Last week we shared a headboard that we turned into a chalkboard, and I thought I’d share my trick for creating pretty lettering with chalk.
I’m not someone who can freehand pretty lettering, so this technique was a game changer for me.
Step By Step Instructions For Creating Pretty Chalkboard Lettering
1.) If your chalkboard is brand new, start by rubbing chalk all over it then wiping it off. This seasons the chalkboard. If you skip this step, the first time you write on the chalkboard you’ll have a really hard time completely erasing whatever you wrote.
2.) Print the image or wording you want to write on your chalkboard onto regular copy paper. You can find a pre-made image online or create your own in Microsoft Word or at Picmonkey.com.
3.) *Optional: if you have a large chalkboard and need an image bigger than you can print on a single sheet of paper, you can use blockposters.com to create and print larger images for free on your home printer. Read my tutorial for using blockposters.com here.
If you’re using blockposters.com, your image will print onto multiple sheets of paper. This is what your image will look like once printed.
You’ll just need to trim the edges and tape the sheets together. Only place tape on blank sections of the paper, making sure you’re not taping over the image. I used painters tape so it’s easy to readjust without tearing the paper. It’ll look like this when you’re done.
4.) Next rub chalk all over the back side of the paper. You really only need to get chalk on the areas where the image is. So if there are large blank sections on your image, no need to rub chalk there. In my image above, for instance, almost the entire top left sheet of paper is blank so I only chalked the bottom corner where the top of the H is.
5.) Place the paper face-up (chalk side down) onto your chalkboard. I sort of hover the paper over the chalkboard while I eyeball it and get it centered. Then place the paper straight down onto the chalkboard without moving it around too much. You’ll transfer chalk from the back of your paper every time you move it. When you have the paper lined up where you want it, you can use painters tape on the corners to hold it in place if needed.
6.) Use a pencil to trace the letters onto the chalkboard. Press firmly with the pencil and just trace all the way around each letter. This will transfer a light chalk outline onto your chalkboard. Try not to push or rub the side of your hand across the paper as you go because you’ll transfer chalk in every place you press. When you’re done, it’ll look like this.
7.) See how there’s a nice outline of the image? Now you just have to fill it in with chalk.
Read Our Tutorial For How To DIY A Chalkboard From An Old Headboard (Pictured Above)
Alternate Method
I realize most people don’t have an overhead projector, but I’m adding this method anyway because it’s one I like to use often. If you have an overhead projector, you can print your image onto transparency paper and simply project it onto the chalkboard. Trace the outline with chalk and fill it in.
I hope you found this helpful! If you liked this tutorial I would appreciate it so much if you pinned it!
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Amy – you’ve done it again…another fantastic tutorial! Thanks so much for sharing your lettering tips!
Thanks for saying that, Vicki and Jenn!! xo
Amy – I CANNOT THANK YOU ENOUGH for this! I am a wedding planner and I also have a wedding rental business (vintage items) and I am asked to create chalkboards a lot. I can do a handful of styles of lettering, but sometimes I get requests for some very different fonts that I have a hard time duplicating by hand. This is PERFECT and will allow me to expand my vintage sign business for brides! You’re the BEST!!
Denise – Virginia Beach
Denise I love reading this!! I’m so glad it’ll be helpful to you. Btw, your business sounds so fun!!
Thanks for the tutorial–I will try this on a chalkboard I have in my vintage shop space. If it looks pretty, I’m sure it will help to sell it!
I do this to write cute stuff on all the chalkboards we sell in our booth and I really do think it helps them sell and stages everything nicer!
Have to tell you that I have been putting pretty lettering on the chalkboards in my space and they have been selling very well! Thanks again for your tutorial!
That’s awesome, Ruth Anne! Thank you for stopping back to tell me! xo
Thank you so much for the great tutorial! What brand of chalk do you use for your lettering? I’m having a hard time with small lettering with the chalk I’m using.
Hi Lauri! I just use regular crayola chalk or whatever I find at the craft store, and I have the same problem you do. I tried a chalk marker but depending on your chalkboard surface it’s almost impossible to erase them, so I just do the best I can with regular chalk. If you find an alternative that’s easier to use please let me know!
I am just starting to play with chalk markers and I didn’t know to season a board first! I read somewhere to use windex and my chalk markers came off my unseasoned board very easily thank goodness!
Great tutorial, Amy. Love your sign.
Thank you, Donna!! xo
I have used Block Posters so many times thanks to your recommendation and I LOVE it! Thanks for always sharing your best tips and tricks. They’re all invaluable! Hugs, CoCo
Thank you, CoCo! Hope you have a great weekend! xo
Love this tutorial, Amy! My lettering skills are not something I’m proud of and this would help so much! Especially since I always have so many ideas on what to add to my chalkboard!
Same here, Kendra! My freehand is always crooked and sloppy. So glad you liked the post :).
Hi Amy,
I didn’t know about Blockposters.com, but that’s a useful site. I’m like you, I’m not the kind that can just freehand a design on something. This is a great guide for a project I have in mind. Thanks so much!
Thanks, Florence! Can’t wait to see your project!
You absolutely ROCK!!! Thank you so much for this tip!!! I LOVE it and can’t wait to try it!! Thank you!!!
So glad you found it helpful!! xo
I find it so interesting that in our society of manufactured goods, computers, cell phones etc (school doesn’t even teach cursive writing any more!), we find on pinterest how to make new look old and handwritten on chalkboards!! Must mean that the old furniture and handwritten chalkboard school days of my mother’s life must have been beautiful as young people are obviously impressed enough with it to try to recreate that in their lives. How my mother would chuckle if she could see it today! She had tried so hard to make her old tables, benches and cupboards look better and today many try to make new look old! If I could only take you to our old house and find old tables, lamps, boards, pails – yoou could have authentic, not crafted from new!
For overhea projector, don’t you have to print your words backwards??
Hi Sharon! You do not have to print it backwards. However, if you would need a mirror image of the words for some reason you would only need to flip the paper over since it’s printed on a clear film.
Gotcha. Thanks for the reply!!