"Marry Me" Wall Art/Frame

They're Engaged!

Scott popped the question

and Rachel said "Yes"

(actually she didn't hear the question

because she started to cry when she saw him

on his knee with a ring!)

I'll make sure she knows

with the "marry me" text

on the engagement gift

that I am making for them.

Rachel can hang it in her apartment

along with all of her

fun painted furniture,

I tried a couple of new things

in this tutorial...

homemade chalk paint

and

ink jet letter transfer.

I am not your "go to" girl on either of these.

I'm a newbie at both.

So I still have a lot to learn.

I used 3/8" plywood cut 20" x 20"

I painted the back and sides black.

The top side got a mix of Black and Burnt orange.

My white homemade chalk paint seemed a little thick

but after it dried and I sanded it,

this was the look I was going for.

(painting white over the black/orange)

I added black to all of the edges using the side of my flat brush.

Now for the fun part...

thinking up "wedding words"

and love sentiment!

Have you noticed that women love their husbands

in our blogland circle?

I have.

Love that!

Just sayin.

So I laid out the lettering in Photoshop

using two bolder fonts,

Action of the Times

and

Channel.

Then you need to make sure to flip the canvas

before you print.

This technique works with an inkjet printer.

Center on board.

Work in 3-4" square sections.

Having only a slight amount of water on your brush,

wipe over lettering,

then immediately rub the area with the side of a marker

or something similar for pressure.

That will leave a faded layout lettering pattern.

Then using a variety of sizes of flat brushes,

paint over the lettering.

That probably took an hour.

Then sand and run a white dry brush over lettering.

I painted the frame black and then sanded

and spray sealed both the board and frame.

Measuring in on the sides of the back

I anchored the frame to the board with two screws.

The screws can just be backed out to change pictures.

Ta Da!

Time to Celebrate their Engagement!

Weathered expressions

that never get old.



Linking to: 

Monday:       Craftomaniac
                     DIY Showoff
                     Between Naps on the Porch

Tuesday:      Home Stories A to Z
                    Coastal Charm
                     My Uncommon Slice of Suburbia
                    Elizabeth and Co.

Wednesday:  Savvy Southern Style

Thursday:     The 36th Avenue
                     The Shabby Creek Cottage
                     Beyond the Picket Fence
                     Embracing Change
                     Stone Gable

Friday:          At the Picket Fence
                    The Shabby Nest

Saturday:     Funky Junk Interiors

Furniture Redo in Red

Even though I paint almost everyday,

I'm still amazed at how paint can transform

old tattered furniture.

It's a quick fix that will extend the life of a piece.

The best part is

that it can be done at little cost.

(except for the elbow grease spent sanding and prepping!)

My neighbor is fixing up a bedroom.

She has two old dressers that need some love.

We're going to treat them

to this rich red layered look...

The first dresser is a vanity with mirror.

Here is the Before and After:

The other dresser is a tall chest.

Here is the Before and After.

I wish I had pulls to show you

on the tall dresser.

Darn, that's the part that's the most fun...

finishing off a piece with it's hardware.

Many times my customers want to choose their own

after it's painted.

She will have fun picking those out!

You might remember that I used

this color on the Nautical Compass Dresser.

I also used it on the Texture Blast Table.

This red over black paint finish

is one of my favorites.

Love to see the paint layers.

Beginning with a coat of Rustoleum Black Primer Spray,

then following up with one coat of

Rustoleum Ultra Cover Semi-Gloss Black.

Next I'm ready for the red.

I like to use two colors of red.

Using the Rustoleum Colonial Red

and another bright red,

both in gloss,

dip one side of the brush in bright

and one side of the brush in Colonial.

Try keeping strokes straight back and forth,

not in a criss cross motion.

Remember to leave some black show through.

Nice.

You want those warm undershades.

This paint will dry quickly

so you can work at a good pace

and this will be a speedy project!

(again, except for that part about the elbow grease..

but that was my husband's elbow...  : / 

This is really such an easy paint technique

that gives lots of beautiful layering.

Red over Black.

Is there a Red Redo in your future?

Happy Painting!

Deb

Linking to:

Tuesday:       Primitive and Proper
                      Elizabeth & Co.
                      Coastal Charm
                      House on the Way

Wednesday:  Savvy Southern Style
                      Restore Interiors

Thursday:      The Shabby Creek Cottage
                      Beyond the Picket Fence
                      Embracing Change
                      House of Hepworths
                     The 36th Avenue
                      Delightful Order
                      A Glimpse Inside
                      Stone Gable

Friday:          Redoux Interiors
                     At the Picket Fence
                     Miss Mustard Seed
                     The Shabby Nest

Saturday:     Funky Junk Interiors

Monday:       DIY Showoff
                     Between Naps on the Porch
                    Thrifty Decor Chick

Making a Fall Sign

There's a beautiful Season coming around the corner...

Fall.

I love this time of year

and I look forward to my fall craft shows.

Because I make and sell art

I have to always be thinking forward

to the next season.

I have so many new ideas

and can't wait to get to them!

Today I want to share some rich fall color...

Such warm and homey colors

Raw Sienna

Burnt Orange

Colonial Red

Russet Brown

Black

And then a fun fall saying ta boot!

FAITH  FAMILY  FALL  Y'ALL

I've seen the "Happy Fall y'all"  signs

but I haven't seen this combination before.

You think it's going to be the serious "Faith Family Friends",

but then turns into a smile at the end. : )

I use 3/8" Plywood cut 7 1/2" X 46"

Yep, 46".  It's a long dude.

I use beaded paneling cut 3 beaded sections x 44".

Sand and wipe down.

Base paint paneling

with a mix of

Raw Sienna,

Georgia Clay,

and Russet Brown

Keep the darker colors on the edges.

Keep the Raw Sienna on the center strip.

Paint the very backside of the Plywood black

so it will be finished on the back.

Paint the front edges of the plywood

Russet Brown

and

Black.

(I used a gloss black here, but any finish would be fine)

Then I splattered the edges of the plywood

with the orange Georgia Clay.

I also used the side of a large flat brush

to drag orange across the very edges.

I made my text layout in Photoshop.

Many times I just transfer the lettering with pencil

like I did here on my beach sign.

This time I actually cut a stencil.

After I printed my lettering, I taped them together,

then I put clear packaging tape all over the front and back.

Then I cut the letters.

It took about an hour to cut the letters out

but if I make several signs it will be worth this extra time.

Now I can quickly brush in the outline of the lettering with a primer.

Now that I have the outline and placement

I can tape off the bottom and top edge with painter's tape

and hand brush over the letters.

Then finish with the drop shadow

on the right and on the bottom edges of the letters

with gloss black and a fine liner brush.

Using 1/2" sheet metal screws,

attach the beadboard to the plywood back.

I also used extra screws on the back

to make it more secure front to back.

Then using 2 of the same size screws,

attach picture wire around each and then tighten.

Now you have a hanger.

On the front side

add some Colonial Red around the beadboard.

Using a flat brush and the beadboard

as a guide, brush some red onto the plywood.

This is the red that I used:

Then I sprayed the sign with a clear gloss Krylon.

That really adds depth of color.

Still lovin' the Summer Days,

but

breaking out the fall paint colors!

Hope you're enjoying your week,

Deb

Linking to: 

Wednesday:      Savvy Southern Style

Thursday:          Beyond the Picket Fence
                          Shabby Creek Cottage
                          House of Hepworths
                          The 36th Avenue
                          Embracing Change
                          Delightful Order
                          Dixie n Dottie

Friday:               The Shabby Nest
                          At the Picket Fence
                          Sand and Sisal

Saturday:          Funky Junk Interiors

Monday:            DIY Showoff
                         Craftomaniac
                         I should be Mopping the Floor
                         BoogieBoard Cottage
                         Between Naps on the Porch
                         The Dedicated House

Tuesday:          Coastal Charm
                         Home Stories A to Z
                         My Uncommon Slice of Suburbia