Chalk It Up

On a whim, I asked my better half whether it was possible to paint the pantry door with chalkboard paint.  I immediately received a lecture about chalk dust, cleaning, messes, and any other obvious issues associated with having a large surface area receptive to chalk in a key living space.  I acknowledged that, although it was a whim, I had thought of all those things, thank you very much.  Further, I was only asking whether it would work . . . not for permission.  Heh heh heh.

DH picked up chalkboard paint the next day and removed the door off the hinges.  He realized that it was actually a good idea - particularly since we plan to update the kitchen in a few years.  As such, no harm in ruining an interior door that will probably get pitched! Even so - I was grateful for his immediate action!

I spent a whole day working on it - following the instructions to the letter.  I sanded the door with 220 grit paper, washed it and dried thoroughly.  I used a small three-inch roller and it worked great.  I applied 3 coats over the course of 14 or so hours and was very satisfied with the result.

I waited 3 days before priming the surface with white chalk. This weekend, now that it has fully set (7 days), I made a stencil for Halloween using contact paper and my Silhouette.  It turned out great!

The trick with the stencil is to run the chalk over the space and wipe/smudge the color into all the areas.  Then go back over it in a circular motion.  Remove the interior spaces of the stencil first, and the outline last.  These are all SIL designs from the store.

Freezer Paper - Yesss!

The importance of reading and comprehension is limitless.  Since my Handmade manifesto a few years ago, I find myself constantly trolling the internet (mostly Pinterest) to gather ideas.  I've seen the words "freezer paper stencil" several times but completely glazed over how/why DIYers were using it.  I finally stopped and read it carefully.  And understood.  And promptly purchased a roll from Walmart.

Freezer paper + Silhouette machine = Awesome.  Here is a great tutorial.

These are three shirts I made for the kids for a family zoo trip.  Font is Rockbiter from SIL store, and all the images are from the SIL store as well.  All fabric ink I use is Speedball - as far as I'm concerned, there is no comparison!

I need to experiment with and learn more about this process. I'm not convinced that the freezer paper is superior to a screen print (see my earlier posts).  I've primarily noticed that it is difficult to evenly paint - at least for t-shirts - because the fabric stretches as you paint.  

Pointers/Reminders:

• For shirts - always launder the shirt first.  The fabric paint may not 'take' even if set on a new t-shirt.  
• Follow the instructions about layout, shiny side down for cutting, etc.  And double-check it.  
• Come up with a system for the stray bits -- you'll lose them quickly if you aren't paying attention.  
• When ironed down, the paper can still be pulled up inadvertently when painting.  This is particularly troublesome for the 'stray bits'.  I've pulled up a circle or two.  
• I've only used sponge brushes, and tried both a daubing and brushing technique.  The daubing technique has produced more stray-bit-disasters.  So far I don't think either is superior when doing it carefully.  
• I have small boards that I use under the fabric - I spray them with a repositionable adhesive and stretch the shirt best I can, and tape it down to prevent movement.  I use additional tape all over the design to prevent spills or related clumsiness mishaps.  
• Speedball ink that has dried but hasn't set can be washed out (see mishaps comment above).  Ice it to lift and assure you don't heat set it.  Then apply stain remover and wash as usual.  I've been pretty successful using that approach.  
• I've had the most luck (i.e., crispest lines) after waiting for the entire design to dry before taking off the paper.  This also cuts back on the mishaps . . . 

Proxy Handmade.

I've decided that one of the key reasons I cannot get studio quality photos of my 3 year old is because *he is a toddler*.  I have a high quality camera with many wonderful lenses.  I have ideas!  But he doesn't sit still for things and is outrageously independent.  This picture illustrates the point on many levels.

Octo-Saur?

I sent an instructional link to my mom asking her to make a dinosaur tail for my toddler.  She had some leftover fabric and made 4 different tails so Toddler could select one.  Of course, the minute she dropped off these adorable creations - the Toddler was uninterested because, well, he just felt like being uninterested.  Finally he started wearing one and flipped it up and pretended to poop everywhere - like a dinosaur. OK, so that was pretty funny.  I was hoping to get some nice photos of him and he jumped and ran all over, wouldn't stay in the nice lighting, or still, wouldn't look at the camera, and then took off the tail.  He then proceeded to knock things over with the tail in his hand.  

After that, he wanted to put on all 4 tails and run around and twirl.  Again, all these things are very funny and we were all cracking up.  So I wasn't going to try to get another nice photo but decided to enjoy the hilarity instead.  I snapped a few iPhone photos and that was about it.  Because if he knows I want a nice photo, staged, with him smiling and a dinosaur tail on for added cuteness, that ain't happenin' on his watch.  Oh well.  

More importantly, the dino tail was awesome.  Great way to use up some leftover fabric.   Cheers!