Silhouette Challenge: DIY Chalkboard and Vinyl World Map

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It’s wedding season and it’s also that time again, the second Monday of the Month, the Silhouette Challenge! This month’s theme, patriotic projects, fit nicely with a project I was working on for a Wedding Shower. The bride and groom-to-be are in the Navy and just got back from deployment. Now talk about a couple that has travelled! Even before their deployment they had been on a 2 week European excursion together, the date is even set this fall to get married abroad and they are currently apartment searching in Naples, Italy where they will be stationed for the next two years.

I was inspired by their world travel to make them a gift that they could take with them and add too. I found an old frame that I could repurpose at a local thrift store. I always look for frames while thrifting because it is hard to buy new frames that are actually solid wood or if they are they will more than likely break the bank.

Taking out the glass I use cabinet rollers to paint on the chalkboard paint. Now I have used a lot of chalkboard paint and I suggest not using the spray on kind use the liquid kind. I have always had success with Rustoleum. They are even available in tintable colors now. I am dying to try the old school green chalk color.

I bought the world map from the Silhouette Online Store (here). It was much easier and well worth the .99 rather than tracing it or trying to draw it myself in illustrator. Once you are ready to cut use the vinyl preset in your cut settings. The setting should be Speed 8, Thickness 9 and Blade 2.

Surprisingly the map was not as hard to weed as I thought it would. My only suggestion would be to add in weeding lines since it is such a large piece of vinyl.

Using transfer paper, I prefer lined paper, place over the weeded map. Using the scraping tool rub it over the paper and vinyl. This will help transfer the vinyl onto the transfer tape.

Peel the transfer paper back. With a cut this intricate make sure all of the vinyl is transferring to the paper. If you are having trouble use the scraper tool again.

Now this really is the tricky part. Placing the vinyl straight and centered onto the chalkboard. Make sure to have a ruler handy and don’t just eyeball it. Once you have your vinyl placed use the scraper tool to rub the vinyl in place. Next tightly peel back the transfer paper.

Taa-da! I love the contrast of white vinyl on chalk!

To jazz it up a little I decided to finish it off with a quote and the couples name, using the same look and feel as the bridal shower invitation.

To mark all of the places they had been I created vinyl heart “stickers” with an extra sheet for the couple so they can keep adding with their travels!

Want to Check Out More Silhouette Projects?

My Silhouette Challenge buddies and I are all sharing projects on our blogs today, so peruse the projects below for a wealth of Silhouette inspiration!