I've never really been what I would consider an artist, but I have always loved writing notes, cards, and signs with pretty lettering. Thanks to a lesson from a friend I've elevated my skill and created several gifts for some sweet friends.
While you can use this lettering on just about everything, I LOVE chalkboards and have turned some of these into fun creations. If you love chalkboards as much as I do check out the post: Week-by-Week Pregnancy Chalkboards.
Not only do these adorable chalkboards make a good gift, but they also are a great party decor. I recently used one at my son's The BIG "One": A Fishing-Themed First Birthday Party to add a little decoration to the treat table.
Without any further ado, here's the skinny on creating modern calligraphy.
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Supplies:
- Newspaper or Easel
- Wood Craft Plaques/ Canvases
- Chalkboard Paint
- Chalk
- Chalk Pen
- Magic Eraser
1. Purchase a pre-made chalkboard or make your own.
To make your own board, you can purchase wood craft plaques or canvases and paint the board/canvas with chalkboard paint. While this is the cheaper option if you plan to make multiples, know that this is not the quickest option.
Use an easel or spread your board/canvas out on an old sheet or newspaper. You will need to do 2-3 coats of chalkboard paint to completely cover the board/canvas. Allow the paint to dry before applying the next coat. Be very careful that the edges of your board/canvas don't adhere to the newspaper or you will have a sticky mess.
Allow your board to thoroughly dry before moving on to step 2.
2. Lightly apply your lettering in basic chalk.
This step is important because it allows you to make mistakes without a lot of heartache. You may want to practice your lettering before setting out to design your chalkboard. Use the magic eraser to get rid of any unwanted marks.
A trick to modern calligraphy is to mix up your delicate letters with your block letters. A mix gives your design more dimension.
For this step, apply your lettering softly or once you are done creating your design take a dry cloth and rub away your design so that it is very light on your board. This makes it easier to apply the chalk pen and keeps the chalk hidden.
A trick to modern calligraphy is to mix up your delicate letters with your block letters. A mix gives your design more dimension.
For this step, apply your lettering softly or once you are done creating your design take a dry cloth and rub away your design so that it is very light on your board. This makes it easier to apply the chalk pen and keeps the chalk hidden.
3. Use the chalk pen to finalize your lettering.
Now comes the fun part-- finalizing your design. Use a chalk pen to trace your pre-written lettering. The trick to modern calligraphy is to double up on your down strokes. Any time that you would move the pen down, do it twice to create a thicker line.
4. Add design elements.
Get creative! Throw in whatever else your heart desires. You may want to practice these designs before actually putting pen to chalkboard. Simple is usually better, so don't get too crazy, but this is your chance to make it your own.
5. Clean up any imperfections.
Once your chalk pen has dried you can clean up any smudges or boo boos you've made. Be very careful not to erase your actual design, but you can use a dry towel to clean up any chalk residue, or a wet magic eraser to get rid of unwanted chalk pen spots.
XO,
P.S. Feeling crafty? Check out these other projects:
String Art Tutorial
How to Make Personalized Coasters with Tiles and Mod Podge
DIY: How to Distress Furniture
