How To Stencil With Chalk! {tips to get it right}

Last week I shared the Kitchen Cabinet Makeover that I did using a Anna Damask Cutting Edge Stencil and chalk.

Today I’d like to share How To Stencil With Chalk! {tips to get it right}

I wanted to take a few minutes to share what I learned while using chalk to fill in a stencil design. I though it might help if you want to try it too. I’ll start from the beginning since that makes the most sense. I have KraftMaid Cabinets. I wanted white. Due to budget constraints, I did not get the white cabinets I wanted. Wait. Too far back?

Anyhow… that would be another blessing in disguise,  because the cabinets I did get are a better quality then the white I had planned on. Note to self; Remember this… “it almost always works out for the best”. 

Silver lining, silver lining, silver lining. haha

One day last week’ish, I decided  I would go for it and paint a section of my cabinets white. They are on the far side of the kitchen. The perfect test area. I used Maison Blanche La Craie paint in Magnolia (white) and painted the upper cabinets. I liked it, so I kept going, but I painted the cabinet backs  in La Craie’s Wrought Iron (black). It’s a calcium carbonate based paint so my Wrought Iron back acts just like a chalkboard. I had a plan. Shocker right? But I did!

I was going to stencil a design on the cabinet backs. And it worked!

Here are some tips I can share with you;

1. Wait the recommended amount of time  for your paint to cure. I actually (I do not condone this) got my hair dryer out and literally watched the paint dry before my eyes. It was completely awesome! I did still let it sit overnight though before I seasoned it.

A Chalkboard Being Seasoned

2. Next, “Season” your chalkboard surface. This prevents ghosting. To season, get a stick of chalk and hold it sideways, rub the entire surface from top to bottom & side to side with the chalk. I also went criss-cross and everything in between. I wanted it thoroughly seasoned.

A Successfully Seasoned Chalkboard

3. After you’ve seasoned, wipe all that chalk off with a soft, dry cloth . Choose something lint free. Do not use paper towels. Afterwards, I vacuumed the bottom shelf to remove all the chalk dust. It makes a bit of a mess.

4. Stenciling; If you decide to move forward and go the stencil route on your new, perfectly seasoned chalkboard, start from the top. That way, any fine dust will fall into an area you have not already worked on.

Learn from me. I started at the bottom.

5. You want to ensure your stencil is level while you work. I used my yellow level. It’s lightweight and I love it! I keep it in the house and about growl when Jim wants to use it! Anyhow, I leveled off my stencil when I taped it up for my first pass, and then second repeat pattern. I used Scotch Blue Painters Tape to secure my stencil.

6. How to chalk in your stencil; Outline each small stencil shape and fill in as you go. (this is where the fine dust fell behind the stencil) I did not try using a stencil adhesive because of the nature of the paint I was working on. I was not sure, since it does not have a “finish” on it, if the adhesive would damage the paint.

7. If you are working on a vertical, stationary surface; After the first stencil section was done. I had my husband bring me the air compressor with the fine nozzle. This was a major game changer. I lightly blasted off the fine dust that I did not want marring my design. Then, with with the second section I worked on, as I finished I did a few quick bursts and 99% off the dust was blown away. This helped avoid the “over spray” look. Note; I tried a hair dryer first but it was not strong or concentrated enough. I think canned air like you use to clean your keyboard might work if an air compressor is not handy. Also, the craft brush worked, but that would be fairly tedious and I am not patient enough for that. 

8. Making it permanent; You might love your new design so much, you want it to last. A reader suggested misting with a light touch of hair spray if you are worried about the chalk smearing. Mine is out of the way and I don’t have to worry about it so I did not test this theory. I do think if you wanted this to be more permanent, that you could tape off and protect the surrounding area and mist with a fine poly spray to set, then fully cover by applying multiple layers.

Whew! I hope you got a useful tip or two out of me sharing what I learned when I did a stencil design with chalk, or learned how to season a chalkboard. And if not, pretend you learned something anyway just to make me happy.

If you have any questions that I did not address make sure and let me know, I’ll do my best to answer it if I can. 

As always, loved sharing with you!

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The Frugal Girls, The DIY Showoff

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