I’ll be honest I have HORRIBLE handwriting. In school I was that girl who practiced her bubble lettering and swirly calligraphy for hours only for everyone else’s to look a million times better (you know actually legible).

So years ago when my husband and I got married few of my self-imposed DIYs terrified me as much as the chalkboards. So I got crafty and developed a pretty much fool proof easy way to have picture perfect chalkboard lettering time after time. Years later I still use my chalkboard lettering hack across many of my various projects.

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Time: 30 minutes for a small sign

Materials

• A Computer and Printer
• Fine Point Bistro Chalk Marker
• Chalk
• Painter’s Tape
• A Light Colored Pencil
• Chalkboard

First you will need to design and print the words or designs for your sign. Then if working with a small chalkboard cut the paper containing your design to slightly smaller than the chalkboard.

hint: For larger signs you will cut the design into manageable sections as needed. 

On the back of your printed design go over the text pressing firmly with a piece of chalk. I typically go over it twice to make sure it is all covered.

hint: While I personally wouldn’t advise going over the whole paper with chalk because it can cause random smudges, don’t worry about being too perfect. Just make sure the letter/ design is covered completely.

Shake off any extra chalk over a trash can.

Use small pieces of painter’s tape to secure the paper to the chalkboard with the “print” facing out (so you can read it). If working with a larger chalkboard/design space out the precut pieces as you want them and tape them individually to the chalk board.

Go over the design with a light colored pencil (I prefer light so I can see where I have covered).

Remove the paper and you can see you have transferred the design!

hint: At this stage you will have almost IMMACULATE results if working on a completely smooth chalkboard. The one I am using for this demo is actually a roughly painted faux chalkboard so the transfer is a little rough but the next step will transform it completely!

Using the Fine Point Bistro Chalk Marker outline and fill in the design. This is an important step for a few reasons

1. It allows you to fill in any small gaps that may have been left in the transfer.
2. It makes the design a much brighter white.
3. It improves the longevity of the design because the Bistro Chalk Marker won’t smudge anywhere near as easily!

If there are any errant smudges use a slightly damp thin brush or a damp paper towel to clean them up.

And there you have it a practically perfect chalkboard sign without having to retry your hand at writing it a gazillion times!

Obviously this was a small seasonal project but the same concept can be used on chalkboards of ANY size. Below are a few examples of larger chalkboard signs from our wedding which were made using the exact same technique!

I truly hope this hack helps expand your crafting world (I know it did for me)!