Wednesday, October 21, 2009

Pantry Labels

Thanks for your encouraging words yesterday...actually, I like it better too!

Yesterday I spent about an hour wandering around Hobby Lobby trying to figure out how to make the labels for my new pantry bins. I wanted chalkboard, but I wanted it fast.

I looked at wooden tags that would involve painting. I didn’t want to wait for that. I looked for chalkboard vinyl paper. Couldn’t find any. While perusing the scrapbooking section, I decided just to buy one 33cent sheet of black cardstock.

At home I had some burlap. For a sturdy backing, I used a piece of cardboard that they put in the bag at Archiver’s to keep the scrapbook paper from bending. Any scrap of medium cardboard would work fine.

This photo shows a progression. Cut the cardboard to the desired size, glue it to a larger piece of burlap, then fray the edges of the burlap and trim to about 1/4”.

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I used Fabri-Tac glue that I got at Hobby Lobby for applying my sons’ Boy Scout patches. It’s heavy duty stuff. You could probably just use regular glue, but it would take longer to dry. This stuff adhered almost instantly, like a glue gun without the burned fingers. I applied the glue right around and up to the edge of the cardboard so that the burlap wouldn’t fray beyond that edge.

Next , I cut the black cardstock slightly smaller than the cardboard pieces. I used regular chalk to write on it, which worked fine, but obviously you can’t erase it, so you’ve got to get it just how you want it the first time (or have an endless supply of black cardstock, which I didn’t).

The thing is, it smudged if you touched it. I needed some kind of fixative. I tried hairspray.

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At first the chalk nearly disappeared, but once it dried, it looked fine again, and it didn’t smudge!

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At this point, I consider the cardstock a temporary solution, so I just used a little piece of tape to stick it to the burlap tag. That way I can easily change it if I want to. (I know that technically you’re not supposed to store onions and potatoes together, but I’m a rebel.)

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Rats. This morning it smudges.

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Well, like I said, temporary. Liquid chalk or a white paint pen might be the solution here.

There you go! You get the idea. Cute labels for your pantry.

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12 comments:

dixie said...

Very cute. You know I have that Wallies vinyl chalkboard on my fridge. I like the stuff. I saw it in Hancock Fabrics. Pricey, though. Got mine on sale via the Wallies website. It smudges, but you can re-write it.

What about the chalkboard vinyl wall stuff at Dollar Tree (I have seen it there in chalkboard - you it's with the vinyl stuff you you put up in your bathroom and what Chloe put on her bedroom door). I can't remember if it's plain chalkboard. I've seen the largest selection in Kirkwood. That way you could at least try it on the cheap.

When I was a kid, we always used hairspray to "set" chalk drawings.

Amanda @ Serenity Now said...

Very cute, Miss Creative!!! :)

Melissa said...

I love the white bins and love the labels even more. I was actually just writing my "what I've learned in a year of blogging" and you spoke of exactly what I was thinking~don't do things to blog about, just blog about the things you are already doing whether you think people will like them or not. :) Something I wish I had learned earlier...you're awesome, Holly.

Amy@theredheaddiaries.blogspot.com said...

Very creative!!! I didn't know that you weren't supposed to store onions and potatoes together....what happens to them???

Karen at Nittany Inspirations said...

Your pantry is very organized.

Lucy Marie said...

Those are very cute. This just tells me that I really need to get to organizing my pantry again. Why is it that it only stays organized for about 5 minutes?

Also, mine would most definitely smudge if I did that. I'm left handed, so I have a hard time not smuding anything I write because my hand drags across it. I'd have to write the labels backwards :D

Tricia said...

Look at how pretty your pantry looks! Mine is a bit of a wreck. I think I need to borrow some of your motivation. ;)

Sherri said...

Love your pantry. WISH I had one! Cabinets for me. No pantry.

Melinda said...

I'm with Sheri--
No pantry here--oh, well.
Anyway it all looks nice and very
organized.
A metalic marker would wrk too for your labeling.

Melinda

Shaunna said...

Hairspray works, but you need to put on a few layers to make sure it doesn't smudge. Also, you can use sealant (if you work with ceramics or paint) or varnish. Just make sure it's in a well ventilated room!

Christa said...

I love the chalkboard look. I use Crayola Construction Paper Crayons. I first bought them at Hobby Lobby but I don't know if they still carry them.

Toni said...

Awesome Holly! Thanks for digging the info up for me. Put bins in my panty yesterday, now I'll make the signs!