AllFreeChristmasCrafts Giveaway: Black Chalkboard Paint

October 25, 2013 by AllFreeChristmasCrafts 6 Comments

Black Chalkboard Paint Giveaway

Christmas crafting is always more fun when the crafts have a personal touch, and black chalkboard paint is the perfect way to achieve that handmade feel. Not only can you use this versatile paint to color gift boxes, ornaments, Christmas decorations, and more, but you can then write on the painted project with chalk! Tailor these crafts to any occasion or person you’d like, because you can draw any appropriate words or images on your chalkboard paint craft creations. AllFreeChristmasCrafts is giving away three cans of Krylon’s Black Chalkboard Paint! You could win!

The chalkboard paint is incredibly easy to use. Select your wood, metal, glass, plaster, or ceramic surface, apply two coats, and wait approximately 24 hours for the paint to fully dry. Follow the detailed instructions on the back of the can to create a slate-like chalkboard surface of up to twelve square feet per can. If you love the look of a chalkboard surface, you will love the results you will get from using this fabulous paint. Personalize your Christmas projects to perfection when you use chalkboard paint to create a unique writing surface.

AllFreeChristmasCrafts.com is giving away three cans of Krylon’s Black Chalkboard Paint to a lucky winner. You could win!

Learn more and enter to win here.

Contest ends November 5, 2013. You can enter once daily, return often to improve your chances of winning!

AllFreeChristmasCrafts Giveaway: Green Chalkboard Paint

October 9, 2013 by AllFreeChristmasCrafts 8 Comments

Chalkboards in classrooms are becoming more and more obsolete. In fact, have you heard of “smart boards”? Soon chalkboards and dry erase boards will become a thing of the past. Yet chalkboards still have a variety of uses in the Christmas crafting world. Chalkboard paint crafts are only increasing in popularity. Craft ideas featuring green chalkboard paint continue to spring into existence, and why wouldn’t they? Not only can crafters paint the projects, but when finished, they can draw temporary designs on them with chalk. AllFreeChristmasCrafts is giving away three cans of Krylon’s Green Chalkboard Paint! You could win!

Chalkboard paint crafts are particularly popular in Christmas crafting because there are so many ornament crafts, gift wrap ideas, and handmade Christmas decorations that work well with chalkboard paint. For example, you can make a creative gift box with chalkboard paint. You would first paint a papier mache box with chalkboard paint, and then decorate the box with chalk. Write out the name of the loved one who will be receiving the gift, and feel free to add chalk drawings of Christmas trees, angels, and whatever other Christmas icons you’d like. That is just one example of a Christmas craft that is made so much more unique with chalkboard paint.

AllFreeChristmasCrafts.com is giving away three cans of Krylon’s Green Chalkboard Paint to a lucky winner. You could win!

Learn more and enter to win here.

Contest ends October 22, 2013. You can enter once daily, return often to improve your chances of winning!

2-in-1 Art Tote from Made By Marzipan: National Sewing Month 2013

September 8, 2013 by AllFreeSewing 48 Comments

It’s Day Eight of National Sewing Month! Too see the daily blog posts, projects of the day, and more National Sewing Month details, click here.

Hello! Maureen here from Made By Marzipan. Don’t you love it when you discover something new to sew with? When I spotted this chalkboard utility fabric at JoAnn, I couldn’t resist buying some… even though I had no idea what I’d do with it! Luckily I have a few little artists, who inspired me to stitch up a 2-in-1 Art Tote. One side is a chalkboard, and the other is a dry erase board. A pouch in the middle holds the chalk, marker, and an erasing cloth. Ribbon handles make it easy to carry.

2-in-1 Art Tote

Supplies:

Outer fabric (16.5 x 8.5 in)

Iron-on interfacing (16.5 x 8.5 in)

Inner fabric, white (9 x 8.5 in)

Chalkboard fabric (9 x 8.5 in)

Iron-on vinyl (1 yd)

Velcro

Large button & Hair Elastic (optional)

Chalk & dry erase markers

Flannel fabric scrap for erasing

Supply Tips:

I bought the chalkboard fabric at JoAnn, you can find it by the utility fabrics. I purchased the iron-on vinyl from WalMart, it’s kept by the bolts of interfacing.

How To:

1) Begin by cutting a piece of outer fabric and a piece of iron-on interfacing to 16.5 x 8.5 in. Iron the interfacing to the back of the fabric.

2) Cut a piece of inner fabric (white), a piece of chalkboard fabric, and a piece of iron-on vinyl to 9 x 8.5 in.

3) Prime the chalkboard fabric by coloring the entire surface with a piece of chalk. Wipe off the chalk and the fabric is ready to use.

4) Add the iron-on vinyl to the inner (white) fabric piece. Peel the backing off the vinyl and adhere to the front of the fabric. Lay the paper backing on top of the vinyl and iron. Be very careful not to touch the vinyl with the iron.

5) Repeat the steps with the two inner pocket pieces (white). This will make the interior of the pocket easy to clean if necessary. The pocket pieces should each measure 7×6 in.

Creating the Pocket

6) Next we’ll create the pocket. You should have two inner pocket pieces with vinyl. You will also need to cut two 7×6 inch pieces for the outside of the pocket, using the outer fabric.

7) Pin a piece of Velcro to the middle of each vinyl pocket piece, about 1 inch from the top short edge. Sew the Velcro in place.

8) Now layer the pocket pieces together. First put an inner vinyl piece face down. Then comes an outer fabric face up. Next is the remaining outer fabric face down. Finally, add the other inner vinyl piece face up.

9) Pin together and sew with a 1/4 inch seam, leaving the top edge open. Begin sewing about a 1/2 inch from the top edge so it’s easy to turn under later.

10) Trim the corners, then turn right side out. Poke out the corners with a blunt tool.

11) Turn the raw top edges inward and pin. Sew around the top edge with a 1/8 inch seam. You don’t want to sew the pocket shut, so you’ll need to rotate the fabric as you sew.

12) Sandwich the pocket piece between the chalkboard fabric and the vinyl-covered fabric. Sew together along the left side with a 1/2 in. seam. (It’s a good idea to trim this inner seam to about a 1/4 inch so the tote will lay flatter.)

Adding Ribbon Handles

13) Next we’ll add the ribbon handles. You’ll need about 22 inches of ribbon. Fold under the raw edge of the ribbon and begin pinning in the center of the outer fabric piece. It should be two or three inches away from the side, depending on the width of your ribbon.

14) Make a loop that extends past the edge of the tote to create the handle. Add a pin about an inch from the edge of the fabric to remind yourself to stop sewing here… otherwise your handles will get caught within your seams later.

15) Sew the ribbon in place, first down the outer edge of the ribbon, then along the inner edge. Remember to stop sewing an inch away from the edge of the fabric.

Button Closure (Optional)

16) Now it’s time for the button closure. (This is optional, since the pocket has Velcro.) To add the button closure, pin a hair elastic to the center of one short end of the outer piece. The elastic should be pointing inward. If the elastic has a metal clasp, extend it past the edge of the fabric and you can trim it later.

17) Sew in place with a zig-zag stitch and a 1/4 inch seam. Backstitch for durability. Trim off the excess elastic.

18) Sew a button on the opposite short end of the tote. Make sure you place it far enough down that it won’t interfere with your seams. A button without a shank provides a smoother drawing surface.

Assembling the Tote

19) It’s finally time to assemble our tote! Pin the handles down, towards the center of the tote, so they won’t get caught in the seams. Layer the two pieces right sides together and pin.

20) Sew around the edges with a 1/2 inch seam, remembering to leave a 4-inch hole along the top edge of the vinyl page for turning. Trim the corners and turn right side out.

21) Turn the edges of the hole inward and pin. Topstitch all the way around the tote with a 1/8 inch seam.

22) Top-stitching between the pages will help the book to lay flatter.

Add dry erase markers, chalk, and a piece of flannel for an eraser to the center pocket. Now your little artist can create anywhere!

Be sure to check out Maureen’s blog, where she makes all kinds of crafty creations at Made By Marzipan!

Have you ever used chalkboard fabric?

Saturday Special: Get those Christmas Wrapping Materials Organized!

June 15, 2013 by AllFreeChristmasCrafts Leave a Comment

Yes, it’s June, so you probably don’t want to see a blog post from AllFreeChristmasCrafts right now. But I’ll bet that your Christmas wrap is in shambles right now, shoved left and right in every crevice of your basement. Gift tags are mixed with bows are mixed with ribbon. You couldn’t find those Little Chalkboard Gift Tags if you tried.

Never fear, unorganized Christmas wrapper! AllFreeChristmasCrafts is here with a great DIY storage project to make your Christmas wrap endeavors a little less hectic. You’ll want to make this great DIY organization project now, so when Christmas rolls around, you’ll be prepared to wrap presents creatively and efficiently.

The Easy Christmas Jar Organizer

Cleaning up any kind of mess can be made so much simpler if you have an Easy Christmas Jar Organizer . . . or twenty. Use this jar craft to help create a cute but practical way to store your craft materials, gift tags, or whatever other Christmas wrap you’ve got in stock throughout the year. These Christmas jars can be decorated with your favorite festive scrapbook paper, so they’ll fit right in with the rest of your Christmas home decor. A way to organize that is also decorative? You bet we’ve got it here.

Materials for Jar Craft

Upcycle any plastic jars you’d like for storing your different Christmas wrap supplies. Use a small jar for gift tags, a larger one for bows, and an even larger one for wrapping paper! Okay, it might be a challenge to find a big enough one for rolls of Christmas wrap, but you get the idea. Pick out adorable scrapbook paper for this jar craft. The patterns and colors are totally up to you! You’ll need a ruler to measure your paper. Be sure to have plenty of Mod Podge on hand, and a foam brush to apply it. Last, get some chalkboard paint to cover the jar’s lid.

Instructions for Jar Craft

Once you have your materials on hand, you can put this fun Christmas craft together. You’ll paint the lid with several coats of chalkboard paint, and later you’ll label the lid with chalk. This craft is so versatile because you can easily change your mind about what you want to store in the jar; just erase the chalk and write a new label! You’ll need to Mod Podge your scrapbook paper to the jar after you measure and cut it out. Add glitter Mod Podge for an even more festive holiday look. Once your homemade jar is dry, you can add embellishments like ribbon to finish it off. You will absolutely love how cute and efficient this little jar will make your Christmas gift wrapping.

Get more detailed instructions to the Easy Christmas Jar Organizer!

Related Projects

What is your favorite way to organize your Christmas wrap?

Make Chores Fun With a DIY Clipboard Chart

March 18, 2013 by FaveCrafts 4 Comments

This tutorial is brought to you by Latrice Murphy from Any Occasion.

If you’re like me and you have kids between the ages of three and eight, you know that they are not super helpful unless there is a set goal. I have tried different version of chore charts, behavior charts and more, but then I’m stuck trying to remember to give stickers or keep it updated. I searched Pinterest for ideas and found one idea that got my wheel turning… a chalkboard chore chart that they can mark off!!

I thought I could totally do that. My two older kiddos have five tasks they have to do every week besides having good behavior. They can earn more stickers (like money to them) if they complete all six tasks by the end of the week. I decided to create a clipboard using the chalkboard idea.

Materials:

Plain clipboards
Chalkboard paint
Sticker paper
Die cutting machine
Washi tape
Chalk
Reward cards

Instructions:

Mask off the clip part of the clipboard to prevent it from getting paint on it.
Spray the entire clipboard with chalkboard paint, letting it dry between coats about 20 minutes. I did three coats. I did not spray the back.
While your paint is drying head over to your die cutting machine and die cut small circle, list items and name.
Now you’re ready to assemble. Starting at the bottom adhere all the words and circles with Washi tape lines in between.
Make your reward cards from thick cardstock, washi tape and staples. Clip these to the top.

chalkboard2

The bottom row of circles is for parents only. You will mark here when the days items are completed.

This is a really is an easy DIY project that your kids will love and it will get you a teensy bit more organized. I know I need it!