Blackboard Canister Labels

This project has been on my mind for a while, but I was truly inspired when I found myself in a craft store downtown. Originally, I had only gone in for water color paints and a quick browse; an hour later, I had more art supplies than I really knew what to do with, but I also had a plan.

I’m sure almost everyone knows about the chalkboard labels used for drinks and canisters by now. I decided to make my own. It might have been easier to buy the canisters with the labels already on them, but that is not as interesting.

The blackboard paint itself is intended for wood or metal, but I wanted to able to cut it into a certain shape so I decided to look for some good, heavy paper and found some paper for acrylic painting. Next I found the paint – unfortunately it only comes in cans, so I have a lot more than I need. Maybe someday I’ll use it for a different project. I also got some regular classroom chalk which, now that I’ve used it, I might replace with that chalkboard paint.

I tried so hard to make sure the shapes I started with were symmetrical, but the compass I was using did not like how small my circles were and I ended up with something a little more lopsided. Each one also took three coats of paint to make it solid and I did both sides since one side of the paper was textured and the other was not. Turns out my initial thought to use the textured side didn’t pan out – the chalk works better on the smooth side.

After I finished one, I used it as a stencil for the others I made. It is not really that this project was difficult, it simply took a lot of time, mostly because paint has to dry and I am impatient.  Also, due to the other projects and baking I have been doing lately, I have found myself a little stretched for time to work on it. I finally completed the finishing touches tonight and now have five, homemade canister labels. They’re not perfect, but that’s what makes them personal.