Press Trip: Chalk Ink Markers HQ in Austin, Texas!

This post was created in partnership with Chalk Ink Markers. All opinions are my own!

Since starting The Budget Savvy Bride in 2008,  I’ve been blessed with some really cool opportunities for collaborations, exploration and learning. One of the coolest things I occasionally get to do is visit different destinations to cover them for articles here on BSB or over on Weddings.About.com. I’ve covered several different destinations for honeymooning, destination weddings and more!

Recently, I had the pleasure of attending my first Press Trip in partnership with a craft brand! Earlier this month, I jetted off on a trip to beautiful Austin, Texas courtesy of Chalk Ink, a company that creates high quality chalk markers to inspire creativity for all sorts of projects. Their Headquarters are in Austin, so they invited a handful of bloggers to come out to experience a bit of the city while learning more about the Chalk Ink brand and products, and today I’m going to share the experience with all of you!

This sign was drawn using Chalk Ink markers by Chalk Ink’s resident artist, Anilyn. Amazing right? 

We got to stay in the brand new South Congress Hotel in the SoCo area of Austin. The hotel was like something out of a Kinfolk magazine. It had a super cool vibe featuring rustic modern decor with lots of wooden textures and industrial pipe details.  One thing of note was that the hotel had a distinct smell to it… and that smell was “attractive male hipster.”  Just check out the rooms:

Cool shower, huh? There is a window from the shower stall into the bedroom making their rooms a spicy place to spend your honeymoon.  Anyway, upon checking into the SoCoHo (I just made that up…) I received this amazing Chalk Ink tote bag filled with all sorts of fun goodies…

Along with a large assortment of Chalk Ink products, the tote bag also contained a few items local to Austin, which was a super nice touch. My personal fave non-art supply inclusion was this amazing little body roller called The Worm that is now going to be accompanying me anytime I travel.

Exploring Austin

Before the event officially kicked off, I did a little exploring of the area on foot just to grab some lunch and check out the neighboring shops. Austin is a vibrant and lively city filled with eclectic stores and unique restaurants, and I would absolutely love to go back when I have more time to spend there. A favorite stop that was across the street from our hotel was Uncommon Objects. This store was filled with all sorts of knick knacks and vintage decor. I could’ve spent hours there! I also wandered into a cowboy boot store… because, why not?

Austin Food Favorites

The Chalk Ink team treated us to some amazing meals in Austin. I’d say one of my favorite things about this city was definitely the food. I’m a huge fan of Mexican and Tex-Mex and Austin has some of the best you’ll find.

Botticelli’s – Italian.

We ate outdoors which is pretty amazing in December! I ordered a steak dish with brussels sprouts and it was life-changing. Their tiramisu was also incredible.

La Condesa – Mexican.

We dined in a really unique cave-like private space in the basement. They served us family-style dishes like roasted corn and lots of different meats, quacamole and more. The food was out of this world and the margaritas were totally on point.

Now on to the products!

Chalk Ink HQ

During our visit, we got to spend several hours at Chalk Ink Headquarters. It was super fun to see their space because it truly serves as a living gallery of all the creative uses and applications for their products! I loved this quote above that was lettered on one of the walls.

There are so many different ways to use these markers, from organization to decoration! I loved all the creative ways they displayed around their office kitchen — it really had my wheels turning with a flurry of ideas! How cool is it that you can use these markers to decorate anything from your refrigerator, windows, countertops and more! And cleanup is a breeze, too — more on that later!

Not only does Chalk Ink make an assortment of colors of chalk markers, they also have a variety of chalkboard shapes you can purchase to create your custom pieces of art! How amazing are their banner boards and arrow boards for weddings? You can really personalize your day with these products and I just love that!

Chalk Ink Markers + other Chalk Ink Products

While at the offices, we got to have a little craft time! (Admittedly, this was one of my favorite parts of the trip!) The folks from Chalk Ink provided us all with one of their bell shaped chalkboards to decorate. Anilyn and Jody from Chalk Ink gave us some quick but thorough lessons of how the products work and different techniques for using them. During craft time I got to sit next to my blogger partner in crime, Jen from Something Turquoise! It was so fun to spend some time with her while in Austin, especially doing something we both love — crafting!! (PS — you can read her recap of our trip here.)

Jen kindly snapped this photo of me decorating my bell! I have to admit, I am super thrilled with how it turned out! It’s actually hanging on the front door of our apartment now.

Not too shabby, eh?

A little about the products:

• Chalk Ink Markers are the Original Chalk Markers and are made with high quality materials that have been specially formulated over the years.
• There are two varieties of Chalk Ink Markers – Wet Wipe and Artista Pro.
• Wet Wipe Chalk Ink Markers allow you to easily wipe the surface clean with just a little bit of water. They are great for a variety of projects and uses. They come in a wide range of colors for unlimited creative applications!
• Artista Pro Chalk Ink Markers are heavier duty for projects that you want to be long-lasting. A favorite among businesses and professional sign makers. They also blend a bit better for a more painterly like feel. These markers are even waterproof so they are safe for outdoor use (aka perfect for outdoor weddings!)
• Chalk Ink also offers chalk boards in a variety of shapes and sizes, as well as chalkboard papers and more!
• The markers were actually SUPER easy to work with. You can pretty easily blend the colors by layering up while the “ink” is still wet. If you mess up, you can wipe away your mistakes with a damp cloth.
• Once the ink is dry, it’s safe to touch. It won’t smear or smudge!
• The markers are non-toxic and food safe, come in a variety of colors and multiple tip weights so there is bound to be the perfect marker for any project you have to tackle!

There are so many ways to use these markers, and I’m so excited to try them out on a variety of surfaces. Keep an eye out for some upcoming DIY projects using these Chalk Ink products here on The Budget Savvy Bride!

Thanks so much to Danielle and the rest of the Chalk Ink Team for having me in Austin!

xoxo

Disclaimer: 

I was provided with an all-expenses paid trip to Austin to participate in the Chalk Ink Blogger Event in exchange for sharing my experience and honest review of the products. All opinions and thoughts are my own.