I couldn’t be more excited to share this first (of probably many) Christmas post with you. I had so much fun making these DIY Chalkboard Sign Ornaments and they are so pretty on the tree.
Sadly, I made these for the 2016 Ornament Exchange & Blog Hop so I’m sending these ornaments off to a new home. I really hope Sherry from Olives & Okra loves these DIY chalkboard sign ornaments as much as I do. You better believe I am planning on making some more for my tree too!
Welcome to the 2016 Ornament Exchange & Blog Hop! This year, there are 11 pairs of partners or 22 talented ladies participating in the exchange. The rules of the challenge were simple – create a handmade ornament for under $15 to exchange with a partner and create a tutorial to share on the blog hop!
When it came time to make my ornaments for the exchange, I will admit I had a hard time.
It has been so warm here (I am wearing shorts and a t-shirt while I write this) that I’m just not feeling much in the Christmas spirit. This morning on my Facebook memories, a picture of my kids decked out in their coats and snow gear knee deep in fresh snow came up.
Yep, this day 4 years ago we were shoveling a foot of snow off our cars and today I am putting up the Christmas tree hoping maybe it’ll start looking a little like Christmas.
After I got over my “It doesn’t feel like Christmas” problem, I realized that I could use the warm weather to my advantage.
I wouldn’t have been able to go outside and spray paint these chalkboard plaques in the snow! And that’s exactly what I did, I slipped on my flip flops and grabbed a can of chalkboard spray paint and the end result was just perfect.
So even if it doesn’t feel like Christmas where you are, maybe a few DIY Christmas ornaments will help you get in the spirit. It has definitely helped me out!
Read below to get the tutorial for these DIY Chalkboard Christmas ornaments (including the printable lettering template I used). Then make sure to check out some of the other fun homemade ornaments below!
How to Make DIY Chalkboard Sign Ornaments
Supplies:
- Small MDF plaques
- I used 7×2 inch and 4×3 inch ones for these ornaments.
- Drill
- Chalkboard spray paint
- Printable lettering template
- Chalk
- Chalk marker
- Craft or floral wire
- Wire cutters
Drill little holes in the top corners of your plaques. If you don’t have a drill, you could glue the wire on the back of the plaques, but I like any excuse to use power tools. Then spray paint the plaques with chalkboard paint. Make sure to get both the top, bottom, and all the sides well.
After the paint has dried, prime the chalkboard by rubbing a piece of chalk over the whole thing then erasing it off.
Print out the lettering template (or you can free hand your own sayings, but I am not good at free-hand lettering) and cut it out. Rub a piece of chalk all over the back of the template paper. Place the template paper on top of the primed plaque and trace the letters. A duller pencil is nice for this since it will give you a thicker line transferred onto the chalkboard ornament surface.
Once you have your cheat lines on the ornament, all you need to do is carefully fill them in with your chalkboard marker. If this is your first time using a chalkboard marker, take a minute to test it out on a piece of paper since they can have some quirks that you will need to get use to, and each brand is a little different.
When you have finished hand-drawing the lettering on the chalkboard ornaments, It is time to add the wire that will hang them on the tree. Cut a piece of wire about twice as long as the ornament. Thread an inch through the hole and wrap it around the each other at the top of the ornament. Then repeat on the other side. This will give you a nice arch or wire to hang your ornaments.
Now hang your DIY chalkboard sign ornaments on the tree and admire your handiwork! Or sadly package them up to send them to a new home. I am only sad because they turned out so great and I know they would look awesome on our tree this year. But there is still plenty of time to make more 🙂
Hopefully all this Christmas fun will remind the weather that it is the middle of November because I am dreaming of a white Christmas!
Also, I want you to meet these other amazing ladies who are participating in the ornament exchange this year. Make sure to stop by and say hello, you are going to love all the handmade ornaments they put together too!
Erlene ⋅ My Pinterventures || Kim · Made In A Day || Amanda · The Kolb Corner
Shirley · Intelligent Domesticatons || Michelle · Our Crafty Mom
Robin ·Redo It Yourself Inspirations || Sherry · Olives-n-Okra
Nicki · Sweet Parrish Place || Sherry · Savvy Apron || Megan · C’mon Get Crafty
Jelica · A Pretty Fix || Emily · Two Purple Couches || Christene · Keys to Inspiration
Kati · Houseful of Handmade || Beverly · Across the Blvd.
Jeanie · Create and Babble || Erin · Suburban Simplicity
Terri · Christmas Tree Lane || Maureen · Red Cottage Chronicles
Debra · Shoppe No. 5 || Donna · Two Chicks and A Mom || Pamela · Home On The Corner
FIND MORE HANDMADE ORNAMENT TUTORIALS BELOW AND SHARE YOURS TOO!
gigi says
Those are so cute! I’m hoping those plaques ship to France! I gotta do this! Thank you for the inspiration and the resource!
Kati says
I hope they ship too! But really you could any kind of wood. Have fun crafting.
Nicole says
I love chalkboard signs, so I definitely want to make your DIY chalkboard ornaments. They are so cute! Thanks for sharing your idea at the #HomeMattersParty
Kati says
You can never have too many chalkboard signs 😉
Iris Nacole says
I love these, and the links to the rest are pretty darn great too! Thank you for sharing this on the Creative Circle link party! 🙂
Kati says
Thanks Iris. I agree, there are so many great ornament ideas!
Sarah says
They are absolutely adorable!! I love anything chalkboard – it adds a such rustic-y feel!
Kati says
Me too, let’s chalkboard everything 🙂
Amy @ My Life From Home says
These would be cute gift toppers also!
Kati says
Love the idea of using them as gift toppers!
Roxanne says
I LOVE these, pinning!
Kati says
Thanks Roxanne 🙂
Meg @ Green With Decor says
These are adorable! Chalkboard paint is so much fun!
Kati says
I agree, I love chalkboard paint 😉
Michelle James says
Love all things chalkboard! These are awesome! Loved hopping with all of you!
Kati says
Thanks Michelle! I am in love with all things Chalkboard too. It was such a fun hop 🙂
Sarah says
These are just charming and would be so fun for a family Christmas tree.
Kati says
Thanks Sarah! You could even let the kids decorate their own if you wanted to.
Rachel says
These look great! I love chalkboard ornaments and they would go well on top of packages too.
Kati says
They would be so cute on top of packages and gifts for the season. Thanks for the great idea!
Emily says
I seem to be obsessed with chalkboard-style decorations this holiday season, so I am in LOVE with your ornaments! I need to make up a few for myself 🙂
Kati says
I seem to be obsessed with chalkboard decoration all the time 😉 Thank you Emily!
Beverly says
I love using chalkboard ornaments. Yours are great! Thanks for providing the printables, too.
Kati says
Thanks Beverly.
Amanda says
Those are so cute! I love how they look on the tree!
Kati says
Thanks Amanda!
Mary @ The Cofran Home says
Love love love all of these! The chalkboard ornament is SO cute! Awesome job, Kati! xo
Kati says
Thanks so much Mary!
Megan says
Love these chalkboard signs and seriously want to make one myself. This would be gorgeous on any tree!!
Kati says
Thanks Megan! I am in love with anything chalkboard 🙂
Leanna says
Super cute ornaments, I have white signs on my tree. I love the chalkboard ones as well. Pinning for next year.
Kati says
The white signs and the chalkboard sign together would be so great Leanna! Thanks for pinning.
Kim~madeinaday says
Super cute ornaments!! I like that you used chalk on the back of the paper to make the lettering! Great idea I will totally try.
Kim
Kati says
Thanks Kim! I am not so good at hand lettering so this is my secret.
Debrashoppeno5 says
These ornaments are wonderful. I love the rustic look. You got into the spirit as if it were snowing outside your window. They are so charming.
Kati says
Thanks! I am getting more in the spirit everyday. And the Christmas music I’ve been playing is helping too 🙂
pam smith says
Very cute! This could go with any decor. I am visiting from the Ornament Exchange.
Kati says
Thanks so much for visiting Pam. I love that they could go with anything, chalkboard is awesome that way 🙂
Erin - Suburban Simplicity says
So, so CUTE! These adorable chalkboard ornaments would look great on my tree! You did an outstanding job! Winter weather is upon us, so I didn’t need any inspiration there 🙂
Erlene Amat says
I love the chalkboard look. These would make such a pretty addition to any tree and as present toppers too.
Kati says
They would be awesome as present toppers! Such a good idea Erlene. Thanks for the wonderful blog hop this year 🙂
sherry cole says
I am loving all the chalkboard things used in Christmas decor. I will have to make some of these for gifts!!
Kati says
Thanks Sherry! These would definitely make great gifts. I am a huge fan of anything chalkboard 🙂
Jelica says
Okay, this is now on my to-do list! Such a clever idea to create a chalkboard ornament. I can see having fun changing up the words on it each year, if one wished to. Glad the warm weather did not dampen your creative spirits in the end 🙂
Kati says
Thanks Jelica! It would be fun to change things out each year. Your ornaments would always match your other decor 🙂