• Home
  • Classes
  • Blog
  • About
  • Sewing Resources
  • Free Tutorials

Reusable Signs

8/23/2013

0 Comments

 
Picture
After several craft fairs and being at the farmer's market this summer, I went through quite a few paper signs for my products. After recycling the last set, I thought I could do better by making something reusable.

Noodling around Pinterest usually gives me some great inspiration. I'm not one of those "pin now for later" types. If I pin it, I'm probably trying something out within the week. If not, then it serves as inspiration for something else that I'm working on. I actually scroll through my Recipes to Try board and cook things from it. Crazy, I know.

Pinterest led me to reusable chalkboard signs. Perfect! Being able to erase and re-write as often as I liked was just what this minimize-waste person wanted. The local craft stores weren't coming up with the sizes and price that I had in mind, so I did what I usually do and thought--I can make it myself for way less. Here are some of the steps involved, which are not difficult in the least if you have chalkboard paint and some blue painter's tape.
Picture
Start with wooden signs that are inexpensive (less than $1 each) that already have pretty rounded corners.
Picture
Paint the perimeter white, whatever size "frame" you want for your chalkboard. You can be messy in the center because the thick chalkboard paint will cover it up.
Picture
Measure and tape off the area you would like to be the chalkboard surface. If you press firmly with the tape, you will get a nice crisp edge when you are finished. I had this jar of chalkboard paint on hand, which was a bonus not to have to buy another supply.
Picture
Paint with your chalkboard paint. I found 2 coats covered well.
Picture
When everything is dry, remove the tape and you are almost done. "Prime" the surface with regular chalk, rubbing in all directions (I don't have a photo of this step). You should be all set to go! Unless...
Picture
...you decide to make things less tamper-proof like I did and use a chalk marker on your homemade chalkboards.
Picture
It doesn't come off!!!!! This sign has been *erased.* Grrrrrrrr. As if wasting all that work wasn't bad enough (regular chalk DOES come off, so you're fine if you stick with that), two days after finishing these signs, I found this at AC Moore:
Picture
Real slate chalkboards. Bigger than the ones I made myself. A better size for my booth setup. For $1 each. I bought 5 for less than the raw materials I used to make the first version. Moral of the story? Don't trust everything you read on the package of a craft supply. Old fashioned materials (slate, plain chalk) are often much better than their new-fangled counterparts (chalk pen). At least now I can stop recycling paper signs!  
Picture
0 Comments



Leave a Reply.

    Picture

    Karen Katin

    As co-owner of Stitchery in Portsmouth, RI, I teach sewing classes to children and adults. Welcome to my blog Dancing Threads RI. 

    Enter your email address:

    Delivered by FeedBurner

    Instagram

    Archives

    March 2020
    September 2017
    August 2017
    January 2017
    November 2016
    October 2016
    September 2016
    June 2016
    May 2016
    April 2016
    March 2016
    February 2016
    January 2016
    December 2015
    November 2015
    October 2015
    September 2015
    August 2015
    July 2015
    June 2015
    May 2015
    April 2015
    March 2015
    February 2015
    January 2015
    December 2014
    November 2014
    October 2014
    September 2014
    August 2014
    July 2014
    June 2014
    May 2014
    April 2014
    March 2014
    February 2014
    January 2014
    November 2013
    October 2013
    September 2013
    August 2013
    June 2013
    May 2013
    April 2013
    March 2013
    February 2013
    January 2013

    Categories

    All
    Background
    Blog Reading
    Books
    Creative Business
    Crochet Bag
    Eco Friendly
    Embroidery
    Events
    Fabric Stores
    Family
    Gift
    Handmade Wardrobe
    Holiday
    How I Do What I Do
    Knitting Bag
    Knitting Inspiration
    Lil Rhody Bag
    Memademay
    Mother's Day Gift
    Parties
    Pattern Review
    Pattern Support Links
    Personal Projects
    Plastic Swap
    Product Feature
    Project Bag
    Quilt
    Selfish Sewing
    Sewing
    Sewing Classes
    Sewing Fail
    Sewing Inspiration
    Sewing Patterns
    Sewing Resources
    Sewing Tips
    Sewing Tools
    Sewing Tutorial
    Sustainable Sewing
    Three Things To Smile
    Wedding
    Work In Progress

    RSS Feed

Powered by Create your own unique website with customizable templates.
  • Home
  • Classes
  • Blog
  • About
  • Sewing Resources
  • Free Tutorials