DIY Painted Plank Signs (Home Decor)

Happy Monday! I love projects that make use of repurposed items, and the lovely DIY Signs featured today are made from old wood planks. I'm in North Carolina for a couple of days, helping my mom go through the kitchen in my Nannie's house. I asked the very talented Samantha from Crafty Texas Girls to share her project tutorials with you all.

Please welcome Samantha and leave her some comment love!
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Hi! I am Samantha from Crafty Texas Girls! I am so honored to be guest posting for Amanda today. I have been reading Serenity Now for a long time and it is such a thrill to be here!

Today I wanted to share with you a project that my daughter I completed together,

 I hope you find it inspiring!

Summer rolled in, bringing high temperatures and relaxed days. Each afternoon, while little sister naps, my big girl and I like to do some special things together. Things that would normally be hard to do when my busy toddler is awake. We usually read, practice numbers and letters, and then make a craft.

The other day, we decided to paint. I had some old wood planks in the garage that I had been saving for 'just the right inspiration'.

We pulled out acrylic paints and a few brushes. Afton began by experimenting with painting princesses, castles, and rainbows. We did our work in the garage with aprons and an old card table. That way, messes and paint splatter weren't even part of our conversation. I set up the box fan and opened the doors to let the air blow through.

I love these times, busy hands always make for the best talks.

As we continued to work, Afton decided to create a American flag. If it turned out just right, she was hoping to hang it on the front door in honor of the Fourth of July. I helped her sketch out the 13 stripes and we chatted about their meaning. She guessed that her flag would need about 'a million' stars. So we had a little conversation about the fifty stars as well.

While she got to work with her red paint, I looked down at my project. I have been a bit obsessed with Chevron Stripes for awhile now. Probably ever since I started watching The Nate Berkus Show and his beautiful zig zag rug caught my eye. So when I looked at my old chippy piece of wood, I knew it was destined for some geometric stripes.

I used a paint stirring stick I found on the work bench to serve as a pattern. Using a pencil and absolutely no exact measuring, I sketched out the design.

Glancing back across the table at Afton, I noticed her flag was missing a few stripes and stars. But since we had already had our 'mini-history' lesson, I decided she deserved some creative freedom.

The distressed look of the wooden plank in front of me was the perfect backdrop for a twist of modern design. After two coats of paint, I left it to dry a bit. Then I roughed up the edges using sandpaper. I focused the most 'wear' on the edges and corners. I didn't want the paint to look too perfect.

Finally, I used a stencil and some black paint. Just as I was finishing the last letter, my toddler woke up. Which is why the phrase I painted on is so fitting... "More ideas than time".

The sign is now hanging happily above my sewing machine. And Afton's flag is proudly displayed on the front door.

"The time you enjoy wasting, is not wasted time."

I am a stay-at-home turned Crafty girl. My blog is the place where I chronicle my journey in homemaking, crafting,
decor and all things DIY. I am dedicated to creating a warm, loving home
for my husband and
children. And to me that means a lot of 'crafty fun' how-to projects
along the way!

Over at Crafty Texas Girls, you will find inspiration for everything from home decor to projects ideas for you and your kiddos. My blog is where I balance my time with family and my passion for creativity. I hope you stop by! 

 

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Many thanks to Samantha for taking the time to share this post today! If you haven't stopped by Crafty Texas Girls, you must. I love her style, and her home looks like such a warm, inviting place to be. Her blog is full of cute crafts, home decor and party ideas, yummy recipes, and fun family ideas. 

Have a wonderful day, and I'll be back tomorrow with a quick video post!