Chalkboard Signs As A Photo Prop

Chalkboard signs are totally useful for tons of things: you can use them as signs for food at a potluck, as place-cards at Thanksgiving, as place-cards or chair signs at a wedding, or you can use them as fun photo props!

Use chalkboard signs as a photo prop

We had pictures taken for our one-year anniversary a few weeks ago, and I figured that chalkboard signs would be a great way to mark how many years it’s been. They make the perfect photo prop because all you need is the sign, a piece of chalk, and a paper towel, and you get an awesome, changeable sign to use in your photos! You can use them to mark anniversaries, the ages of your kids, what grade your kids are in for the first-day-of-school pics, say “Merry Christmas” in a family photo, or pretty much anything you can think of!

Chalkboard Signs

Chalkboard signs are super easy to make and customize in any size, shape, or color. You need:

  • chalkboard paint
  • a wooden sign board
  • a paintbrush

You can find chalkboard paint and small wooden plaques in tons of sizes and shapes at most craft stores. Or, you can easily make your own chalkboard paint in any color! If you’d rather make your own, check out the simple tutorial I posted earlier this year.

JM and I found a bunch of wooden cutouts out in our alley a while ago, and we figured they’d be useful one day so we grabbed them. Turns out, they were! I started with a circle and a heart.

Chalkboard signs

Paint your wooden sign with a thin layer of chalkboard paint, and let it dry. I just painted the front and edges of these signs. Once it’s dry (give it a good hour to make sure), paint another coat and let that one dry as well. After two coats, my signs were totally covered.

Before you use the signs, you need to prepare them. Once both coats are dry, rub the entire chalkboard surface with the side of a piece of chalk. Make sure the entire surface is covered with chalk dust, then erase the chalk. This will help prevent “ghost writing” where faint chalk outlines remain on the board even after you erase it.

Chalkboard signs

I kinda like the chalky-grey look of chalkboard signs that are erased with a dry paper towel, but if you wipe the signs down with a slightly damp paper towel you’ll get a much cleaner, starker black color and the next thing you write will have more contrast.

Since it’s only been one year, we have no problems figuring out that these photos are our one-year anniversary photos. But I’m hoping the little chalkboard signs will help us remember 50 years from now when we look back on our pictures. 🙂

Use chalkboard signs as a photo prop

Have you seen any other signs made out of fun things? We went to a wedding recently where the bride wrote the beer and wine lists on a pumpkin with a black marker and then set the pumpkins on the bar. Adorable!

 

Btw, our photos were taken by Jordan of Jordan Quinn Photography, and I think she did an amazing job! She made us feel very comfortable and relaxed, and took great pictures. If you are looking for a fabulous photographer in the Chicago-land area, I highly suggest you check her out!

 

Signature

 
I link up at these awesome parties!

Jessi Wohlwend

I believe that anyone can do crafts and DIY projects, regardless of skill or experience. I love sharing simple craft ideas, step by step DIY project tutorials, cleaning hacks, and other tips and tricks all with one goal in mind: giving you the tools you need to “do it yourself”, complete fun projects, and make awesome things!

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Reader Interactions

  1. Tammy/Our Neck of the Woods says

    11 years ago

    Really cute idea! The photos turned out so great. I love them! Have a great weekend 🙂

    Visiting from Thursday Favorite Things 🙂

  2. Kathy Moody says

    11 years ago

    I love these! Such a cute photo, too! 🙂

  3. Evelyn @ My Turn (for us) says

    11 years ago

    I love a good Love Story:) One picture (of course with your super cute signs) tells it all!
    Of course I need a much bigger sign (thirty three years). lol
    And I still remember our first Anniversary!

    And what a great memory you preserved! Great idea to have a photographer.

    Happy Anniversary to you and to your super cute fellow!

    • Jessi says

      11 years ago

      Thanks Evelyn! And congrats on 33 years, I can’t wait until we get there!

  4. Tanya says

    11 years ago

    I love your idea! You guys look so cute (and I love your profile pic too!) Happy Thanksgiving 🙂

    xoxo, Tanya
    twelveOeight

    • Leslie Stewart says

      11 years ago

      I see you linked up the chalkboards! Yay! I am so glad you did because they are too cute! Have a great day.
      Leslie
      House on the Way

  5. Marilyn says

    11 years ago

    Jessi, this is so clever. I never would have thought to do this! Happy Anniversary! 😀

  6. Carolyn says

    11 years ago

    What a great idea! And beautiful photos! Happy Anniversary!

  7. Janel@nelliebellie says

    11 years ago

    Those are the cutest things. And that photo of you two…precious!!! Love that idea!

  8. PJ says

    11 years ago

    So cute. We did chalkboard signs for a photoshoot we did two years ago. Only Im hella impatient and used chalkboard spraypaint to make mine.

    • Jessi says

      11 years ago

      Lol! Believe me, if I had chalkboard spray paint I definitely would have used that!

  9. April says

    11 years ago

    I love this, Jessi. Just so cute!

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