New Years Chalkboard
Happy New Years Eve everyone! I’m back, how was your Christmas break? Ours was great (minus the fever and stomach bug that briefly swept thru the house). It was nice to take a break and hang out with my kiddos, but you know I had to sneak a little DIY in there too. Here’s what I was up to…
I had so much fun with my New Years chalkboard, but I have to admit it was a little hard to part with the Christmas wreath chalkboard.
See kinda fun right? I love the sweet little birds…
and of course there has to be some bubbly!
I’ve had a lot of questions about how I go about my chalkboard art, so here are a few tricks I use.
First I found this Rilke quote on Pinterest via sarahearn.blogspot.com
late one night while I couldn’t sleep. I quickly sketched out this idea on a piece of scratch paper on my nightstand (by the light of my iPad so I didn’t wake the snoozing Mr.)
Yeah, I know it just looks like chicken scratch. I never totally have it figured out until I start working on it.
I once again hit up Pinterest (what did we ever do before Pinterest??) and search “Fonts” to find a few I like. Then I just do my best to recreate them by hand on the chalkboard. The cursive is just my handwriting (well my “neat someone needs to actually read this” handwriting anyways).
After that I googled “clip art for doves” to get some ideas for the birdies. I sort of combined a few different ones to get the look that I wanted.
I draw it out lightly on the board first before going back to add more detail.
Another tip – a cheapie tackle box (you can see my purple one above) make the best art supplies organizers.
You can see how big the chalkboard is in this picture. It is at the top of my stairs and makes it very difficult for me to photograph from a good angle. I asked the Mr. if he would stand on the stairs with me on his shoulders, so I could get a good photo, but he was not ready to break his neck for the sake of my blog (where is his level of commitment??)
I’m still dreaming up some elaborate harness/bungee system so I can hang from the ceiling and go all Tom Cruise in Mission Impossible, but until then I’ll just have to deal with my awkward camera angles.
That is about as festive as we are getting New Years Eve. We decided to stay in with the kiddos this year and just relax and make some appetizers (recipes coming soon) and of course drink some champagne!
What are your plans for the night?
PS It finally SNOWED here!!!
I’ve got some happy little snow bunnies :)
Linking up at the Dedicated House
Alderberry Hill
Clean & Scentsible
Cozy Little House
Savvy Southern Style
StoneGable
Jennifer Rizzo
Craftberry Bush
Tatertots and Jello
It’s so pretty! Love the little snow bunnies as well. Thank you for sharing this at the Make it Pretty Monday party at The Dedicated House. Hope to see your prettiness again on Monday. Toodles, Kathryn @TheDedicatedHouse
I love it!!! I’ve been putting off erasing my Christmas chalkboard wall because I didn’t know what I wanted to put on it now! You just helped me out! Pinning this! Thanks so much for sharing!
Jenna @ rainonatinroof.com
You always have the best chalkboards and make it look so easy!! Wishing you a wonderful 2013 – hope you had fun in the snow with your kiddos! I’ll be featuring this on Sunday over on Clean and Scentsible. Have a great weekend!
Jenn
It’s very cute! I am a sucker for chalkboard! happy new year!
I am always in love with your chalkboards! They are so beautiful and I am so amazed that you can do them by hand. Can you come over and do mine?! I am seriously about to print out a stencil for my New Years one :)
I need to find a larger space for a chalkboard. I think I made it hard by having it too small and I never thought of using Pinterest to find fonts! Thanks for the inspiration. Do you have a favorite brand of chalk you use?
I love your chalkboard and now I realize why mine never turn as beautiful as yours. You actually sketch it out in advance. I don’t have one as large as yours, but I will follow your method from now on.
Great tutorial! I LOVE your New Year’s Eve chalkboard! So pretty! Happy New Year to you!
Karen
Thanks for the tutorial! I think I could actually do this! I love the saying you used, too. Hope your New Year is full of wonderful happenings! Thanks again!
I absolutely love your huge chalkboard…and your art…but most of all….
I love your little snow bunnies…:))
I LOVE this! I really want to chalkboard paint something this year! I saw you over at Savy Southern Style and I am your latest follower. I hope you come over and check out my blog too! http://www.mendezmanor.com
You so need to come and do my chalkboard!
Of course, I LOVE your chalkboard!! So pretty! And your snow bunnies are even more adorable! I hope you are enjoying your lovely snow :)
Happy NEw Year Kelly!!! Your one talented gal, I just love your chalkboards! Your little ones are so cute. Wishing for a little snow myself:).Wishing you all the best for 2013! JEN
Your chalkboards are amazing. Those snow bunnies are the cutest!!
You must have such patience to be able to complete these beautiful chalkboards. I’m just in awe of your talent!!
Love your chalkboards! Great work and talent!!
This is absolutely lovely! Your chalkboard is so artistic! :) Wishing you and your loved ones a very Happy New Year my dear!
Hugs,
Very pretty! It is a BIG chalkboard, but once again you created an outstanding job! Thanks for the tips!
Happy New Year!
Wow! I didn’t think you could top that Christmas chalk art , but this might have done it! I love the pennants and the banner. well done!
I love it! AND…you are amazingly talented! I don’t have the talent or patience to do all that by hand! Well done! :)
Allison