The plate wall in the kitchen... well it just never grew on me. Too messy, too haphazard. So I pulled them down, patched about 47 holes and went about coming up with something else to fill the empty space.
I fell in love with this when I saw it on Pinterest. Everything about it. The colors, the words, the clean simple design. Love. I sang you are my sunshine to my children and to Bayleigh when I rocked them to sleep. I knew I wanted to make my own version and this wall would be the perfect spot for it.
A while back I picked up a few cabinet doors at the habitat re-store for 1.99. They were new doors, with no hardware holes to patch. Perfect for making signs.
I primed and painted the door white, then painted on a rectangle of yellow where I knew Happy was going to go. At the bottom I let Bayleigh paint an aqua square.
Then I cut out the words and heart using my silhouette.
Next I sprayed the whole thing with gloss gray spray paint. It looked pretty good, but I thought it needed a little roughening up. I gave it some age with sand paper, a little dry brushing, and dark tinted finishing wax.
I hung it on the wall and meh... was underwhelmed. Does anyone else do that? This is just a small little section of wall in my kitchen, but it's highly visible, so I want to hang something special there. Something with a bit of wow factor. Not to say I don't love the sign, I do. I just don't think it works here.
Take 2. Another take on one of my favorite pins. (yes I'm a pinterest addict) A little side tangent here, OK when a photo has been pinned from Tumblr, does anyone know how to then find the original site? I would like to give proper credit, but clicking on the photo only takes you to Tumblr's home page. Side tangent over.
Take 2s inspiration was also pinned from Tumblr, but this time I was able to find its origin.
I LOVE take 2. Love. It.
It is made from old fence pickets. We replaced the fence in our backyard with low maintenance vinyl and now I have lots of old pickets to work with. I didn't take any photos of the process but it was super easy. Mitch cut the pickets down, I sanded most of the white paint off and stained three of the pickets with dark walnut stain. After it dried I sanded and stained them again. I used the silhouette to make vinyl stencils and just brused on some bluish gray craft paint. Once it was dry I scuffed the letters with sandpaper.
For the HAPPY section, I mod-podged a sweet, old fashioned looking gray floral fabric onto a board and then stenciled the letters on. This time I started with white craft paint, followed by several coats of yellow to completely cover the print on the fabric.
The pickets are held together in back with 1/4 inch boards glued and screwed in place.
The skies are gray here today, but looking at this sweet sign makes me very happy.
You can find me hanging out at some of these great parties. Join me!!
Love, love, LOVE what you did. The first one is very nice, but I agree that the second one has more panache.
Posted by: LeeAnn | April 16, 2011 at 11:15 AM
um...I like the first one! Do you have any plans for it? Do you want to sell it?
(the second one is great too, but the first one would really fit nicely in my daughter's room)
Posted by: Adrianna | April 16, 2011 at 11:31 AM
I don't know if this is the original maker of the one you posted, but clicking on the pic on Tumbler I came to this blog...
http://tinyurl.com/6gxzkac
And going back a few pages I found the above one. She has a lot of other very cool things painted on boards too - lots of good ideas!
Posted by: Joanna | April 16, 2011 at 11:32 AM
This will help get to the main page of the blog, sorry!
http://refineddesignart.blogspot.com/
Posted by: Joanna | April 16, 2011 at 11:34 AM
They're both lovely, but the second is my favourite.
I love pinterest, although I need to think of a subtle-as-a-sledgehammer way to hint to my husband to take a look at my 'want' board before my birthday...
Posted by: UK lass in US | April 16, 2011 at 11:55 AM
hehe... I know what you mean. I have a wish list too, but Im sure my husband would never just happen across it. He does stress out at gift buying time, so I know hed be happy if I sent him a link to make it easy for him.
Have a lovely weekend!
xo Autm
Posted by: Autum | April 16, 2011 at 11:59 AM
oops, how did I spell my own name wrong. Darn laptop keyboard!
On Sat, Apr 16, 2011 at 11:59 AM, Autum Hall autumhall@gmail.com wrote:
hehe... I know what you mean. I have a wish list too, but Im sure my husband would never just happen across it. He does stress out at gift buying time, so I know hed be happy if I sent him a link to make it easy for him.
Have a lovely weekend!
xo Autm
Posted by: Autum | April 16, 2011 at 12:00 PM
Thanks Joanna. Any clues about the first one? The gray one with white letters?
Posted by: Autum | April 16, 2011 at 12:01 PM
Thank you LeeAnn.
xo Autum
Posted by: Autum | April 16, 2011 at 12:16 PM
Hmmm...They're both lovely (I used to sing that song to my daughter too), but I think I like the first one better. It's more my style. But that's what it's all about, right? Personal style. In any case, I think you did a great job with the projects.
Posted by: Rachel | April 16, 2011 at 02:15 PM
oh my goodness - I LOVE them both - absolutely gorgeous!!
Posted by: Amber Carrillo | April 16, 2011 at 02:46 PM
Love the cabinet version! Looks great!
Posted by: Andrea | April 16, 2011 at 03:35 PM
I love this too. I think I am goign to make it very soon also. :)
I repinned it too. ;)
Posted by: Kristen | April 16, 2011 at 03:55 PM
I love that song and still sing it to my daughter! Its a great idea, I think I prefer the first version but its a close call.
Posted by: Gwenllian | April 16, 2011 at 04:01 PM
I sing this to my daughter and love the saying and sign! Great job :)
Posted by: Dar | April 16, 2011 at 04:32 PM
this is awesome! i love the little aqua heart!
Posted by: laura | April 16, 2011 at 07:06 PM
So cute! I love the first one as well as the second.
And, thank you for introducing me to Pinterest via your blog a few months ago...I'm obsessed!
Posted by: Kim | April 17, 2011 at 09:15 AM
I love both signs, but especially the second one. Great way to use the old pickets. Wow, just beautiful!!!
Posted by: Kristin | April 17, 2011 at 11:06 PM
They are both so cute! Great distressing on both pieces!
I have a weekly linky party called Terrific Under Ten Tuesdays. It's for projects made for $10 or less. I would love for you to link up sometime!
Posted by: Kindra | April 18, 2011 at 05:05 AM
Thank you Kristin!!
xo Autum
Posted by: Autum | April 18, 2011 at 08:36 AM
Thank you Kindra and both these projects were under ten! Thank you for telling me about your party- I do love me a thrifty project : )
xo Autum
Posted by: Autum | April 18, 2011 at 08:40 AM
Thanks so much for linking up to Terrific Under Ten! Glad to have you! Love these projects!
Posted by: Kindra | April 19, 2011 at 09:51 PM
Love those SO much!
I'll take one of each, please. :-)
~Bec
Posted by: Rebecca K | April 19, 2011 at 11:04 PM
I love both of these!!! I thought the first was incredible, but I'm totally diggin' the second one two!
We've had grey skys for about 53 days! I"m ready for sunshine!
Posted by: Eates-a-lot | April 20, 2011 at 07:09 AM
Just love your signs - they make me happy!
Posted by: Sharon @ Elizabeth & Co. | April 20, 2011 at 08:22 AM