If I can do it...easy make your own signs

I love old signs.  You know, the kind that look like they have hung out in the weather for a hundred years.  Those are getting harder to find and when you do find a good one, it can be expensive.  I've seen many bloggers recreate old signs so well that I couldn't tell the difference.  To do it well, it looks like a lot of work.  I just don't have that kind of patience.  If I decide to do a project, I like to do it fast and get instant gratification.  I have never made a sign before but on a whim I decided to give it a try.  If you like to do things the right way, just turn away now.  I'm sure this will go against all rules.  If you like fast and easy, stay tuned.

Do you remember this sign I posted about last week that Jennie found?  Maybe if you squint your eyes you can make it out.  For those of you under 40, this is what everything will look like in a few years.

The more I squinted and looked at that sign, the more I kind of wanted one.  It's cute.  So, with leftovers I had in the garage, I gave it a whirl.  Here's what I did.

I started with a piece of cheap wood the size I wanted for my sign.  If it has "issues", that's okay.  It will add to the "character" of it.

I like thin wood.  I don't know why.

I sanded the edges just enough that I wouldn't get splinters in my fingers while I handled it.

Then, I spraypainted it a quick good coat of creamy white. I like satin finish because the next layer of paint won't adhere perfectly to it.  There's so much spraypainting going around blogland, I hope you all have one of those spray handle attachment thingys.  They are awesome.  I have two, an old one and this newer one. 

Here's what it looked like with one coat of spray paint. 

Then, I pulled the little craft paints out in the colors I wanted.  Notice they are Yard and Garden craft paints.  Why?  Because it's what I had at the time.

I didn't wait for the spraypaint to dry completely before swiping on some pale blue.

I thought the blue was a little too plain so I mixed a bit of green and blue together and swiped that on too.  As you can see, none of the paint was applied perfectly.

Then, using a pencil, I wrote out what I wanted to write on my sign.  I did this so I would know how to space my lettering.  It's easier to erase pencil lines than paint.

Then I freehanded the letters with black craft paint.  Looks pretty bad right now, huh?

Now, sand the heck out of it.  Sand as much as you want. 

 

Finally, I glopped on some dark poly stain.  Leave it for a bit or take it off immediately. 

I took it off pretty quick because I am IMPATIENT!

That's what it looks like up close.  Not bad, huh?  I made three of these in about 30 minutes or so.

Total cost: free (because I had this stuff laying around).

This one is my favorite. 

Here's my version of Jennie's cottage sign.  Kind of cute.  What do you think?  Does it work?

 

I'm so darn happy with it that I think I'll link it to some of my favorite blog parties listed below on the right or above on my blog party page.  If anybody makes any, I would love to see them!