Want a barnwood sign for your home? No time to go collect the real thing? I am going to show you how to make your own for fall with a paint technique you need to see to believe. This quick and easy method will have you making a barnwood sign for every season of the year. This one was originally posted over at Crafts Unleashed where I am a design team member however I thought I would post it here in case y’all missed it.
Supplies needed to make a barnwood sign:
Please note that links below may be affiliate links which means that you will not pay anymore however a portion of your purchase will go to support this site.
- Wood Stain in a dark color
- Craft Paint (in white, light grey, orange, and dark grey)
- Blank Wood Pallet Sign
- Paint Brush
This paint technique involves a dry paint brush. Basically you get very little paint onto your paint brush then dab most of it off on a piece of paper. Run the dry paint brush over your surface quickly. It will leave dark and light spots as well as spots that are not even covered in paint. This is perfect! Start by using this techique on your pallet sign with the dark grey paint as shown below.
Then add the light grey paint on top of that using that same dry brush technique.
Finally use the same technique with the white paint. You should still have some raw wood showing through at this stage. These are each very, very thin coats of paint. Also because you are using such small amount of paint the layers dry almost instantly. You can therefore add all of these layers within a few minutes.
You can now follow with your dark stain. Add it to the entire surface with a brush, allow to sit a few seconds, then wipe off with a rag.
I then repeated the dry brush technique that I did above with all three paints over the surface. This gives you a rustic rough appearance that is worn and layered. However this only takes a few minutes to do on any surface. One note: don’t forget those edges when you are painting! You want to get those covered as well as to not ruin the look of your barnwood sign.
You now have a barnwood like surface that is ready for any treatment on the top. I free handed the word “fall” but you can add anything that you like. (Psst…want to get better at hand lettering? Be sure to check out this post for a course you don’t want to miss!)
Ready to see how this compares with real barnwood? The sign is sitting on the real thing in the image below. You can see that mine turned out a little lighter but overall it is a good representation!
You might also want to make the metallic leaf mason jar shown above or those baker’s twine pumpkins. They will really complete the look!
Grab your craft paints and make your own barnwood sign today. You will love the results and just how easy it is to pull together. Y’all enjoy and be sure to add this to your fall decor.
Love this and want more? Try the links below!
- Wheat Wreath for Fall
- Fall Burlap Craft Ideas
- Jar Ideas for Fall
- Farm Sweet Farm Sign
- Quick and Easy Fall Wreath
- 3D Paper Pumpkin
- Pumpkins Fall Sign
- Fall Wood Bead Garland
- Fall Decor Buckets
Weekly Newsletter
Subscribe to get our latest content by email every week!
Kate | The Organized Dream says
August 14, 2017 at 10:22 amThis sign came out great! I love it!
JaneEllen says
August 14, 2017 at 4:52 pmLoving your sign and how you conditioned the pallet wood to look like barn wood. Free handing the word “Fall” looks great also. You sure make awesome signs, love them all. What is it I wonder about rustic wood signs that appeal to us so much we keep making them? Do you like to rotate your signs for holidays and seasons?
When I get tired of a sign I sand it down then make new sign, no sense wasting wood. Sometimes can’t get Mr.Furry to cut some more wood for me..tempermental wood cutter.
Have been rounding up Fall projects to start, organizing all my current print outs. Need to go thru older printouts to make room for current projects.
Have wonderful week
Angie Holden says
August 15, 2017 at 5:51 amI do rotate them! And I often give them away to friends and family. Sanding them down is a great option however!
dragon ball super says
August 14, 2017 at 9:58 pmVery useful, thanks for posting
Jodie says
August 15, 2017 at 6:03 amLooks GREAT! Would love if you’d share at Reader Tip Tuesday: http://www.jodiefitz.com/2017/08/15/reader-tip-tuesday-craft-recipe-party/
Finally thinking autumn….
Cindy Richter says
August 15, 2017 at 12:54 pmGreat tutorial. Saw this on the Show/Tell Link Party. Love the sign especially since fall is my fave time of year!
Jess says
August 16, 2017 at 7:49 amThis is so cute! 🙂
I would love for you to share this with my Facebook Group for recipes, crafts, tips, and tricks: https://www.facebook.com/groups/pluckyrecipescraftstips/
Thanks for joining Cooking and Crafting with J & J!
Lanae Bond says
August 16, 2017 at 1:47 pmExcellent tutorial! It has been a long time since I painted and miss doing projects. I hope one day I get a chance to do that!
Kelly Kimmell says
August 17, 2017 at 9:24 amSaw this on Thursday Favorite Things, I’m #64 on the list. Hope you’ll stop by and say Hello. Have a fabulous day.
Emily says
August 18, 2017 at 1:52 pmThis is an interesting painting technique. I’ll have to try it on my next sign. Thanks for the tutorial!
Jelica says
August 19, 2017 at 10:04 amThe sign turned out wonderfully! That paint technique really does make the wood look like barnwood. Great idea for Fall!
Theresa @DearCreatives says
August 20, 2017 at 2:38 pmI’m looking forward to fall & more fall projects. This barn wood sign turned out cute. Thanks for sharing at the Inspiration Spotlight party. Sharing.
Charlene Asay says
August 21, 2017 at 12:13 amVery cute and simple sign. I love it!
Kim~madeinaday says
August 22, 2017 at 2:15 pmSuper cute sign! I am ready for fall! Sharing on FB & Twitter! Thank you for sharing on Merry Monday! Hope to see ya next week!
Kim
Angela Boone says
August 22, 2017 at 7:47 pmI love how your sign turned out! Great tutorial as well!!
Emily says
August 27, 2017 at 4:21 pmThis technique is so neat. It really does look like the real thing! Thanks for linking up with Merry Monday this week; I’ll be featuring your barnwood sign at our upcoming party. I hope you’ll stop by and link up again!