Faux Vintage Painted Sign

By: Margot Potter from morningswithmadge.com

In the Designer's Words: "It’s not always easy to find the perfect vintage sign in the right colors and the right price point, and that’s where a faux finish comes in. With a few layers of FOLKART Chalk Paint and Apple Barrel Multi-Surface Paints and some sanding, you can turn a plain piece of new wood into something with a vintage appeal. The key here is patience. Let the layers dry between steps. Take your time when painting the stripes and adding the white and black accents. Less is more here, build it up in layers. Then don’t be afraid to sand some of your work away. (Note: If you’re going to put this outside, seal it with Folk Art matte finish varnish to protect the paint and wood.)"
Let love rule the roost when you make this adorable DIY craft for the home. This love-filled DIY wall art is an adorable piece that will add some retro color to any space. The Faux Vintage Painted Sign is created out of an unfinished wood sign and painted up in pretty colors. Adding a splash of rainbow colors to your home, you will love making this idea. Plus, if you are looking for an outdoor-friendly craft project idea, you can easily make this DIY sign idea weather-proof with the right sealant, making it the kind of craft you can hang anywhere.

Click here for more photos and instructions for this DIY craft.

Estimated Cost$11-$20

Time to CompleteIn an evening

Primary TechniqueWood Crafts

Easy

Project TypeMake a Project

Materials List

Unfinished Wood Company LOVE sign
FOLKART Plaid Home Decor Chalk Paint in White Adirondack and Rich Black
Plaid Apple Barrel Multi-Surface Paints in Wisteria, Acapulco, Lemon, Paradise Pink, and Tropical Foliage
FOLKART Mixed Media Paint Brushes
FOLKART Home Decor Chalk and Wax Brush
FOLKART Home Decor Sanding Block
Pencil
Ruler
(For outdoor use, seal with Folk Art Home Decor Varnish in a Matte Finish)

Instructions

Sand the sign to remove any rough edges. Paint a layer of chalk paint over sides and front of sign. Allow to dry for two hours.
Use a ruler to mark placement of stripes, vary the sizes as shown.
Paint the stripes leaving some white areas. I like to use flat brushes so I can get a clean edge. You can map out the colors before you start and paint all of the stripes in each individual color and then move to the next. I made my colors sequential, but you can opt for more random placement. Allow the paint to dry. I went back and did a second layer of each color. Let this dry.
Take the large round brush and dip just the tips of the bristles in the white chalk paint. Dry brush this over the entire sign in vertical strokes. Don’t overdo this, don’t press down too hard on the brush. The key to dry brushing is to have a light touch. You can always add more if needed. Let this dry.
Take a smaller brush and go around the edges of the letters adding just a touch of black. If you spill over to the front of the sign a little, don’t worry, you can sand this off later.
Dip brush in paint, wipe off most of the paint so the brush is not saturated. Use the tip of the brush to gently apply some long strokes of paint over the sign as shown. Don’t overdo this! Less is more here. Let this dry.
Use the sanding block to distress the edges and front of the sign gently. This is just to blend and age the finish.
That’s it! Hang your DIY Faux Vintage sign and bask in the glory of your retrofabulosity!