria! I hope to continue to work on my chalking skills 😉
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It definitely looks better than my “Darling grandchild refrigerator art” efforts! I must genuflect in your general direction. 😉
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Thanks hon!
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I love chalk art! Looks great, and so fun to change up! I do lettering on the big chalkboard in our kitchen and then the youngest, Sully, has taken to copying what’s on there in his own style. Pretty cute.
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I bet that is adorable! I love your kitchen chalkboard.
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Looking good Linda-I like writing on chalkboards, but the chalk pens I bought don’t wipe off easily-do you have a brand that does?
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I don’t have a brand that wipes off easily, but I do have a tip for wiping off the ones that don’t. Magic eraser. You know, the Mr. Clean Magic Erasers. Works like a charm. And another tip I learned from the book, you can sharpen regular pieces of chalk using a lip pencil sharpener (usually about the right size). I don’t know why this never occurred to me! Sharpening the chalk allows you to be a little more precise with your design without resorting to the chalk pens (which I always find look more ‘fake’ than real chalk).
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I read somewhere that you just have to wet the tip of the chalk and it writes like a chalk pen. Could try it! Less expensive than the pens.
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Hey Q! Where is your favorite place to buy chalk? Is chalk the same whether you spend $2 or 20 cents on it?
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Oddly enough, I purchased the chalk I’m using in Las Vegas! Ha! I popped into a little gift shop near my mom’s house a couple of years ago and they had chalk in cute packaging so I bought it on impulse. I can’t say that I am a chalk expert, but hey, I’ll look in my handy new book and see what it says! I’ll report back.
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Your sister is one smart cookie! Easy as pie to shop for someone you shop with. Lol….love the book…great idea! Looks like you’re getting the hang of it too. Great gift from your sis.
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