Chalkboard Shape Labels

Is it just me, or have you seen tons of chalkboard projects out there? I am loving it! Chalkboard plant pots, chalkboard plates, chalkboard on mirrors, and chalkboard on paper. Beth over at The Stories of A 2 Z just had a chalkboard paint party a while ago and I wish I knew about it! I would have submitted my vinyl chalkboard! Anyway, there are tons of cool ideas for chalkboard for you to find there.

Since our move to this house I vowed to be super-organized. Well, at least semi-organized. In my quest for that goal, I wanted to organize my teacher resources before I head back to school next week after 14 months of mat leave (boo). A few years ago I had organized my resources by month, because our JK classroom runs on themes. But, all those resources were stuffed into random cardboard boxes. Blech.


So when Canadian Tire had a sale on some bins this week I went running out and bought 8 - just enough for each month of teaching. Yes, I teach more than 8 months - but June doesn't count (lol - we are so busy with swimming, reports, and finishing up May stuff), July and August is Summer (yay) and we combine February and March for our extensive dinosaur theme (also taking into account we have a 2-week March Break). I digress. Sorry about that.

So I got my bins, took out my chalkboard vinyl (which cleans up in a breeze, by the way, with a damp cloth) and cut out some labels. Oh no, not just any old labels! If you can cut regular vinyl on a die-cut machine like my Cricut (or a Silhouette), then why not chalkboard vinyl? Seemed so simple, but I had never thought of it before. Baby brain? Does that count? My son isn't 1 year yet, so maybe I'll chalk it up to that. Ooops, no pun intended. Really.

I measured out the size of label I wanted for my bins (I wanted them big - 3 1/2") and started cutting. I chose a lovely shape for them, and am so happy with the results!! Isn't it great? I am so happy with them! Now, if our theme changes, so can the label. If I move grades, the label can reflect that change! Or, if I choose a different system altogether, labelled bins always come in handy!



But that's not all! Nooooo, my fellow bloggers, there's more! If you can use regular spray paint on paper (I've seen it done, have you?) then why can't you use chalkboard spray paint on paper? Yes, seen it done - Jess at Frugal with a Flourish did it on cardboard! I kid you not!

So....I went out and bought some sticker paper - plain white sheets of adhesive paper to make your own stickers, etc. I ran some through the Cricut, choosing different shapes (if you do this, try to choose a 'chunky' shape so the label doesn't get too flimsy - also, if you use the 'blackout' option in Cricut it will give you a nice big shape as well). Then, spray painted them and voila! Different shapes of labels! Here are a few small ones I did for you to see. Aren't the school bus and apple labels cute?


I am in love with my new labels, I hope you like them, too!

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