Hello Everyone!
As many of you know during the weekend Matt and I were working on our little laundry room.
After doing the labor work { the counter-top} I needed a fun project and I made this little EXIT sign
that will go right on top of our laundry room door.
I know most of us know how to make a sign but I want to focus more on how to give your signs character and texture.
TUTORIAL
1
Get your wood.
I like to use pine for my signs. I use 1×6 or 1×8 depending of the sign.
This one is 1×6 and is about 18″ long.
First, paint the undertone you want for your sign, this is the color that will show after you do the sanding.
Make sure you let this first coat dry thoroughly because you don’t want the second color to blend with this one.
As you can see in the picture there is a lot of paint there.
I don’t use a plate. I just throw the paint right on top of my wood.
If the color of your paint is too dark { like mine was } add some white until it looks perfect for you.
2
After your patience has been tried and the first coat is dry you can apply the main color for your sign.
I chose coral for mine.
Yummy!
You want to do a couple coats of your main color until you don’t see any of the first color.
I did a total of two… This is how mine looked after one coat.
3
The next step is to apply the stencil.
I love to use vinyl stencils because they stay put and you can make any design you want.
You can find or purchase this EXIT stencil here.
If you have never worked with vinyl stencils before you can click here for a full tutorial of how to do it.
Remember to tap the paint instead of brushing side by side.
It took two coats of white paint for the letters also.
4
To be safe let the paint dry and then peel the stencil off.
I love this part!
5
Now that your sign is all dry, it is time to make it EXTRAORDINARY!
Use sand paper to distress it.
Slowly sand the areas where you want the first color { turquoise } to come through.
The more you sand…the more rustic it will look.
This is another reason why I love to use stencils because you can distress your entire sign,
something you can’t do when you apply vinyl.
We are done!
…I am loving the coral!
Thank you all for visiting with me!
Besos!
Desirée
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I am sharing this project over at these fantastic parties!
Love, love, love! I have a ton of scrap wood saved for a project like this. Thanks for inspiring!
I love this! So pretty.
That is an awesome sign, such a cute idea! Thanks for the tips on distressing!
Nice! “Besos” for you!
I love the colors!! OOOh where oh where can I add this to my house!
Really lovely tutorial, i love making my own signs too, so nice to have something personal and unique in the home x
Super cute!! Loving the colors! Can’t wait to see that finished laundry room!
<3 Cristiana
It’s beautiful Desiree! You always pick the best colors! Could you just stop by my house and leave post it notes everywhere telling me what colors to use : )
Hey – awesome job! I’ve never tried to distress anything before (my mom does it all the time and our decors aren’t quite the same). I definitely see how it adds texture and dynamics to your sign though. I’ll have to keep an out for something around my place that I want to take some sandpaper to!
Also, great color combination!
Hello Desiree,
Love your new laundry room sign, it is the small touches that finish off a room. Nice Work!
Smiles, Paula