Love Sign Knock Off -- How to paint letters on a sign

Voting is still open this week on So You Think You're Crafty -- head on over and vote for my conference tote bag!

  Are y'all ready for all the details on my Love Sign Knock Off?  I am oh so happy with this project.  I searched pinterest for some love project inspiration.  I found a sign I fell in love with but...$300!!  YIKES!  My love project became an attempt to knock off that sign on a pint size budget.  I made mine completely with things I had on hand.  Yes free to me.  My love sign knock off...

Here is the original and my version side by side.  My version is almost exactly the same size as the original.  However, mine is three boards versus two.  By using three boards, mine is made with standard size lumber so that anyone can make one for themselves at home.  All you need for the letters is a printer, a pen, a ruler, some paint, and some patience.

I started with a little help from hubby.  We used some leftover lumber from building a barn.  Cut it to size where it would be approximately square.  My version is about 28 inches by 30 inches.  Very close to being square but not quite.  :)

We added runners on the back.  So it basically is assembled like a pallet would be.

I then painted it white.  It took about 5 coats as the lumber absorbed A LOT and bled through like this....

But I eventually got a nice even white coat.  Now for those letters.  This tip came from this source via pinterest and I heart it!!  Print out your words with any old printer the size you want them.  Lay them on your wood sign and trace around them.  For this sign, for example, I would trace the "H" measure and move my paper and trace the "E" measure and move my paper and trace the next letter, etc.

That will leave a slight indent where you want to paint.  Genius I tell you!  I wanted rustic letters.  So I used a very dry brush and left all of those natural imperfections....

Each letter is unique.  No sanding required. 

To me it looks more worn and less "forced" than sanding...

I loved how on the original the letters landed on the middle of the separations between the boards.  So I measure carefully and had mine come out the same way.  The measuring for the letter placement was the hardest part.

I am so happy this one got me through one more week of SYTYC!  Plus I am beyond thrilled with how this one turned out!

After some thought, I will be selling this sign -- just one time no duplicates will be made.  If you are interested drop me an email!  

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~Angie~
The Country Chic Cottage

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Zebra Jewelry Organizer with @aptguide and @plaidcrafts

If you missed my zebra themed teen room, head on over and check it out now.  Also don't forget to enter the giveaway for a $50 American Express gift card from Apartment Guide. 
Now do you want to see how I made the zebra jewelry organizer?

It was actually pretty simple.  The trick?  Finding some of these goodies at the goodwill....

They are wooden trays that are meant to grip onto your couch arm.  I just saw solid wood jewelry organizer...

I just removed those brackets from the back.  Spray painted them black.  Then added on a zebra print using the Martha Stewart pearl paint from Plaid...I love that shimmer!

I actually took the zebra print lamp and roughly copied the zebra print on it.  It took two coats of the Martha Stewart paint to get it to look like this...

Zebra print is extremely forgiving to paint.  Trust me...no one will see your mess ups.  Don't be scared.  Jump on in and paint on some zebra stripes.

I picked up a set of hooks at the dollar tree for $1 and spray painted them in silver. 

Then just screw them into the wood...

A couple of saw tooth hangers on the back of each one and you are ready to hang...

The frame for earrings above it I made almost two years ago...

I think these pieces will transition well to the college dorm.  Plus now her jewelry is all organized and where she can see it!  Come back tomorrow and I will talk about a few more teen room details.

Disclaimer -- I received the Martha Stewart paint from Plaid for free.  However, the opinions and project are all mine.

Apartment Guide and owner Consumer Source, Inc. partnered with bloggers such as me to participate in their monthly blogger programs. As part of that program, I received compensation. They did not tell me what to purchase or what to say about the products used, and believe that consumers and bloggers are free to form their own opinions and share them in their own words. Consumer Source’s policies align with WOMMA Ethics Code, FTC guidelines and social media engagement recommendations.

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~Angie~
The Country Chic Cottage

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Vintage Ladder Quilt Hanger

I couldn't let that great vintage ladder I got for my Christmas card display go back to the barn.  So I came up with a plan.  I have some great quilts but no way to display them.  Let's face it...having them stacked in the closet is not doing them justice.  So I took my vintage ladder and used it to display my quilts...sort of like a quilt hanger...

 Like a quilt hanger but oh so much better!  Chippy paint, worn wood, I heart this ladder!  And it is perfect up next to the vintage quilt perfection....

I leaned it up against the wall in my bedroom... 

It made this corner look amazing!  Do you have your quilts in a closet?  Get them out and display them proudly! 

  

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~Angie~

The Country Chic Cottage

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Crackle Finish Table Top -- $1 table!

My crackle paint obsession continues...this time on furniture!  Check out my crackle finish on this tray table top plus learn how to do your own.

What about a little before and after first??  Here is the after....

And the before...this tray table was $1 at a yard sale...but boy oh boy did it need some love!  I started with Krylon Dual in gray...cause I am in love with that paint... 

But this table is all about the faux finish!  For that I used the DecoArt designer series in white, DecoArt one step crackle, and the Americana sealer to finish it off... 

First I painted two white stripes across my new gray table.  Two coats on each one... 

Let that dry, then spread on the one step crackle.  Watch the magic over the next hour. I seriously heart this one step crackle medium.  Amazing stuff...seriously amazing!     

I then used some stain I had one hand to age over the crackle.  I just put on some stain then wiped it right back off.  I did each area 2-3 times.  Until it looked just right... 

I used some stencils to paint on "1st".  I want 3 of these eventually.  And this "1st" belongs to my first born.  :)  See what I did there.  It has not yet made them stop fighting over this one though... 

Two coats of spray sealer over the top will keep it looking great for a long time!  This was my first time trying out the spray sealer and it is great.  I applied two coats and had absolutely no issues. 

Here is the final product!   

Loving all that crackled paint goodness... 

How about some up close beauty shots?   

I did the crackle around the edges of the table also... 

Lovely dark cracks that are the perfect addition to my home... 

Seriously wondering what else I can spread this crackle medium on... 

I have to find some more of these to redo.  Do y'all think I can find two more for $1 each??  Don't think I will be that lucky...do you? 

Lovely gray and white chippy goodness... 

So what would you crackle?  Give me some ideas! 

Tomorrow starts our handmade gifts event!!  Stay tuned!

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~Thanks for stopping by!~
~Angie~
The Country Chic Cottage

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Stool Transformation with a Coffee Sack

Did y'all see that Gina is having a coffee party tomorrow?  Well I had to join in!  So I did a stool transformation with a coffee sack upholstered top...

 This stool was $2.50 at a yard sale and the fabric was um...icky....

 But it had good bones!  So I stripped it down to nothing...

 I broke out my favorite...Krylon Dual!  If ever anyone could love a spray paint...seriously amazing....I think I would marry it.  You can't mess up using dual!  So I gave it a good coat all over.

Then I decided those big wood sides were just calling for a stencil.  So I broke out the Deco Art paint in gray.

I stenciled just down the center of both sides.  A subtle elegant effect...cause with all that burlap we are gonna put on top...it needed a touch of elegance.

Then I just reupholstered the stool with a coffee sack.  I heart this simple one.  Just a stripe down the center...

See elegant next to rustic...lovely...

This one is going in my office area.  I hope it helps me to organize the mess that is etsy.  Then if we need it, it can be a second seat in that area.  There are always kids fighting over the computer and the chair.  I am sure this won't stop the fighting but at least I can say "one of you sit here".  :)

Who knew an old coffee sack could look so good?

And I heart how the stencil detail is there but understated.  Not "in your face".  Just there and adding to the look...love..love..love...

So are do you have any coffee projects to link up?  Anything goes...coffee sack, filters, ANYTHING coffee related!  Link it up in the morning over at The Shabby Creek Cottage!


Krylon and Decoart sent me products to work with.  All opinions and ideas are my own.

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~Thanks for stopping by!~
~Angie~
The Country Chic Cottage  

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