Using vinyl for a project is an easy and cute way to add personality to something. One of the most common crafts include cutting out vinyl letters and shapes to add character to bedrooms and office spaces. It can be hard to determine what vinyl will stick to since it is a pretty tricky material.
Chalk paint is becoming more popular for crafts as it is easy to apply and continuously customizable. Due to their common popularity, it is easy to wonder whether these two crafts will work together.
So, will vinyl stick to chalk paint? Yes! Vinyl has the ability to stick to any clean, smooth surface. It doesn’t have the ability to stick to rough surfaces but can stick to lightly texted surfaces. Since chalk paint gives a smooth, matte finish, you should not have any problems with the vinyl sticking to chalk paint.
How Do You Apply Vinyl to Chalk Paint?
First, you need to determine what you are going to use for your project. For example, you might want to use a pre-cut piece of wood. These can be found just about anywhere that sells craft supplies. When you get it, it is important to make sure that the surface is as smooth as possible.
My favorite and top pick is always Rust-Oleum Chalk Paint. They have so many different colors, and the quality is amazing! I usually use Rust-Oleum for all my chalk paint projects.
If there are a lot of bumps on the item you are going to paint, you might want to try to sand it or choose a smoother item. As soon as you have a smooth, clean surface to work with, you can start the painting process. Unlike most other paints, chalk paint doesn’t require a primer to adhere to the surface.
You can start painting your chalk paint on the surface without needing to wait for a primer to be ready. The number of layers you paint is completely up to your preference. If you paint one layer and get great coverage, then you don’t need to add a second layer.
However, if your first layer doesn’t provide you with the coverage you were hoping for, you will want to add a second or even third layer until you reach the opacity that you want. When the paint is completely dry, you can seal it with polycrylic.
The polycrylic will not only seal your chalk paint, it will also act as something for the vinyl to stick to. It is critical that you make sure the polycrylic is completely dry before adding the vinyl. If it is even the slightest bit wet, the vinyl can curl and ruin your whole project.
When you are positive that the polycrylic is dry, you can start adding your vinyl to the surface. It is recommended to use permanent vinyl to reduce the risk of it peeling off in the future. It will also be beneficial to use a cutting machine if you have one. If not, that’s okay too. You can hand cut the vinyl or buy pre-cut vinyl.
The quality of your vinyl also plays a big part in how long it will stick to on chalk paint. You always want to chose quality and permanent vinyl like this set here. If you place low quality or thin vinyl, chances are it may peel or flake in the future.
Each piece of vinyl you are going to add to your project will need to have a piece of transfer tape on it. It is recommended to use a clear transfer tape that allows you to see through it and put your vinyl exactly where you want it to go.
When you are ready to apply the vinyl, peel off the backing to reveal the sticky part of the vinyl. Very carefully apply the vinyl on the chalk paint where you want it to be. When you are sure it’s in the right place, you can apply more pressure.
It is important to use a lot of pressure and use a squeegee to make sure the vinyl sticks down flat to the surface and doesn’t catch any air bubbles. Finally, you will just need to peel off the transfer tape and you are finished. It is not recommended to put anything on top of the vinyl, such as a sealant, because it can ruin how the vinyl looks.
Can I Put Permanent Vinyl on Chalkboard?
If you want the vinyl to stay on your chalkboard forever, you can put permanent vinyl on it. It is pretty simple and very similar to applying the vinyl to the chalk paint. It will be helpful to have a ruler handy for this, because once the vinyl is on it is stuck. If the design isn’t straight when it’s placed, it can make you frustrated forever.
With your ruler handy, take your permanent vinyl and decide where you want to place it on the chalkboard. Use the ruler to make sure the decal is level and centered. When you are ready, peel the decal and transfer tape off to reveal the sticky side of the vinyl.
Very lightly place your decal with the transfer tape in the designated area. When you are sure the vinyl is in the right spot, you will need to use a squeegee or other flat piece of plastic to flatten it to the surface. This will also ensure that there aren’t any air bubbles stuck below the surface.
When the vinyl decal is secured to the chalkboard, you can peel off the transfer tape. This will just leave the vinyl and you can enjoy your work!
What is the Difference Between Chalkboard Paint and Chalk Paint?
Chalk paint and chalkboard paint might seem like they are the same thing, but they are different. Chalk paint has a matte finish that almost looks a little chalky. It doesn’t usually require any prep because it is thick and sticks well to most surfaces.
This is my favorite Chalk Paint to use on wooden projects, and this Chalkboard Paint is my top pick for painting the walls in my kids room. They are both great, and go on super smoothly.
Chalkboard paint is a kind of paint that you can write with chalk on. It can be applied straight to a wall or another surface to create a chalkboard. This is what most people will use to make a chalkboard wall for their kids or a family center for important dates and information.
How to Seal Chalk Paint
There are a few different ways you can seal chalk paint. First, you can use polyacrylic. You will want to make sure you choose the water-based polyacrylic, not the oil-based. Water-based will stay clear for a longer period of time than oil. It is available in multiple finishes and is offered in a spray can or liquid form.
It is also possible to seal chalk paint with wax. When you use wax, you will be left with a sheen that you just can’t get from other products. The surface will feel very smooth, it will be durable, and it will resist water. The only downside is it can be slightly difficult to apply.
Final Thoughts
If you are curious about sticking vinyl to chalk paint, now you know that it’s possible to get vinyl to stick onto chalk paint. Vinyl has the ability to stick to most smooth surfaces, so as long as the surface below the chalk paint is smooth, you shouldn’t have any issues.
To provide extra adhesion of the vinyl to the chalk paint, you can seal the surface with polycrylic coating. This will protect the paint and make it easier for the vinyl to stick permanently. Applying the vinyl is very easy and only takes a few minutes to complete.
Make sure to follow all my tips and recommended products to ensure your chalk paint project turns out great. Also, don’t forget to check out my other articles for all your painting Q&A’s. Happy painting!