DIY Kit: Hanging Chalkcloth Banner!

Perfect for the holiday chalk art, dinner party menus, or an everyday to do list! Use this kit to make your very own Hanging Chalkcloth Banner. Click here to see the tutorial! 

Kit Includes:
- 18" x 47" of chalk cloth
- 24" dowel rod
- 1 yard of mini pom-pom trim
- 1 yard of ribbon
- 1 yard of bias trim
- 3 yards of 3 different rick racks
- 1 piece of chalk
- 1 permanent chalk marker
- Instruction sheet

Kit Price: $20.00

Choose from 3 colors, green, aqua and red!

Chalk Cloth Banner!

A week ago I bought a few magazines that I haven't subscribed to in years. I stopped getting the magazines long ago cuz they made me feel bad. I hardly had time to read them let alone put the content to good use. But, all that has changed!! Now that I only have my little specialty fabric shop to work on I have time to be crafty again.

Photo Credit: Martha Stewart Living Banner-Style Menu

So I took my magazines, a cup of hot chocolate, and got to reading. I started with Martha Stewart Living's November Issue and BAM!! I was struck with an inspiration. The butcher paper banner menu needed to be made out of chalk cloth!! Right?

The next day I got stitching. I decided to use my Simple Bunting tutorial -- which is really easy version of my Country Living Oilcloth Fair Flags --as a jumping off point. 

Photo Credit: Be Crafty and Recipe for Crazy

As I got about half way through with my banner I realized how silly I am. The inspiration for this project really comes from the super cute Leslie Zellers. She and Amanda (also very cute!) had just done this project at the Be Crafty Workshop in Nebraska the week before. DUH!!

Photo Credit: Be Crafty and Recipe for Crazy

Leslie's version is much simpler and requires no sewing. I suggest doing what you have time for.

For my version you need the following stuff:

• 1/2 yard of Chalkcloth (TM)
• 24" dowel round that is 1/4" in Diameter
• Thread
• Wide ruler, cutting mat and cutter
• Chalk or chalk pen
• Assorted string, ribbons, lace and pom pom trim to bling it out.

1. Fold your Chalkcloth (TM) in half lengthwise and lay it out on your table so the folded side is nearest you. Then use pattern weights to keep the chalk cloth from curling up on you.

2. Hand press a crease a fold into the Chalkcloth (TM) by running your hands up and down the fold a few times. You can use a few clothes pens to keep it secure if need be.

June Suggests: Straight pins can leave holes in chalk cloth so I suggest using these pinning methods instead.

3. True up the right hand corners and the edge of your Chalkcloth (TM) using a large/wide ruler, cutting mat and rotary cutter. I like to use the grid markings on my mat to create a true line to start from. Line up your fold along the 1” line on your mat. Then place the ruler perpendicular to the 1” line. Make sure that your folded fabric doesn’t shift. Holding the ruler firmly in place cut a straight line cutting off about a quarter of an inch, or whatever it takes to get it even and true. Use a few binder clips to "pin" your side securely.

4. Now, flip your fabric upside down and repeat the last step on the other side of the fold. Cutting off just enough to true up the edge making the corners square and the edges even.

5. Find the center of your trued up chalk cloth and measure up 5", then use a pencil to make a small dot at this point. Fold up the Chalkcloth (TM) in half width wise, making sure not to hand press or make a deep crease. You will not want a fold line down the center of your banner. Place it on the cutting mat and with your ruler and cutter create an angled cut. Lay your ruler so it's going from the bottom banner (at the side) to the pencil dot in the center. This will create your notched banner.

6. At your sewing machine, sew a 1" casing along the top folded edge of your banner. This is where you will slid in your dowel rod. Then sew the sides and the bottom of your banner using a 1/4" seam allowance, making sure not to close up your casing at the top.

7. Now comes the fun part! I added a bit of glue and gold glitter to my dowel rod. You might notice that my dowel is not really a dowel rod but really a bamboo garden stake. I'm a big fan of using what I have, so when I didn't have a dowel long enough I grabbed the stake our of our shed instead. Sometimes you just have to make do, just to get things done. Now add a string and whatever bits of ribbon and trim you have in your scrap box to make is pretty! I used some of the pom pom trim that we sell in the shop. 

8. Chalk Art! For this project snagged a free Santa image of the old internet and dropped it into Illustrator and typed in my favorite Christmas saying. Not into Santa? That's cool, you could totally use some fun Hanukkah clip art instead. After I got the image looking just right I printed it out, it filled up an entire 8 1/2" x 11" page but it still wasn't big enough, so I enlarged it 200%. I took Emily Jeffords advise that she shared on the Indie Craft Parade blog. Basically, I ran a bunch of regular chalk on the back of the paper and transferred it on to the Chalkcloth banner. Then I used a chalk pen marker to enhance the image.

For my Thanksgiving banner I used chalk and drew out my bird free-hand. Then I used a chalk marker to fill out my sketch.

Chalk markers can be found at your local art and craft shop. Check back soon I hope to have more in stock soon.

See my blog post To cure, or not to cure, that is the question so you can see how to care for your Chalkcloth (TM)!

I hope you all have a fantastic holiday season!

To cure, or not to cure, that is the question!

To cure, or not to cure, that is the question. For years I've been telling you all to cure their Chalkcloth (TM), but I don't always do it myself. Why, you ask?  Well, for one, I like the solid black nature of the unused Chalkcloth (TM). Especially when I use a chalk pen marker (found at your local craft shops and in the party section of Target). When I use a chalk pen I'm not going to erase it too often. I only use a chalk pen when I'm doing a menu on one of my chalk cloth runners or placemats. Or, for my super cute project tutorial I have planned for tomorrow.

My favorite chalk marker!

Some chalk pens can leave a ghost line behind, so I normally cure the Chalkcloth (TM) after I use a pen for a project. So, I'll use it black the first time, use a damp cloth to get the pen off and then I'll cure the chalk cloth. After that I'll use regular chalk or the pen again. Test your pen on a hidden bit of chalk cloth to test is first. Let it dry and see if it clean off nicely before use.

The curing process!

To cure your new Chalkcloth (TM) simply lay a piece of chalk on its side on the chalk cloth surface and rub all over, side to side, then wipe clean. I like to us a barely damp cloth to do the clean up. Now, do this one more time, rubbing your chalk up and down this time. Wipe it clean one last time and the Chalkcloth (TM) is now ready for use. 

Chalk can get sharp so rotate your chalk as you work.

Now, you need to know that the chalk will become sharp as you rub it up and down the cloth. These sharp edges will scratch the surface of your material or project. This is normal and there just isn't any way around it. You are turning fabric into a chalk board, which is by nature, a dusty and scratchy surface that is slate gray.

Before and after!

OK, what if you choose not to never cure your Chalkcloth (TM)? Well, in that case you'll see  cover ghost lines that are left behind by the chalk pens and regular chalk. Meaning, you'll be able to see what you wrote the last time and the time before that. Eventually, it will be come scratched up when you use chalk cloth and it will become grey as you wipe it clean. Every time I've tried to keep a chalk cloth item black, I've ended up caving in and curing the surface. It just looks better in the end, all slate grey and dusty!

To care for your Chalkcloth (TM) just use a damp cloth or sponge to wipe down your projects when you're done. Chalk will build up on your towel so rinse and repeat until your happy with the result. The more chalk dust you get off the blacker your Chalkcloth (TM) will be.

Ghost lines and smearing are normal if you don't give your chalk cloth a good cleaning every once and a while. For example this is my homeschool chalkboard that I made back in 2009! As you can see this has gotten a lot of use with U. S. History lately. When all else fails and you have too many ghost lines like I do, just do the curing process all over again! 

So grab some Chalkcloth (TM), some chalk and have a blast! Click here for a ton of tutorials and tips for Chalkcloth (TM).

Best kind of trade, chalk cloth for joy!

Months and months ago, I said yes to a giveaway. Little did I know that I was in for a real treat! Heather, from Life Made Lovely asked if I'd donate some chalk cloth for a Be Crafty retreat. OM! I couldn't refuse, in fact I wanted to attend the crafty workshop!

I had almost forgotten all about it when I saw a ton of super cute photos turn up on Instagram! The photos were of the chalk cloth hoops that Amanda (Be Crafty) and Lesley from Recipe for Crazy made with the cutest bunch of crafty gals in the southwest! See the group shot here!

I've snagged some of the photos for you all to see...

 How cute are they? 

 First up, wrapping of the hoops.

Slide the chalk cloth into the hoop! 

 Get chalky!

Let's go out there an be crafty too!

XOXOX,
Kelly 

Chalk Cloth Birthday Card!!

The Chalk Cloth Cure!

 

When your chalk cloth arrives it's a nice solid black. But, if you were to write on it at this point you would end up with ghost lines. Meaning, if you write "pie is yummy" on the black cloth, your going to see a faint outline of those words. I prefer to cure my chalk cloth so it looks like a fabric chalkboard. This just requires a little TLC.

 Start by rubbing a piece of chalk cloth from side to side with the broad side of the chalk.

Then with a damp cloth wipe off the chalk. This will leave your chalk cloth gray and smeared, so grab a second towel that is just a bit damp and wipe it off again. Now your good to go!

 

The chalk will have scratched your fabric here and there, this is normal. This is what give your fabric the appearance of a chalkboard.

Doodle on my friends... Doodle on!

Thanksgiving Chalk Cloth Chalkboard!

 

I'm a firm believer in using what you have on hand to create what you really want. It's not always the easiest way to go but it's always the cheapest.

About a million years ago, we had some project that left us with a piece of particle board (seen here) and I wanted to have a chalk board for my family. I had chalk board paint but that would look really bad on this type of wood, you couldn't write on it. But I did have was a piece of chalk cloth and a staple gun.

Here is the chalk cloth chalkboard tutorial!!

Feel free to steal my new saying!! They are words to live by, don't you think?

Black Friday Sale!!

Great Idea: Vintage Inspired Hanging Chalkboard!

 

Yet another great use for chalk cloth!! Follow the tutorial from the Sparkle blog to create you own hanging chalkboard. All you need is chalk cloth and the following supplies wooden dowels (2), wood stain, eye and hook screws (2), chain, utility knife and a heavy-duty stapler and you've got yourself a great gift for so many people on your holiday list!!

Get the Look: Chalk Cloth with a side Turkey Dinner!

I haven't seen a Target that I didn't like (a lot), so when my friend Kerri spotted this one I fell head over heels in love! Check out the chalk cloth on the table!! Cuteness. You know we love to get our party on with chalk cloth.

Chalk cloth is pretty stiff stuff so it doesn't drape like a normal tablecloth so I used a few yards of the black stuff to make a custom table topper. See how to make one here and then check my Thanksgiving tablescape on Apartment Therapy!

Over in the Modern June shop we have many chalk cloth runners to choose from, as well as, chalk cloth chargers/placemats! These are a lot of fun at parties and game nights! They even make homework fun -- almost! Check them out in this months Country Living Magazine too!

Our Studio: Fabric Storage

After 7 years of business I finally have proper storage for all of our laminated cottons, chalk cloth and oilcloth!! I am just a happy as I can be. The other day I went in to the studio early and was overwhelmed by the days tasks. Then I turned my head and saw my pretty new wall of fabric and I actually waved at it, like a teenage girl flirting with a boy across the lunchroom. Hhheeeey! Yikes, I hope I didn't blush! 

Nicole loves it!

Geneva and Kathie love it!

I love it!

Q and A: Chalk Cloth Facts!!

Q: I am interested in the chalk cloth, but had read that it contains phthalates and lead. Is the cloth you have free of both of these ingredients?

A: Not all chalk cloths are created equally. There are chalk cloths out there that are thin and brittle, that don't lay flat once cut. Now, I have no idea if these two contain lead or phthalates but what I don know is that the chalk cloth that we carry comes from a very reliable source.

Oilcloth Internationals chalk cloth is scientifically proven to be be both lead or phthalate free. So when you're buying chalk cloth be sure that it is their trademarked Chalkcloth ™.

We tried the other version and it was substandard so we'll never carry anything other than the good stuff from now on!! 

Learn more of caring for chalk cloth here!

Learn more about chalk vs chalk pens here!

Chalk cloth goes to school!

How cute are these to girls that just finished their chalk cloth locker pockets? Super darn cute, I'd say!!

Check out the original locker pocket at the Sewing School blog! Amie and Andria's book of the same name is filled with great projects that will have your kids sewing up a storm!! Here's a look inside the book.

Sewing School: 21 Sewing Projects Kids Will Love to Make

Great Idea: Chalk Cloth Wine Glass Markers

I am totally in love with this fun little project that Mandy of Fabric, Paper, Glue made! Grab up your chalk cloth scraps or buy a fat quarter and make up a batch for your and for your best hostess friends! I know I'll be taking a bottle of wine and a dozen of these to the next party we are invited too!

Learn how to make Mandy's Wine Markers at her blog. Then head over and check out her Etsy shop!! I am SSSSOOOOO in love with her pillows!! I want a XOXO pillow set for my bed room, I know you will too!!

It's a darn good thing that I have Oilcloth Addict spy's everywhere!! While I was on car pool duty one of my best friends, Suzanne, spotted Chalk Cloth on the beer tasting table that Martha showcased on yesterday's Today Show. You know we love our chalk cloth, the more ways to use it the better!

To get this look, all you need is enough chalk cloth yardage to span the width of your table and then you can use painters tape to adhere it to the bottom of the table top. Easy and fun, once the beer tasting party is over, just roll it up and store it for the next party or kids play date!

Want to cover the whole table top? Here is one of my favorite ways to use chalk cloth, a custom chalk cloth table topper! I cut down chalk cloth to the exact size and shape of our Thanksgiving table, kids of all ages had fun doodling through desert! 

Please don't tell Martha that our pie was from the freezer!! I would die if she know!

Check out Sewing with Oilcloth for more great chalk cloth projects, my chalk cloth table runner pattern would be perfect for a beer tasting party. You can download that for free at SWO's  Amazon page!