Tuesday, September 10, 2013

Homemade autumn themed sign...



Towards the end of last week we had fall-ish weather.
I got to wear tights and boots with my skirt one day and the next day I got to wear my wellies due to the thunder, lightening and rain.
So, me, the one who lets go of summer rather reluctantly, was officially ready to embrace autumn.

BUT...
this week, it's in the nineties!
It's kind of putting a damper on my desire to dig into the whole fall decor thing.
HOWEVER...
I did get my autumn craft on with a scrap of wood I've had set aside out in the garage.


First of all, I lightly sanded the board and gave it a quick coat of watered down white acrylic craft paint.
I wanted it to look weathered, like it really was an old sign that had been used outdoors.


Next, I used painter's tape to mark a line so the letters were not all crooked and wonky.
(Yes, this is the first time I've thought of doing this instead of just eye balling it.  Lightbulb!)
Then I marked the center of the board, figuring out where the words should go based on that.
Good thing I planned ahead, unlike my usual compulsive crafting nature,
because I originally wanted the sign to say apple cider, but there would not have been room for that.


Once I started painting the letters, I tried to keep the brush fairly dry, so the letters looked worn.
Why not start out with them looking that way, rather than to have to go back and sand them down?


Once the sign was done,  I did think a couple letters looked too "new" so I lightly sanded those.


When everything was dry, (which took about 30 seconds in this heat),
 to make the sign look older, and a bit grungier, I took some brown shoe polish paste and lightly rubbed a bit of that on.
If you have dark furniture wax that would work, too.
Then I rubbed on some natural furniture paste wax and gave it a buff.
I screwed three small "eyes" in the top of the sign to hang the sign from.


Then I hung it up over my dining room window where my homemade "Boulangerie" sign usually hangs.



My kind of craft, fairly simple, and done in about an hour!

still following,


              





24 comments:

  1. Replies
    1. Thanks, friend! I'm kind of a whimsical type gal!

      Delete
  2. Love your new sign! I need to get busy and do some Fall decorating but it's going to be a bit hard this week with temps in the nineties!
    ~Adrienne~

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I am so ready for it to be a bit cooler and not so muggy. I miss you, friend! I want to get together so bad! Life has gotten a bit out of control.

      Delete
  3. So fun, Elizabeth. You're so creative. And yes, I know...this weather makes it a little difficult to embrace fall, doesn't it? Glad you persevered anyhow. :-)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks, Ashley. I'm flattered that you think I'm creative. I consider myself to have about elementary school level creative skills, but I have fun trying! It makes me happy.

      Delete
  4. great minds and all - i'm in the middle of a similar project, to go above our slider door when completed. love your sign. :)

    ReplyDelete
  5. That's so cute! You make it look very easy too.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. It was easy....or else I wouldn't do it...I don't do complicated. LOL!

      Delete
  6. I want to copy cat you. But then, I generally do so what's new with that?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Copycat away, friend...surely you don't think all my ideas are original do you?

      Delete
  7. I love your sign, Elizabeth! Perfect for this season, even though it's so hot. I'm keeping our home cool on the inside so it feels more like fall. :-))
    Mary Alice

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I finally gave in and decorated for fall today. I was determined to wait, but just couldn't!

      Delete
  8. So cute!!
    And...I'm ready for cute sweater weather!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Yes, and boots and tights and snuggling under quilts and hot cocoa!

      Delete
  9. I've already decorated for fall. I can hardly wait, every year, to put up my jack-o-lantern collection.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I just decorated for fall today...I finally succumbed!

      Delete
  10. Love it! I gotta make one now. You've inspired me now.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. If you make one I hope you let me know and post a photo!

      Delete

The best thing about blogging is hearing from you!
I'd love for you to leave a comment! Click subscribe by email if you want me to be able to reply to you.