Chalkboard projects are all the rage. When I saw these chalkboard card stock stacks from Die Cuts With a View (DCWV), my first thought was how much easier those projects will be by using this paper. No more waiting for chalkboard paint to dry for 24 hours before being able to use it. I dove right in to test both packs.
First of all the manufacturer’s website states:
Classroom chalkboard meets craft paper stash in our one-of-a-kind new material stack. In this collection of neutral, solid chalkboard sheets, you will find paper that’s perfect for all of your crafting adventures.
Give your home decor projects and mixed media art the look of a true masterpiece using chalk, watercolor pencil, oil pastels, and more. Perfect for all ages—this is a stack not to be missed! Stack comes with 36 sheets; 6 of each color.
I tried both the stack with neutral colors and another stack with bright colors. There were not any instructions or warnings on the packs themselves. I would like to have seen what I could and/or could not use to write on the paper. This card stock is very, very thick. Each sheet is large at 12 inches by 12 inches and two sided.
Let’s talk about the variety of colors. The swatches below show the colors from both stacks of paper. The ones on the left are from the neutral stack. The ones on the right are from the bright stack. I wanted to see how well the paper would work with both regular chalk and chalk markers. So I wrote on each swatch with both.
I waited a few hours then erased them with a damp cloth. Both the chalk and the chalk markers came off flawlessly from the paper.
I was excited to be able to use both on this product. I have had some materials where the chalk markers leave a “witness” mark after being erased. These papers performed excellently on my test. Next I tried a bend test. Because there are some paper crafts where you would want to bend the paper. The chalkboard paper is not for these types of crafts. Bending makes a horrible cracked line as can be seen in the photo below.
Next came cutting the paper. I went with my Silhouette and used the deepest cutting blade cap. The product cut very well. I tested with a variety of shapes to get a feel for how the paper would perform.
I used a Crop-a-dile punch to put a hole in a few of the pieces to use as tags. Again no issues with punches and the lines were clean. With this product, you can literally have chalkboard tags in minutes. They are sturdy enough with just the paper alone to withstand lots of abuse.
I used some of the bright paper to make an even larger sign. This sign is about 7 inches by 10 inches. Again cut with the Silhouette. The other great thing about these paper packs is the variety of colors you get. To purchase chalkboard paint in this wide of a variety of colors would not be cost effective. One stack (36 sheets) of this paper is listed at a regular price of $19.99 each on the Joann’s website. This paper is definitely a viable option for those wanting a variety of chalkboard colors without the expense of individual bottles of paint.
I also made up a Teacher Appreciation gift idea with the chalkboard paper. Head on over to The Country Chic Cottage for this project plus an entire week of Teacher Appreciation gift ideas!
If you have a chalkboard projects that you want to complete, consider purchasing chalkboard card stock instead. Remember to use only for projects that will not bend the paper as bending causes unsightly cracks. Otherwise, make colorful chalkboard projects for every area of your home and to give as gifts as well.
Disclosure: Samples provided for review.
Please support CTD by using our affiliate links:
April 23, 2012 at 9:31 am
I love that they might make pretty good labels….hmmm
April 23, 2012 at 12:31 pm
What an interesting product! Thanks for the review.
April 23, 2012 at 1:31 pm
Thanks for reviewing this! I saw this a while ago and was curious about it.
April 23, 2012 at 3:38 pm
Great first(?)review Angie! Now I kind of want some!
April 23, 2012 at 5:44 pm
So excited to see this review. Thanks so much for all the work you put into this. Can’t wait to buy ‘me’ a stack.
April 23, 2012 at 5:53 pm
After using chalk on this paper, is it permanent? Do you have to coat it with clear so it won’t smudge?
April 23, 2012 at 9:43 pm
The chalk is not permanent. The chalkboard paper acts just like a chalkboard. If you use chalk markers however, they will not smudge. But will erase when you use a damp cloth.
April 24, 2012 at 2:30 pm
This looks like a great product that I would love to try out!!
April 24, 2012 at 2:31 pm
I think that I would love to make a lot of different things with these papers. I like that they clean off completely.
July 11, 2012 at 5:47 pm
I purchased some of this paper but had trouble getting it to stick to other papers or vice versa. What type of adhesive would you recommend?
July 13, 2012 at 5:56 pm
Camilla- you didn’t specify what adhesives you’ve tried, but I’ve had good luck with dry adhesives such as the Xyron, tape runners, and glue dots. Hope this helps!
August 4, 2012 at 4:40 pm
Thanks for writing a great review! I bought the bright colored stack today at Michaels for just $5.99 on sale! I can’t wait to use them in my classroom.
August 8, 2012 at 12:29 pm
Ann- if you are sold on chalkboard paper, you might want to look into Wet Wipe Chalkboard Ink markers- they are the BOMB: http://www.crafttestdummies.com/craft-product-reviews/craft-product-review-chalk-ink-wet-wipe-markers/
September 10, 2012 at 4:41 pm
This might be a silly question for expert crafters.. I’m a beginner… Where can I get my little fingers on one of those handy sillhouettes?
September 10, 2012 at 5:08 pm
Here’s a link to a great bundle-
November 15, 2012 at 10:23 am
What an awesome review – thanks so much for doing the grunt work we all can use !!