Chalk Couture Ink Winter Banner Project

I used the Chalk Couture November Club design to make a sweet winter canvas banner filled with a snowman, snowy trees, snowflakes, and the words Winter Wishes and Snowflake Kisses. Cadet ink gave the whole design a pretty blue finish, and a few ribbon and fabric scraps added color and texture around the wooden dowel.

This is the kind of seasonal project I love because it works all winter long. I can hang it on a wall or door after the Christmas decorations come down, and it still feels right for the season.

My Chalk Couture winter banner supplies

The November Club package included the reusable transfer, the canvas surface, and Cadet ink. A squeegee comes with a first Club package, so keep it with your craft supplies because you can use it again and again.

For my project, I used these supplies.

• November Club reusable transfer
• Canvas banner surface with a wooden dowel and twine
• Cadet ink
• Squeegee
• Cardboard or an ink mat
• Plastic plate
• Ribbon and jelly roll fabric scraps
• Scissors
• Iron or heat press for heat setting

The canvas has a woven texture, so the ink may need an extra pass with the squeegee in a few places. That little bit of texture also gives the finished banner a relaxed, handmade look that I really like.

Preparing the canvas banner

I started by slipping a piece of cardboard inside the canvas banner. An ink mat works too, but cardboard is an easy option and keeps the ink from passing through to the back layer.

Take a minute to smooth the fabric before placing the transfer. You want the design to sit flat against the canvas so the ink can move through the screened areas.

These transfers are sticky and reusable, and you can use the full design or choose smaller sections for other projects. I already have plans to use part of this snowman in a faux arch window, with different elements placed in the individual window panes.

Applying the Chalk Couture ink

Before opening the Cadet ink packet, I kneaded it with my fingers. This mixes the ink inside the packet and gets it ready to spread.

I like to cut the packet open along the bottom. When I have ink left over, I can fold the cut edge and secure it with tape while keeping the printed name visible. Since this project only needs part of the packet, I squeezed some ink onto a plastic plate and saved the rest.

Once the transfer was in place, I added ink to my squeegee and pulled it across the screened design. Light pressure works well. The goal is to push the ink through every open part of the screen while keeping the layer smooth and even.

I scraped away the extra ink and checked the full design before lifting the transfer. The ink stays workable longer than paste, so I had time to look over the snowflakes, trees, snowman, and lettering.

Lifting the reusable transfer

I peeled the transfer back slowly so I could watch the design appear. A few areas looked a little rustic because of the texture in the canvas, so I laid the transfer back down and gave those spots another pass with the squeegee.

That is one of my favorite parts of working with a reusable screen transfer. I can check the design as I lift and add a little more ink while everything is still lined up.

Be mindful of any ink on your fingers or the edge of the transfer while you work. A small smear can land on the fabric before you realize it, especially when you are moving the transfer around.

After removing the transfer, I cleaned it with water just as I would clean a transfer used with chalk paste. Let it dry with the sticky side facing up before storing it for the next project.

Drying and heat setting the banner

I dried the surface ink first, but the project still needed to be heat set. Chalk Couture ink can be heat set with an iron or a heat press, and the instructions included with the product explain the process.

I have also allowed ink to dry overnight and then used the dryer for heat setting. For this project, I planned to finish the heat setting later since my heat press was in another room.

Give the ink enough time to dry before handling the canvas or adding embellishments. This helps protect the details while you work on the fabric tassels.

Adding ribbon and fabric tassels

The banner already looked cute with the blue winter design, but I wanted to add a little more color around the dowel. I gathered random ribbon pieces, thin trims, and strips of jelly roll fabric in colors that worked with the Cadet ink.

I cut the pieces to about the same length, though a little variation makes the finished bundles more interesting. I tend to get excessive with ribbon, and this was a good place to use several scraps without making the center design feel crowded.

I divided the strips between the two sides and tied them around the wooden dowel. The result looks a little like a banner tassel, with fabric and ribbon hanging beside the canvas.

Scrap bundles from craft stores work well for this kind of accent. I also save leftover ribbon and fabric pieces from other projects because even the short pieces can add color to a banner, gift, or seasonal sign.

More ways to use the winter transfer

This reusable design would also be cute on a tote bag, sweatshirt, or shirt. You can use the full winter scene or select individual parts, depending on the size and shape of your surface.

I especially like the idea of placing the snowman and snowy details inside the panes of the faux arch window. The window shape makes the scene feel like you are looking outside on a snowy day, and each pane gives me another spot to use part of the transfer.

Chalk Couture supplies I used

• Cadet Ink

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