Spring Sign-A Tutorial

I am really getting into this sign making thing.  Making signs is versatile, fun, cheap, quick and easy. The end results are amazing!

Here's my latest creation: A "Spring" sign.

First I painted a piece of 1/4" Birch plywood, yellow.

Then, I cut out letters on cardstock. I used the font, "Waterfalls".  Now, I admit I used my Silhouette to cut this; however, you could EASILY print the word on cardstock, using a word program, and cut it out.

Because I wanted to show the possibility of doing this project without a cutter, I traced my cardstock letters, on scrapbooking paper and cut them by hand.  Just remember to trace the letter, backward, on the back of the scrapbooking paper so that pencil lines don't show.

The "stencil" is on the left, the useable letter is on the right.

After cutting all the letters, on different patterned scrapbooking paper, I distressed the edges to make them stand out on the board.

I positioned the letters on the board.

I used Mod Podge to glue them to the board.

I Mod Podged and top of the entire board and let it dry well.

I decided to "whitewash" the project.  I put a few drops of white paint in water and painted it over the project.

It was whiter than I wanted so I took a clean foam brush and wiped off any extra paint.

I let it dry.

I got out my mouse sander and started distressing.  I didn't want the board to look old, just well blended.  So, I distressed lightly. I mainly distressed the edges of the board and corners.

I drilled holes in the top.  I threaded a thick satin ribbon through the holes (I chose turquoise).  I tied a knot to keep the ribbon in and give a decorative look.  I also cut the ribbon ends to "finish" them.

Can you see the dot on the "i"? I used the turquoise ribbon, folded it in half, sewed it, gathered it, and made it a ribbon rosette.  I then sewed a button in the middle of it to give it a spring flower look.  I hot glued it onto the board.  It really gives an extra pop.

This little guy is happily hanging in front of the fireplace.

Here's the fireplace now. There are still some changes to come but we're certainly making progress!