chalkboard photo prop tutorial {and giveaway!}

Three cheers for back-to-school! I love the school supplies, the ushering in of fall, and the extra time to get things done while my kids are gone. Am I a mean mom? I have friends who cry when their kids go back (love you Melynie!), but aside from a little blubbering as they walk into the school, it's a good day for me. So I think we should celebrate with a giveaway!

But back to the school supplies for a minute--did I mention I love chalk? I do. I love it. But I have you ever tried to find a box of white chalk at back-to-school time? It's nearly impossible. After trying Walmart, Hobby Lobby, Michael's, Target, and JoAnn, my husband finally tracked down a box at Office Max. What a sweetie. He knew I needed it for these darling chalkboard photo props for my kids' first day of school.

 

I started with these blank MDF signs I got from my friend Holly of the Say Hello Shop. She is amazing! She's a talented illustrator  and her shop is full of fun finished pieces and unfinished projects for home decor and entertaining. Here's a quick tutorial for how to take these unfinished signs and turn them into fun photo props!

How to Make a Chalkboard Photo Prop

Supplies:

*Blank wood sign like these from Say Hello Shop

*Chalkboard paint (I used Martha Stewart's)

*Foam brush

*Chalk

1. Paint your board with an even layer of the chalkboard paint. Allow to dry and repeat until your board is completely covered (I did 3 coats total). Allow to cure for 24 hours (or whatever your paint recommends). 

2. When your paint has cured, season your chalkboard before using it. To do this, rub chalk over the entire surface. If you don't, the first thing you write on it will stay there for-ev-er.

Now it's time to practice your cursive writing! There has been a lot of chalkboard art going around Pinterest lately--I wish I had the handwriting of some of these people! But alas. I used my best handwriting, then shaded a little on the downstrokes.

We couldn't leave the baby out!

My kids went crazy for the speech bubble chalkboard. I told my 8-year-old he could write whatever you want and this is what I got. Goofball. 

Fun, right? What's even more fun is that we're giving away this set of MDF signs from the Say Hello Shop! You can paint them with chalkboard paint, cover them with patterned paper, or leave them blank--it's up to you. 

To enter, visit Say Hello Shop and leave us a comment with the item you love most in her shop. Be sure to do it by Saturday, September 8, 2012 at 11:59pm PT. Here are a few of my favorites. . .

Good luck!