Sunday, April 7, 2013

Custom Signs

 
 
Your signature style.
 
Personalized.
 
Custom.
 
 
 
 
 
 
Painting custom signs is a large part of my work.
 
Here is an example of a House Number Sign
 
that you might like to make too.
 
 
 
Pin It!
 
 
I used the "Dip and Drag" paint technique.
 
Ha, sounds so complicated...it's just cardstock
 
dipped in paint and scraped onto surface.
 
 
 
 
 
 
You can read more about that Here.
 
Then you can make a print of your number
 
and chalk the back surface
 
using your window as a light box.
 
 
 
 
 
 
Transfer onto board from the front
 
with a pen or pencil.
 
 
 
 
 
 
You can see the light outline here.
 
 
 
 
 
 
Base paint white.
 
Shade a little bit with camel.
 
Drop shadow black with a liner brush
 
on right sides and bottoms of numbers.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Here are some other personalized Lake Signs:
 
 
 
 
 
 
Pin It!
 
Some of these are large...about 3' x 4' or larger.
 
Larger scale for outdoor signs make such a nice visual.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
This is a smaller sign for a front door:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
And this is what I'm working on today -
 
She wanted the 12 Gifts of Marriage
 
made into word art.
 
 
 
 
 
 
I still used the scraping (dip and drag) paint style
 
for the background but instead of stripes
 
I applied it in squares with a variety of
 
horizontal and vertical pull.
 
Here's a close up of the layered paint:
 
 
 
 
 
 
Pin It!
 
Isn't that the best thing about being a DIY'er!
 
We can make it our own.
 
Just the way we like it.
 
What a fun and artful journey.
 
So glad to share it with you friends!
 
Deb
 
 
Link Parties:
 

16 comments:

20 North Ora said...

Deb - Love your custom signs! Just wish I live on the beach somewhere so I could have you do me one. They are so refreshing and cheerful!

Judy

Feral Turtle said...

Great tutorial Deb! Love all your signs.....amazing work!

Sandi @ The Primitive Skate said...

Love your custom signs, Deb!
The colors are wonderful.

Jaime Costiglio said...

Deb they are beautiful, so original and unique. Thanks for sharing your technique, makes me want to get up and paint!

Amy@TheBlissfulBee said...

Very cool! I would love it if you would link up to my {all things creative} linky party:)

http://www.theblissfulbeeblog.com/2013/04/1-year-blogiversary-linky-party.html

xo
amy

Pamela said...

I always enjoy seeing your work. Love the bright graphic quality. Is your marine varnish water based?

Krista Aasen said...

Another gorgeous post Deb... I LOVE what you create!! So bright and fresh and beautiful - they feel like the perfect summer day. Thanks sooo much for your clear and informative tutorials too!
Krista @thehappyhousie

Bliss said...

Your sings are so happy and bright, perfect for by the water. And I'm loving that painted ski too!

Bliss

Deb Hrabik said...

Hi Pamela-
The marine varnish is not water based. Takes a day or two to dry and does yellow a bit. Darn.
I had to be practical with outdoor exposure though.

The Style Sisters said...

These are so cute...I love the beachy look ones! Come link up to my linky party Centerpiece Wednesday and share your post.
Karin

Unknown said...

Dropped by from the Wow Us Wednesdays party. I love your sign(s) and the tutorial! I am pinning it to my That's Just Beachy board. I would love to have you share it at
The Shady Porch Rock N Share party too! Blessings, D

Anonymous said...

oh goodness, these are too cute! Thanks for sharing your dip and drag technique! So so cute! I bet people line up for your great signs!
Jenna

thistlewoodfarm said...

Absolutely wonderful! You are so talented and those signs are the perfect summer accessory!

blessings,
karianne

Debbie @ MeandMyDIY said...

I really love that dip and drag technique. It looks great on so many things. My favorite is the 109 sign you did, it just looks so fabulous hanging up on the side of the house. I really like the contrast of the colors against the house. Of course, I'm sure the others would be my favorite too, if I saw them hanging up. Your choice of colors is always amazing.

Debbie

Anonymous said...

Your signs are super! How do you make your paint looks so smooth on the numbers for the 109 sign?

Deb Hrabik said...

The key to getting paint smooth is to use several thin coats of paint and use a flat brush ...maybe 3/4" wide.