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DIY Beach Sign (Ballard Designs Knock Off)

Get ready for some Summer Inspiration with my beach sign knock off. Grab a paint brush and get started on some summer decor of your own.
Author Angie Holden

What You Will Need

  • 18″ x 24″ Canvas
  • Graphite Paper
  • Black Paint 
  • Blue Paint 
  • White Paint 
  • Spray Sealer 
  • Cinnamon

Instructions

  • Start painting your canvas. You can mix the blue with a little black to make the color darker. I made a custom blue by doing just that.
    painted sign
  • Start at the top of your canvas and begin painting a solid blue. Don’t forget the canvas edges as well.
    While your paint is still wet, apply a little black paint with a very dry brush and spread across the top. That will make a few dark areas. Keep your inspiration picture handy and try to mimic where the dark areas are on the original. It’s important to do this while the blue paint is wet.
  • Do the same thing with a dry brush and some white paint. Again, I picked a few areas that were light on the original sign and brushed on white paint while my blue was still wet.
  • While you are waiting for your completed canvas to dry, pick a font on your computer that mimics the original inspiration. Print your BEACH letters as large as you can while still fitting on the canvas. I used whole sheets of paper and taped them together to fit.
  • Once you are happy with your letters on and their placement on your beach sign, put your graphite paper under your copy paper.
  • Trace around each letter and the graphite will transfer your letters to the canvas.
  • Now you can just color in the lines with white paint.
  • Now we need an arrow. I took some copy paper and made an arrow template that I felt was the right size for this canvas. Then, I used it as a guide and painted inside of it following the same tips and tricks as given above for the letters.
  • Next, I free handed a line all the way around the outside edge of my canvas in white.
  • Then I painted freehand four of these rough circle shapes. I loved how the original appeared to have rusty holes where it had been hanging somewhere for years. Since I had room, I put four of these holes on mine instead of just two. Allow your entire canvas to dry before continuing to the next step.
  • Now it is time to add our secret ingredient to our beach sign—cinnamon.
  • Spray small areas of your sign with the sealer. While it’s wet, sprinkle with cinnamon. You can play with different techniques on different areas. For instance, on my “bolt holes” I sprinkled the cinnamon on the wet sealer then took my finger and traced the circle. So the “rust” also comes out looking circular!
  • Try a light dusting of cinnamon in some areas of your beach sign.
    You can also experiment with the spray, sprinkle, spray technique. Spray on your sealer, sprinkle on cinnamon, then immediately spray again. This gives a whole other look to your “rust” techniques.
  • Once finished, spray sealer right on the top. Allow the entire thing to dry and you are ready to display your rustic sign creation.