DIY Classroom Chalkboard Signs
Create cute classroom chalkboard signs using vinyl and handmade appliqué apples and pencils. A fun personalized gift for your favorite teacher!
Hello Crafty Friends! Create a cute classroom chalkboard sign for your favorite teacher using a little bit of vinyl and a few of my favorite appliqué shapes.
I love creating appliqué pennants using felt and fabric scraps. Last year I made pencils and apples for cute back-to-school-themed banners. The pennants can be used for so much more including ornaments and decorating signs like these small chalkboards. I found the chalkboards online on Amazon and stained them using Gel Stain. It was quick and easy and is currently my favorite way for staining small wooden projects.
Once the chalkboard signs were stained, I used my Cricut Explore and a white vinyl to add text to my signs. This is where you can personalize your sign with a teacher’s name, classroom number, grade and more. You can also make a sign that is not so specific with the words “Welcome to Our Classroom”. This way the sign can move with a teacher in case they happen to switch rooms or grades.
My favorite part of this project, and the star of these mini chalkboards, are the appliquéd apples and pencil. Adding fabric and felt is such a great way to add dimension to wooden signs. The mixing of fabric scraps and the sweet stitching make these signs extra charming.
I finished off my signs with one of my favorite ribbons ever – my ruler ribbon! I purchased a roll of this ribbon off Amazon a few years ago when making my Back-to-School Pillow Wreath. Since then, I have used it to make so many different projects including my pencil banner, mason jar pencil holders, and to wrap my printable teacher boxes. The roll is almost done so I think it will be time to order another one!
DIY Teacher Classroom Signs
Supplies Needed
- Small chalkboards (8.5″ x 10.5″)
- Gel Stain – I used Oak
- Ruler Twill Ribbon
- White vinyl
- Transfer Tape
- Cutting machine
- Standard Grip Mat
- Brayer
- Cricut Tools
- Hot Glue
- Vinyl Text – Access my file in Cricut Design Space
- Apple Appliqué pieces – Pattern is in my Etsy Shop.
- Pencil Appliqué pieces – Pattern is in my Etsy Shop.
Step by Step Tutorial
Step One: Stain the chalkboard signs using Gel Stain.
Use a paint brush to paint the gel stain on the unfinished wood then wipe it off with a paper towel. You can repeat this more than one to deepen the stain. Check out my tutorial for staining embroidery hoops for more information on using gel stains. I chose to use Oak but the set of gel stains I used also came with Walnut and Maple.
Step Two: Add text to the chalkboard sign using white vinyl.
Cut text from white vinyl using a cutting machine. I used my Cricut Explore and images I edited from Design Space. You can use the files I made in Design Space. For the personalized board with the teacher’s name you will need the system font KB Blank Space Solid or you can switch to another font.
Weed the vinyl text and use Transfer Tape to apply it to the chalkboard.
Step Three: Decorate with fabric appliqué pieces.
My favorite part! Use the appliqué pieces you made using fabric scraps and felt and decorate the signs. I used hot glue to attach the my appliqué pieces.
Step Four: Add a hanging loop and bow!
Add a hanging loop and a bow using ribbon and hot glue. My ruler ribbon was perfect for these chalkboard signs!
The chalkboard signs are complete!! These would make sweet gifts for a teacher at the beginning of the school year, the holidays, Teacher Appreciation Week or as an end of the year parting gift. If you are looking for more school-themed projects, check out my School Crafts Page!
