DIY Screen Printing with Sidewalk Chalk: A Fun & Easy Experiment

If you love experimenting with screen printing, you’re going to love this creative hack—using sidewalk chalk as a printing medium! Yes, you read that right. With a little ingenuity (and some supplies you probably already have at home), you can create stunning prints on chalkboards and more.

How It Works

The process is surprisingly simple! Here’s how I did it:

1. Grind the Chalk – I borrowed some sidewalk chalk from my nieces and nephews and crushed it into a fine powder. A mortar and pestle, rolling pin, or even the back of a spoon can help with this.

1. Make the Chalk Paste – I added a bit of water to the powdered chalk, mixing until I got a thick, paint-like consistency. If the mixture feels too runny, adding a little cornstarch might help suspend the particles better.

1. Screen Print with EZScreen Stencil – Using my EZScreenPrint stencil, I carefully applied the chalk paste onto a small chalkboard. I wasn’t sure if it would work at first, but to my surprise, it did!

The Results

The chalk paste transferred beautifully through the screen stencil, creating a unique, soft-textured print. The best part? It’s a temporary design that can be wiped clean and redone whenever inspiration strikes!

Tips for Best Results

• Adjust the consistency – Too thin, and the mixture might run. Too thick, and it may not pass through the stencil easily. Experiment until you find the perfect balance.
• Use cornstarch or another thickener – I didn't actually try this, but I feel like it would help keep the chalk particles suspended for smoother application.
• Try different surfaces – Chalkboards work great, but you could also experiment with cardstock or fabric to see how the chalk paste interacts with other materials.

Happy Printing!

Whether you’re looking for a fun weekend project or a temporary design solution, sidewalk chalk screen printing is a creative, low-cost way to explore new possibilities. Give it a try, and let us know how it works for you!

Ready to start your next project? Check out EZScreenPrint.com for all your screen printing stencil needs.