Hand Lettered Painted Sign



Can you believe it? I finally have another project for Make Your Monday! For years, I've been looking for the perfect thing to go in that tiny, narrow space between the stove and the microwave. Nothing would fit! Anything I thought would work would either be too large or two small. I finally decided that I would have to make something that would fit just right, so recently I tried my hand at making my own hand lettered sign to fit the space. While my sign isn't perfect, I really love the way it turned out. In concept, it is really easy to do. In practice {holding your hand super steady after consuming a couple of cups of coffee}, it's a little hard. But all those little mistakes you may make will simply add to the overall charm of the piece - or at least that's what I kept telling myself!

I started with a piece of 5 inch wide pine, about 20 inches long. I wanted my sign to have a "frame", so I also cut down 4 pieces narrow trim moulding to add around the perimeter.


I didn't use nails. I simply glued the trim pieces into place with Liquid Nail for small projects.


So that the trim would stay in place while drying, I secured them using duct tape. A little overkill? Yes, but it was the only tape I could find at the moment. Why is it that tape can never be found when you need it? The children always seem to scurry off with it like little squirrels.


I placed another piece of pine on top along with a couple of cans of paint to add some weight to the drying trim pieces, wiping off any excess glue that squeezed out the sides.


When the trim was dry and after priming the wood, I used one of my favorite spray paints, Oil Rubbed Bronze by Rustoleum, to coat the entire surface and then sanded the edges for a slightly distressed look. {I forgot to take photos of the painting and sanding step, but you get the idea...}

The secret of creating an *almost* perfect hand painted sign is to simply type up some text in your selected font and desired size in Microsoft Word, or a similar program. Then print it out and secure it with tape to whatever surface you are painting. My word "COTTAGE" printed out in two pages, so I had to tape them together and trim off the excess. And here you see my squirrels brought some tape back, though it was masking tape that I really needed.


With a pen, I traced the outline of the text, taking care to press down firmly. The idea is to press down hard enough so that an indentation is left in the wood underneath.


Like this...


And now, the challenging part - painting in the lettering. I found that a very small stiff, angled or flat small brush worked best. I just used some wall paint I had on hand to paint the letters. It took me a while, but I finally finished it. Not too shabby for my first attempt! I think I'm going to invest in some better brushes before my next sign.


I wanted to age my sign a little more, so armed with some sandpaper, antiquing glaze, and a foam brush, I went to work.


I sanded over the text, roughing it up a bit.



Next, I applied some antiquing glaze right over the top...


and then immediately wiped it off.


Voila! There's my hand lettered sign in it's new home! Now the problem is how to hang things on brick without using nails or screws. I've had some great tips and advice today from my Facebook and Twitter peeps, and I'll share those with you a little later.:) I think it will look much nicer hanging than resting.


But even resting, it still seems to be just what was needed for that tiny little space, don't you think?


This was my first sign, but Susie Harris does sign making for a living and was generous enough to recently share her techniques on her blog. Be sure to check out her beautiful work while you're there!

This week, I'm linking up to:
Make Your Monday @ Twice Remembered
Make it for Monday @ Cottage Instincts
Metamorphosis Monday @ Between Naps on the Porch
Funky Junk Interiors
Just Something I Whipped Up Monday @ The Girl Creative
Made it Monday @ The Persimmon Perch
Made By You Monday @ Skip to My Lou
It's So Very Creative @ It's So Very Cheri
Making the World Cuter Monday @ Making the World Cuter
DIY Day @ A Soft Place to Land
Get Your Craft On @ Today's Creative Blog
Trash to Treasure Tuesday @ Reinvented
Power of Paint @ Domestically Speaking
Works for Me Wednesday @ We are That Family
Transformation Thursday @ The Shabby Chic Cottage
Strut Your Stuff Thursday @ Somewhat Simple
Thrifty Thursday @ Tales from Bloggeritaville
Show and Tell Friday @ My Romantic Home
Frugalicious Friday @ Finding Fabulous




66 comments:

Danielle @ Transforming Home said...

You are one talented chick! I just signed up to follow - how come it took me so long to find you?

Danielle

January 24, 2010 at 9:05 PM
The Little Red Shop said...

It looks lovely!

: )

Julie M.

January 24, 2010 at 9:21 PM
Anonymous said...

Perfect accessory for the perfect kitchen!
- Deborah

January 24, 2010 at 9:24 PM
Crafty Sisters said...

That looks very nice. I'll have to try out some those paints and glazes.

January 24, 2010 at 9:46 PM
Maggie said...

Wow - I love the molding you added.

January 24, 2010 at 9:59 PM
Amanda said...

Great project! It's perfect for that spot!

January 24, 2010 at 10:02 PM
The House Creative said...

So pretty. I love the way this turned out.

January 24, 2010 at 10:26 PM
Taija said...

This absolutely adorable! Nice job!

January 24, 2010 at 10:33 PM
Anonymous said...

Wow, that looks great and so much better than the ones I freehanded!!

January 24, 2010 at 11:02 PM
Sherry @ No Minimalist Here said...

The sign turned out great. I can't wait to see how you hang it on the brick. Thanks for all the inspiration!

January 24, 2010 at 11:06 PM
Treasia Stepp said...

Very nice. I love this idea.

January 24, 2010 at 11:09 PM
hjn said...

Very nice!!! Great work!

January 24, 2010 at 11:35 PM
Michelle @ Sweet Something Design said...

What a great project! It looks great!

January 24, 2010 at 11:50 PM
2sisters said...

I love the sign, it turned out darling! You must have a much steadier hand and far more patience than I do. You might try hanging it with 3M Command strips, I have had good luck with them without mucking up my paint as long as the item it was holding was not extremely heavy.
teri

January 25, 2010 at 2:47 AM
cindy said...

Awesomeness. Looks simply marvelous. I love how it looks over your oven too...let us know how you end up hanging it. *sigh* I love your kitchen....

Glad you could Mi4M :)

January 25, 2010 at 5:54 AM
Kathy @ Creative Home Expressions said...

I think you did a great job on your sign, Kim! I think it looks great as you have it now. I love your technique for the lettering; I may have to try that myself. I am a shaky person to begin with so this type of thing would take me a while to paint the lettering.

January 25, 2010 at 7:10 AM
René said...

I love it! You're so crafty!

January 25, 2010 at 7:47 AM
Anonymous said...

I ADORE this...you did a great job. Have wanted to make a sign for some time now for our foyer, maybe now I will! :) Thanks again!

January 25, 2010 at 8:41 AM
Christina said...

Your sign looks great!

January 25, 2010 at 11:10 AM
Angie Holden said...

OH I like that!! Your first attempt is a success!!

January 25, 2010 at 11:23 AM
Niesz Vintage Home said...

Very nice! And perfect for that space.

Kimberly :-)

January 25, 2010 at 11:48 AM
Anne said...

I LOVE how your sign turned out. Going to add your tutorial to my "must make" file. Thanks for sharing!!!

January 25, 2010 at 12:15 PM
Frugal Home Designs said...

That is great. I have been wanting to make something like that, but it is so hard to decide what to put on it.

January 25, 2010 at 12:33 PM
Maryann @ Domestically-Speaking said...

Love it! I made a "Welcome" sign the same way. I was impressed on how easy it was... GREAT job!

January 25, 2010 at 6:50 PM
girl meets carpenter said...

Very nice! I'm planning on making a sign for my in-laws anniversary and you've given me great tips... so thanks so much for sharing :)

January 25, 2010 at 7:25 PM
Amanda @ Serenity Now said...

Lovely!! :) It is amazing the difference between the coat of the antiquing glaze and the final product. Good job. :)

January 25, 2010 at 9:05 PM
KimMalk said...

Oh boy, now you're going to get me thinking I should put something above my stove. (A girl who uses duct tape-cool!)

January 25, 2010 at 9:14 PM
gail@My Repurposed Life said...

It looks great! thanks for showing us how you did it!
gail

January 25, 2010 at 9:32 PM
Laurel @ Ducks in a Row said...

It's perfect - I love how you trimmed it out!

January 25, 2010 at 10:24 PM
Stephanie Lynn @Under the Table and Dreaming said...

This is fabulous! You did an amazing job - Love it!

January 26, 2010 at 1:06 AM
Beth Anne said...

I love it and I am inspired!

January 26, 2010 at 6:07 AM
Wendy said...

Looks great ~ something I think I'll have to try!

January 26, 2010 at 7:24 AM
Richella Parham said...

I love this! Thank you for explaining things step-by-step. And thank you for the photo of the Valspar antiquing glaze. I've been wondering what product to use for projects like this, but I couldn't figure it out. Now I know exactly what to get.

Your sign looks wonderful!

January 26, 2010 at 8:31 AM
Kim said...

It turned out perfectly & looks wonderful in that space. Thanks for sharing your process.

January 26, 2010 at 9:34 AM
Delightful Dwelling said...

I love it! I have that same little space to fill in, I might have to try something like this.

January 26, 2010 at 11:14 AM
Robyn said...

very cute sign! This is on my list to do.

January 26, 2010 at 12:34 PM
Andrea said...

cute!

January 26, 2010 at 1:04 PM
Anna & Noah said...

How adorable! I love the sign, and really appreciate you detailing how you created it! Thanks for sharing!!!

January 26, 2010 at 1:11 PM
Unknown said...

Nice job! Perfect for that space. Sure doesn't look like a first attempt! Thanks for linking up.

January 26, 2010 at 7:39 PM
Sandra said...

What a great idea! Love it! Thank you for sharing with us.
Sandra

January 26, 2010 at 7:43 PM
Sandra said...

I want to add to my previous response that I just signed up to follow along your blog!
Come visit me some time. :)
Blessings,
Sandra

January 26, 2010 at 7:45 PM
Julie Bagamary said...

Very well done and cute too.

January 27, 2010 at 5:52 AM
EllensCreativePassage said...

Looks great!

January 27, 2010 at 8:49 AM
Heidi said...

your sign turned out great! and i love the framing on it!

January 27, 2010 at 1:55 PM
Bab's Kitchen said...

Wow! What a great job!

January 27, 2010 at 3:25 PM
j said...

I wouldn't have held a steady enough hand to make my letters that perfect. You did a wonderful job and it looks great in your kitchen!

January 27, 2010 at 11:17 PM
Leigh of Tales from Bloggeritaville said...

I LOVE your sign. Great steady hand!Great work!


Thanks for linking up to Thrifty Thursday!

Leigh

Tales from Bloggertiaville

www.lbratina.blogspot.com

January 28, 2010 at 3:29 PM
One Cheap B*tch said...

Very pretty! It came out great! Now I know how they make all the great signs at Home Goods! LOL!

January 28, 2010 at 3:43 PM
Lenore said...

Fabulous job....I love it!.
I'm going to have to give it a try.

January 28, 2010 at 10:57 PM
Diann said...

That turned out wonderful!

January 28, 2010 at 11:22 PM
Kim @ Twice Remembered said...

Thanks, everyone! I know that if *I* can do this, you can...If you've been thinking about it {like I did for a looong time}, then go for it! And don't drink coffee beforehand, lol!

January 28, 2010 at 11:23 PM
pogonip said...

Wow! I love how it turned out. I just started a name plaque for our cottage and I hope it turns out half as well as yours!

I'm having trouble deciding on the font I want to use though. If anyone wants to drop by Meadowsweet Cottage and put in their two cents I'd love it!

http://pogonipnv.blogspot.com

January 29, 2010 at 1:06 AM
Hootin Anni said...

What great work! And your project turned out perfectly. I love everything crafts. This was most enjoyable.

My show n tell is all about Valentine stuff this week.

HERE

January 29, 2010 at 5:23 AM
Anonymous said...

I'm in need of something like this but for my laundry room.. so.. you do recall Kim that I gave Pickles a lovely compound miter saw for christmas.. and he has yet to break that bad boy out (according to him, I have too many unfinished ie meaning yet to be painting items in the garage and won't budge until those are done.)

Hmmpft..well I guess when the weather turns here I'll be painting like crazy.

Love it as always..

with love,

Olivia

January 29, 2010 at 6:23 AM
Tracy Wills said...

Love the sign, great job!

January 29, 2010 at 8:28 AM
Ms. Bake-it said...

Love the sign, it looks great! I may have to try my hand at making one.

Thank you for sharing it with us.

~ Tracy

January 29, 2010 at 11:48 AM
Kayren said...

I want to make one now!

I don't know what your tips for hanging were, but we've used the Command Picture Hanging Strips with great success. I can't recommend them highly enough. It seems like they would be perfect for this.

January 29, 2010 at 11:54 AM
A Hint of Home said...

It turned out so cute! I keep a sign in the same place on my stove. It's the perfect place for a sign that size.

January 29, 2010 at 1:43 PM
Miss Mustard Seed said...

Great sign! It looks so cute and fits in perfectly with your kitchen.

January 29, 2010 at 9:01 PM
Elizabeth said...

how did you paint your words on? I'm attempting a project like this and they are drying horribly. Did you paint using globs of paint or did you do several thin layers? Any help would be much appreciated!

January 30, 2010 at 10:39 PM
Elizabeth said...

how did you paint your words on? I'm attempting a project like this and they are drying horribly. Did you paint using globs of paint or did you do several thin layers? Any help would be much appreciated!

January 30, 2010 at 10:39 PM
Kim @ Twice Remembered said...

Thanks, everyone!
Elizabeth, yes - you will need to do several thin layers of paint, especially if you are painting on a dark back ground. I found that regular wall paint worked better than the bottled craft paint I first tried to use. I hope this helps!

January 31, 2010 at 12:15 PM
Its So Very Cheri said...

You did a fabulous job.
FYI-I have a fun give-a-way startiong tonight.
Cheri

January 31, 2010 at 4:43 PM
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