How To Make A Chalkboard Pillow

Chalkboard art is one of my favorite types of projects to create. Last year, Pottery Barn came out with some chalkboard pillow covers that were so cute. They came back with them again this year and I just had to recreate my own version. This was a fun and easy project.

Supplies needed:

• black fabric to make the pillow cover
• stencil
• white  fabric paint
• foam brush

First I designed the  pillow in Cricut Design space. I used a font that was already in my computer plus some images I owned through Cricut cartridges.  I made the design fit in the 12 x 12 space.  Then for my first try, I cut out a heavy card stock with my Cricut Explore to use as my stencil. Not a good idea. The card stock moved and my paint was all over the place. Do not use card stock for a stencil. I did read that freezer paper was good. I don’t own any so onto the next best thing. Vinyl contact paper.

This worked perfectly. I weeded out all the pieces I didn’t need. Then used transfer tape and was able to stick the design to my black fabric. No worries.

I only wanted to use paint I already owned and Tulip Dimensional Fabric Paint was all I had. So, I squirted the paint onto the stencil and used a foam brush to pat the paint onto the fabric. Then to give the paint a more chalkboard effect, I swept the foam brush across the stencil.  This paint when brushed didn’t puff up. Good because I sure didn’t want a puffy effect.

Ideally, I should have waited for the paint to dry before removing the vinyl. But I just couldn’t wait to see the results. I really should have waited because when removing the vinyl I kind of smeared some lettering.  Nothing a black sharpie marker can’t fix.  I did iron the  whole piece of fabric to set the paint although the paint directions didn’t say to do that.

After allowing the paint to properly dry, I  sewed my creation into a pillow cover. Ta da!!

I love knock off projects. What knock off have you tried or want to?