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).

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Chalk Cloth Menu Board 

Chalk Cloth Board Tutorial

Grab your staple guns girl cuz this weeks tutorial is fun and easy! The OCA Chalk Cloth Board is a cinch, anyone can do this in just minutes.

What you need:
Piece of plywood
Chalk Cloth
Staple gun
Scissors

1) I started off by rummaging through our shed to find a large piece of plywood. I did this last year when I created this fun art piece for my home. Now that I have an obsession with chalk cloth I couldn't help but recover it in that great material.

If you do not have plywood laying around like most DYI junkies do you can find small pre-cut pieces of it at your local Lowes or Home Depot. If do not have the size you want you can have the guys cut it to the desired size for a small fee. Bat your eyes and smile and you might just get it cut for free.

2) Pick up some chalk cloth from us at OILCLOTH ADDICT. You will want your chalk cloth to measure 4-5 inches larger than your board.

3) Place your chalk cloth upside down and place your plywood in the center of the cloth.


4) Start on one of your long sides and staple it into place then do the opposite side. Move to the sides next.


5) Now it is corner time. Cut out a notch from the corner of the chalk cloth, this helps the chalk cloth lay flat and make a pretty corner. Because it is so thick I suggest shooting in a staple with in the fold.


6) Now angle your fold and staple it into place.

Q & A; chalk vs. chalk marker

Recently, I received a great question concerning what works best on chalk cloth, chalk sticks or chalk makers? I just had to share my answer with you all. (BTW, we now have chalk markers in the shop)

The question was...Can you use only traditional sticks of chalk or are those chalk markers used on menu boards safe as well?

The answer is... both are great on chalk cloth! First you need to cure your chalk cloth and then you are good to go.

I prefer the chalk sticks for everyday use. We homeschool our kids so I use our chalk cloth board daily, I use regular chalk for lessons. But I like using the markers/pens for more long lasting applications, such as my chalk cloth labels and Mason Jars.

Note: The chalk cloth markers can require a bit of elbow grease to get off the chalk cloth if the writing has been on there for a while. I think it is worth the extra effort!

Got a question? Bring it on!

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! 

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!

Pantry Project #5, Chalk Cloth tags and labels

These simple Chalk Cloth tags and labels can be used all over the house, I need these for the pantry/laundry room to get that place organized once and for all.

Stuff you need:

Chalk Cloth Fat Quarter
Oilcloth Fat Quarter Four Pack or a Oilcloth Charm Pack
scissors
spool of ribbon
ink pin and white pencil
vase or template for oval shape
Fray Check


step 1. Find a shape, you could use a template if you have on but I always use what I have laying around. While I was looking around the house for an oval shape and I got lucky! What is so great about it is that the top is bigger than the bottom. How perfect is that? (Thanks Janet, your gifts keep giving!)



Don't have that kind of luck? No problem, find your shape and increase or decrease it on the printer. Easy-peasy!










step 2. Cut your large ovals out of oilcloth and your small ovals out of the chalk cloth.






step 3. Cut your ribbon into 20" strips. Fold the ribbon in half and place it in the center of the tag and sandwich them in-between the two layers. Use cloths pins to pin the tag. Make sure your ribbon in a V shape, this will help you tie your label later. Don't forget to use some fray check on the ends of the ribbon to keep them tidy.


step 4. Set your needle to the left so you can edge stitch the chalk cloth on to the oilcloth. Slowly sew around the chalk cloth tag.


step 5. Make a few without the ties and you can hot glue them onto all sorts of things.


Oh, these are fun. You are going to love making them, they are so quick and easy. Leave me a comment tell me what you would use at set for. The first 10 people will receive a free scrap pack with enough oilcloth and chalk cloth to make a few.

Don't like the oval shape change it up with what ya got!

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!

Pantry Project #3 Chalk Cloth Mason Jar

Here a fun and very easy project. I was at a big-box store the other day, I saw jars with chalk paint on them they were cute but costly. Once home it was time to get crafty! For the price of one store bought jar you would buy a fat quarter of chalk cloth, grab your stash of mason jars, add a bit of DYI action and you have yourself a whole set of customized jars.

Supply List:
fat quarter of chalk cloth
pencil
ruler
rotary cutter or pinking shears
hot glue gun
lots of great jars
chalk marker pen (optional)

1. Measure your jar and mark your chalk cloth

2. Use rotary cutter or pinking shears to cut a nice edge along your chalk cloth.

3. Starting in the back of your jar, hot glue one end on to the jar.

4. Wrap and glue one of chalk cloth strip into place.

These and many more are just waiting for a place in the pretty new pantry.

Oilcloth Addict's Tutorial Roundup

Holiday Projects
Valentine Garland
Oilcloth Gift Envelope
Custom Chalk Cloth Table Topper
Fall Tablescape Idea
Chalk Cloth Holiday Gift Tag
No-Sew Round Tablecloth

School Time
Desk Dot
Chalk Cloth Chalk Board
Memory Game
Oilcloth Letters

Outdoor Projects
Chalk Cloth Menu Board
No-Sew Chalk Cloth Bunting
Oilcloth Picnic Blanket
Oilcloth Lining for Vintage Picnic Basket

Pantry Projects
Chalk and Oilcloth Tags
Chalk Cloth Labels for Mason Jars
Lazy Susan Oilcloth Liners
Oilcloth Lining for Baskets
How to line shelves with Oilcloth
Oilcloth Trays
Topping a Mason Jar with Oilcloth

Miscellaneous Craftiness
Crazy Oilcloth Rag Rug
Oilcloth Chain

The Oilcloth Alfresco Series, Chalk Cloth Menu Board

Well this tutorial is long over due tutorial.   It is an easy-peasy one, one I have wanted to do for two months now.   I started out with an old framed print that I found at Goodwill, while the print wasn't my style the frame was a good color and it was a perfect shape and size for the space.   I had hoped that I could find something in my attic because free is so much better than cheap but no luck, it you ask around I am sure you can find something free.   

Stuff you gotta have:

• 1/2 yard of chalk cloth 
• old framed print
• pliers
• screwdriver
• scissors 
• tape measure
• duck tape
• spray adhesive 

1)  Give your frame a good whip down and remove any screws and brads.  

2)  Pieces and parts... discard the print and your left with the plexi-glass and cardboard

3)  Use cardboard insert as template, cut chalk cloth an inch and a half larger then insert.

4)  Spray Mount the chalk cloth onto cardboard.  

5)  Do some fancy cutting and then tape corners around to the back of the cardboard insert.  Don't worry about the corners looking to perfect, they will be well hidden.  

6)  Cure your chalk cloth before put everything back together.  For full instructions see the "cure me" post!  

7)  Now it is time to slid it all back together.  Chalk Cloth/Cardboard combo goes in first and then the plexi-glass.  Bend the brads back in place locking the menu board into the frame.  

All that is left it to plan your menu and invite some of your close friends over it is BBQ time!  

Kelly's Easy-Peasy Potatoes 

Cut up new potatoes into bite size pieces.  Place in a bowl, salt (Kosher) and pepper to taste and toss with butter and fresh rosemary.   Using heavy-duty recycled foil  make a little potato packet.  Wrap it up tight and throw it on the grill about 10 minutes before the meat and it should be done by the time you have the table set.   Careful opening the package up, don't let the steam get ya!  

This was the first dish that I mastered when I started grilling.   A friend used to make it the summer I worked at St. Louis Opera.  We had nightly cookouts on our high-rise rooftop, while looking out across downtown, we had the best view of the Arch!    It was very fun, every night was a party!  Any way this dish still remains one of my favorite "go to" side dishes.