DIY Vintage Christmas Sign | i should be mopping the floor
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DIY Vintage Christmas Sign

This DIY Vintage Christmas Sign is a fun addition to our holiday decor!
Check out the tutorial below, here on our fifth Day of Christmas fun!


I've always struggled with our mantle around the holidays. I've tried wreaths, mirrors and lots of other things...but nothing gave it the punch I was looking for. After enjoying my Pumpkin Patch sign for the fall, I decided to create one for the holidays, too.

  
I'm super happy with how it turned out. I wanted something that looked like it was carried right off the tree farm after 100 years of service.  


I had the big blue box store cut a thin piece of plywood to the size of the space above the mantle. Then I used some paint I found on the clearance table and gave it a couple of coats.
Next, I created a sign and tile-printed it out...INSANITY. It was 36 pages, tiled. THIRTY. SIX. Never again. Next time, I'm going for an over head projector. The above is sized to download and print onto standard letter-sized paper. You can easily use it on a projector to project your design on to your board and trace it. If you're a glutton for punishment like me, feel free to drop me an email for the 36 pager...I'm happy to send it along. 


After I printed it, I taped it to the board, one sheet at a time. It was like a gigantic puzzle.
  
I used a ball point pen and traced very firmly along the lettering to leave an indention in the wood {through the paper}. Then I outlined the indention in pencil. This took a while. So much so that I dropped the "5 miles, blah, blah, blah" bit. I was soooo done.  


I used acrylic paints to fill in the outlined letters. 


I used red and gold for the main lettering. 

I then used green to add accents to the lettering. 

Then it was time to pull out my inner Bob Ross and add some happy little trees to the sign. I used three shades of green to create the trees. And a little brown for their trunks. This step is all about the blending and layering of colors.


After the sign had dried, I pulled it outside to sand it and rough it up a bit with my sander.  


I then used dark walnut stain to work in sections and age the piece. Simply brush a small amount of stain on and let it sit for just a few minutes. 


Then wipe it off with paper towels...rubbing in circles to make sure it's blended well.  I sealed mine with a spray sealer and I was good to go!


Loving this little touch of holiday vintage! 













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21 comments:

  1. It is gorgeous! Love it. Thanks for the great tutorial too.

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  2. I'm a sucker for giant signs and I love this one too! I find that engineer prints work well for getting large graphics on a sign without all the headache! Super cute!

    Amber @ www.AverieLane.com

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  3. That turned out great! You are very talented!

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  4. This is awesome! Instead of the download...how about if I just have you make me one? :) Really really awesome!
    Kelly

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  5. Wow!!!!!!!!!! I absolutely love, love, LOVE it.

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  6. WOW! I am so going to make one of these for next year's mantel. Thanks so much for the inspriration!
    Ashley @ 3littlegreenwoods

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  7. I love this sign! I was just thinking the trees looked Bob Ross inspired!

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  8. The sign looks wonderful on the mantle!

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  9. Kristi I love the sign! The mantle in my house is such a PITA - it's only about 1/2 inch wide, and the chimney box has this kind of french-chateu-ish sweep on one side. Hard to decorate on a good day!

    Thanks for sharing, and no, I'm not crazy enough to ask for the 36-pager!

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  10. This sign is beautiful... perfect for inspiring holiday festivities!!! Bravo!

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  11. You sure do make some lovely signs - I really liked this one, it turned out beautiful and it looks great on your mantle!

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  12. I love this sign but like you not sure I would attempt the 36 pager again. LOL

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  13. This is awesome! I love the look of your vintage sign ~ anything vintage has my name on it. ;)

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  14. This looks amazing! Now I wish I lived somewhere witha mantle to decorate. Granted, I'm not sure if I could make anything look as put together as yours. Beautiful job.

    Michelle

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  15. Wow you are amazing! I can't believe you hand painted that! You were featured today from the Create Link Inspire party! http://www.marvelousmommy.com/2013/12/7-brilliant-diy-tutorials/

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  16. I saw your sign featured at the Create Link Inspire party. It turned out beautifully and 36 pages, that is some patience you have :) I love the vintage feel the stain adds, great idea! Those stockings are too cute, where did they come from? So glad you shared this, thanks and Merry Christmas!

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    1. Thanks for stopping by! The stockings were from Southern Living at Home...but they've now gone out of business. I see them from time to time on ebay. They're called the "Fireside Stockings" or you can look up Southern Living at Home metal stockings. Merry Christmas to you, too!!

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  17. You are truly gifted! What a gorgeous sign... and all of your Holiday Decor is amazing! Where did you get those stocking holders!?

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  18. This is so awesome!

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