I made this beauty. Actually I call it the BEAST. Because it took 6+ hours and stands 5 feet tall by 2.5 feet. But I love her! I real statement piece. With a good message for us all.
Our Family Values
I am going to go through step by step directions so you can DIY.
#1 Design the size and sayings you
want. Make sure to stagger the
lengths of each to make it look more random. Determine your color “random pattern.”
#2 Cut and stain the wood
accordingly. Cut and prep the
vinyl accordingly.
#3 Layout the words and boards in the
correct order. Stick the vinyl
letters to the wood. Be sure to
carefully center the words and lay them straight. Press down all the seems to your vinyl, to minimize bleeding
of paint.
#4 Paint over your vinyl letters. To leave a rustic and ragged feel to
the edges, do not paint all the way to the edges. Again trying to make it look random. Do not paint to every edge. Leave some spots where the stain is
still exposed.
#5 Peel of your vinyl letters with a tooth
pick and/or tweezers. (if the
paint starts to peel off with the vinyl STOP put the vinyl back down and let it
cure for 12 – 24 hours and then it should take off with no problem. But if it lets you peel off right away
it can be easier to clean up any “bleeding” with a tooth pick and baby wipe
before it is dry. The rougher the
wood or the more raised grain there is in the wood the more bleeding there will
be – but this is also what gives it the best distressing.
#6 When the paint is dry, sand lightly
over the boards with a 120 grit sand paper – and the edges if desired. You may want to also distress the paint
in other areas as well.
#7 Dust off the boards and lie them face
(words) down in order. Measure the
center of the length of each board and draw a line. Make an entire line with tape or a pencil down the center of
all of the boards.
#8 Carefully lay the metal strip down the
back of the board on both the right and left side. Screw the boards into the metal stripping. For 5.5 boards I like to use 2 screws
on each side for each board. The
2.5 inch boards I only do 1 screw on each side per board.
#9 Attach the “D hooks” for hanging. One on each side. If you know where you are putting the
board it can be helpful to find your studs and try to place the D hooks accordingly. They of course need to be on a level
line across the first or second board.
(a longer one). You can
always adjust the d hooks when you go to hang. You will need a stud when hanging a LARGE 5.5 inch boards
family sign because of the weight.
I am unsure if an anchor would hold the weight of the boards. You may choose to use a wire securely
attached to each D hook to hang if needed.
#10 Admire your beautiful work!
If you are interested I will soon have the Vinyl available at my etsy store for purchase.
