Our friends, Jeff & Tanya, invited us to share a lake house with them last month. We had an absolute blast!
I wanted to do a bit more than just write a thank you note. Jeff & Tanya have a beautiful back yard BBQ area and they have lots of vintage signs out there too.
I decided to try to make a sign to add to their collection to serve as our “thank you.”
I have done previous posts on how to do this distressed art technique. Click to see the Family Rules, the Spring Art work and the Wine Cork Art work.
For this I will show you how I did the “layered look” for the letters on Lake Tulloch.
Step 1: Cut out your letters (or use store bought if you don’t have a Cricut or Silhouette) and arrange them on your primed board. I wanted my lettering to be white. (If I had wanted different color lettering, I would have used that as my base coat.) Make sure the letters are pressed down firmly.
Step 2: Paint the background color over the tops of the letters. In this case I wanted an aqua blue on top and a bright blue in “Waves” on the bottom.
Step 3: Once the paint is dry, take the outer part from your cut letters and lay them just a bit to the left of the letter stuck to the board. You will be over-lapping the original letter just a bit.
Step 4: Lightly dab on your second paint color.
Step 5: When you peel away the 2 layers of stencil, it should look like this.
Step 6: Peel away the other letters. This was a rough piece of plywood, so the paint bled under the letters. since I’m going to distress it anyway, it doesn’t matter. (Behold the beauty of distressed artwork!)
Step 7: (Not shown) When the paint dried, I used the orbital sander to further distress the piece, then put a nice layer of Mid Podge all over it for a little sheen and to seal it.
I hope they like it.
If they don’t it’s OK. Distressed signs aren’t everyone’s cup of tea… the purpose of this was to serve as a thank you card, and as long as they know how appreciative we are, then the sign did its job.
If they don’t like it for a wall, they do have a fabulous outdoor fireplace… Paint and Mod Podge would serve as a fabulous accelerant if they decide to burn it instead of hang it. (However, my fingers are crossed that they like it.)
Linking to:
Home Stories A 2 Z Savvy Southern Style
Esther is not-quite-perfect says
They would have to be crazy to not like it!!!! It’s perfect!! You can send me a thank you card like this anytime!!! 😉
Ann Marie | white house, black shutters says
LOL! You are hilarious. I’m SURE they’ll like it and won’t add it to their burn pile. Great project, love the font and shadowing especially on the top one, it really looks like an old sign. Reason number 523 that I need a Silhoutte… I need signs!
Beverly @ FlamingoToes.com says
What a great thank you note Viv!! I love that idea and the sign turned out really cute! I’m sure they’ll love it. 🙂
MiMi says
I’m sure they will LOVE it!!! That is really awesome, I love the layered look!
I also want that big floaty thing the kids were on. 🙂
Maddie Kertay- The Domestic Anarchist says
I think not!.. they will cherish it forever… and who in their right mind does not like vintage signs?…
Maddie
Nicole@Thrifty Decorating says
What a great idea for a thank you!
Debbie@http://refreshrestyle.com/ says
Can you come to my lake? I love the sign!!! I need one!
Debbie
Pam says
That is a GREAT sign! But I do love your sense of humor that it would burn well. I’m sure they won’t be burning that!
Have a great day.
Pam
LeAnne says
Totally awesome. If they don’t like it, send it my way….I’ll pay for the shipping!
The Answer Is Chocolate says
Oh I am so sure they will NOT be adding this to their burn pile! It’s perfect and what a wonderful way to show your thanks. Just awesome!
Johanson Family says
I just want to be a fly on the wall in your house or even peek in your brain b/c you must be in constant idea mode.. you have amazing ideas/crafts and you always make awesome stuff that people will actually use and love!!
Connie Weiss says
How fun!!
I love it!
drollgirl says
i bet they will LOVE it! if not, they will think of you when it burns on a chilly night! lol. no way — they would never do that. they will love it!
and i need friends like these! i have a verrrrrrrrry distant relative with a great beach house in santa cruz, and i am hoping hoping HOPING to get to visit soon.
The Old Block House says
This is absolutely wonderful! I’d love sign like that.
Going to follow and explore your blog.
gertie @ http://www.theoldblockhouse.blogspot.com
My Cottage Charm says
Thanks Vivienne…I’m SO glad you liked my laundry room reveal!
Your sign is adorable!…You’re a talented gal!
Hugs
Missy
Elz says
So cute. You’re welcome to come to our ranch property anytime-that thank you would be perfect! 😉
Kelli says
What a wonderful thank you…that’s perfect! You’re such a good friend.
Tina says
Found you from the Tip Junkie party! This sign is too cute! We have a house on a river that I would love to do! Maybe tubing instead of boats. Unless we still are in a drought in Texas, there may be no more water for tubing! 🙂
Pat@Back Porch Musings says
This a wonderful thank you! Beautiful!
Amy {The Idea Room} says
What a great gift! Love it! I am sure they loved it as well! Thanks for sharing it with us!
Handy Man, Crafty Woman says
Anyone receiving this will love it! Thank you for linking to Handy Man, Crafty Woman Wicked Awesome Wednesday!
Jenn Erickson says
Your lake trip looks like it was an incredible time, and what a thoughtful, creative and generous way to thank you friends. The sign is fabulous, Viv!
Michelle says
Love the “shading” on the words. We just stayed at a friends lake house too, i bet they would love something like this. Thanks for linking up with DIY under $5!
Johnnie says
That is an adorable sign, Viv. Great job.
Amy Gilman and Emily Lee (Sisters of the Wild West) says
love your sign!! It turned out AWESOME! love the colors too! please link it up at our link party this week!
Amy
Holly Lefevre says
This is fabulous. I have been thinking about making my parents one since last year when my family took a trip to Bass Lake – that is where mom, dad and my brother and myself used to go when I was a kid…brought back so many memories…This is a great tutorial.
Kimberly says
That is such a cool sign! I just wish I had a wonderful lakeside cabin to hang it in, awww dreaming. 🙂
Jennifer says
I am sure they will LOVE it!! If not – I’ll take it, LOL!! I would love if you would link this up to Saturday Social!
http://socialsalutations.blogspot.com/2011/07/saturday-social-week-8.html
– Jenn @ Social Salutations
Laura at Ms. Smartie Pants says
I have a question. I have noticed when I do lettering with my silhouette that I have trouble getting the lines to thick enough. I can enlarge the lettering but the thickness never get thicker. Can you give me any tips?
Jennifer says
Hi Vivienne! Just wanted to let you know you were featured at Saturday Social! Thanks again for linking up – I hope you come back again next week!!
http://socialsalutations.blogspot.com/2011/07/sunday-features-from-saturday-social.html
xoxo
Jenn