label your pantry with free chalkboard paper

I do not like to spend money, you did know that right?  Honestly, my first memories of life revolve around my mother trying to make it and keep us fed.  I recall her saving her pennies in a gallon jug and taking it to the gas station to buy gas.  She scrimped every cent and never bought herself anything.  We always had what we needed and somehow she kept us in a private school (really no idea how she did that) and never wasted anything.  She is my hero and that was imprinted on me at a very early age.  Money spending…no.  I like to save it.

So with so many projects to do here, I have to get creative to not break the bank.  The other night while Poppa and I where waiting at the painting department for our paint to be mixed, I told him that I needed to find chalkboard paper but it was too expensive in the places I had found it and I didn’t want to buy a whole roll of chalkboard sticky paper to label all the jars in the new pantry.  As I leaned on the counter, daydreaming a bit to pass the time, I turned my head and there it was, the perfect solution and free.

Now, my husband is used to me raiding the painting chips in the painting department for all kinds of little projects.  Aren’t they great.  But I must have had an excited look on my face as I zipped over to the wall full of paint chips because he followed me.  These paint chips, the ones that are only one color per block are the perfect “chalkboard” paper.  They are matte and they come in every color imaginable.  I quickly decided on blues, browns and blacks and grabbed 2 or 3 of each.  I told the girl mixing my paint what I was up to and she loved the idea.

So there you have it.  There are so many color possibilities and some paint companies have paint chip cards as big as a post card if you need a really big label.

I just traced the jar lid onto the back of the paint card, cut them out and then just put them on top of the metal jar lid and then placed the jar ring on top.  I know there are circle punches that would make the job way easier but remember what I said about spending money, scissors are free.  Easy peasy.  For the bigger jars that are not mason jars, I used my glue gun to affix the label to the front and just in the nick of time too, last night the girls made a batch of raising oatmeal cookies but confused the confectioners sugar for flour???  Our flour isn’t even white but they did it and of course it was not edible.  At least now, everyone knows what is in the jars.

If you missed our new real food pantry post, here it isIMG_9756IMG_9757IMG_9746 IMG_9748 IMG_9749 IMG_9760IMG_9754IMG_9743 IMG_9731.

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13 Responses to label your pantry with free chalkboard paper

  1. FrontierDreams November 21, 2013 at 3:27 am #

    You are always full of the best ideas!! SOOOOO doing this in Idaho! 🙂

  2. sprite November 20, 2013 at 10:47 pm #

    What a great idea!

  3. Heather November 20, 2013 at 12:02 pm #

    All of those jars lined up look beautiful! I never thought about chalkboard paper for labels, that is genius!

  4. Emily November 20, 2013 at 1:43 am #

    What did you use to write with??

    • farmishmomma November 20, 2013 at 3:37 am #

      a paint marker from the craft store, I think it was $2.00

  5. Lena November 19, 2013 at 11:56 pm #

    I use paint chips for everything but I never thought to use them for mason jars. I can't wait to see a tour of your new compound.

  6. Katie November 19, 2013 at 10:21 pm #

    Wow, am I the only one who feels this isn't morally right? The paint chips are so people can take the color choice home and match their décor. The stores don't provide them to fund others craft projects.

    • farmishmomma November 20, 2013 at 3:40 am #

      Katie, I asked permission first and I was told to take as many as I needed. I took 3 of each color so as not to leave anyone without. I guess if you ask and are told no then that would be different but I also did spend over $200 in paint that day so I'm good. Thank you for voicing your opinion though, I appreciate your thoughts.

  7. sustainablemum November 19, 2013 at 7:15 pm #

    What a great idea!

  8. Bernadette November 19, 2013 at 6:47 pm #

    Your pantry looks so beautiful and very well organized! The chalkboard paper label idea is ingenious! Thanks for always sharing your creativity! 🙂

  9. Kristine November 19, 2013 at 6:30 pm #

    Time to raid the paint department! Excellent idea and thanks for sharing 🙂

  10. Emily G November 19, 2013 at 6:03 pm #

    That is an amazingly awesome idea. I never thought of paint colour cards as having that much potential!

  11. Traci November 19, 2013 at 5:30 pm #

    Ok, totally awesome idea. Paint department, here I come!

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