I have wanted a vintage “Groceries” sign to hang over my pantry just like Christy had over her wall calendar but haven’t been able to find one. So, I decided to make one. This actually was a part of the chalkboard paint projects we recently posted about on Tatertots and Jello, but I never actually included it in that post so the project debuts here today!
This is a very easy way to make a sign, I know there are lots of other ways–stencils, vinyl etc. but this is a way I came up with since I don’t have a vinyl machine nor did I have the right size stencil.
I used this exact same technique to make this “Easter” sign last year for my mantel.
My technique is SO simple. First, I used either a ready made plaque (from Michael’s) or just a scrap board (from Home Depot) and painted it. The black paint on the groceries sign is actually black chalkboard paint, my daughter painted this scrap piece of wood while I painted the board for my DIY Huge Giant Chalkboard last summer as her keep-her-occupied “project” so it just needed lettering.
I used these simple paper die-cut letters, I got these at Michael’s several years ago and have used them for tons of projects and they are the perfect size for a 3 to 4″ board. You just place them on the board, spacing as equally as you can.
Then just trace around each letter with a pencil.
After that, I just painted the letters using a small paint brush. Even though I used chalkboard paint, I used regular white craft paint to fill in the letters on the “groceries” sign. I did two coats of paint for this one because the white looked a little thin.
It doesn’t have to be perfect, if you go slowly its not too difficult to stay in the lines. As you can see, I used a very fancy paintbrush–I think this one came out of my daughter’s $1 watercolor set?
I would like to finish this sign off to make it look more “vintage”, maybe with some light stain or some dark wax to tone down the white letters a bit, but that won’t happen until the boxes with those items are unearthed. If I do, I will be sure to update and let you all know if it worked.
In the meantime, this little sign is now just hanging there over my pantry. Easy!
Is anyone doing anything fun this weekend? I have more painting to do in our new home but can’t seem to motivate!
XO,
Thanks for sharing that great idea of tracing around wooden letters! They are really cheap so it wouldn’t break the bank to get the whole alphabet to have on hand for “such a time as this”. I saw your post over at “Weekend Bloggy Reading”.
I want one of those signs too! Motivate yourself with a “To Do” list and a reward for accomplishing some things on it this weekend.
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