Shabby-Style Decoupage Sign

By General Crafts Contributor Michelle

Decoupage a piece of weathered wood for a unique art piece

Create a one-of-a-kind sign to decorate your home, porch, or patio, using this decoupage technique to create a pretty background.

Deco 2

Here’s what you’ll need to make your own:

  • A blank wooden sign, plaque, pallet, or old board (I used a discarded piece of fence board).
  • Acrylic Craft Paint.
  • DecoArt Americana Decor Chalky Finish Paint.
  • Decorative Paper Napkins (Ones with large designs work the best. I found mine at the dollar store.).
  • Mod Podge.
  • Plaid Paint Brush Super Value Pack All Purpose 25pc.
  • Saral Transfer Paper by Dritz Tracing Paper.
  • Canvas Corp Jute Rope 14 ft. Light Natural.
  • Krylon Artist Sprays Crystal Clear Acrylic Spray Satin 11oz.
  • 3M Aluminum Oxide Sandpaper Assorted.
  • Drill and large bit.
  • Pencil.
  • Computer and printer (optional for lettering).

Deco 3

To begin, choose an under color for your sign.  (I suggest choosing a color with a lot of contrast from whatever your main color will be.) Paint the front of your sign with the acrylic paint color of your choice, let dry.

Deco 4

Using your chalk paint color of choice, paint a coat over the top of your under color.  Let dry.  Add another coat, if needed.

Deco 5

Open up your napkins, and decide what parts of the design you’re going to use for your sign.  Tear the design into rough edged pieces, and lay them out on your painted surface so you can see your layout.  When you are ready to adhere them to the surface of the board, carefully peel apart the layers of the napkin, so you are left with the single layer with the design left on it.

Deco 6

Using a soft, flat brush (I used a 1-inch brush for the size of my board, you may want to use a larger or smaller brush depending on the size sign you choose to make) lightly brush a layer of Mod Podge over your napkin pieces.  Be gentle, they’re delicate like tissue paper.  Let dry completely.

Deco 7

Using a piece of medium grit sandpaper, begin distressing the edge of your sign so you expose the under color you painted on.  Sand here and there to expose paint, as you so choose.

Deco 8

Use a fine grit sandpaper to sand across the top of your decoupaged area, to distress them as well.  Wipe with a barely damp cloth to remove dust.

Deco 9

Deco 10

Decide what you want your sign to say, and either sketch the lettering by hand onto your sign with your pencil, or create the lettering in a computer program, and print it out so you can trace it on with the transfer paper.

Deco 11

Paint your letters using acrylic craft paint.  Let dry.  If you’re going to be hanging your sign outside, like on a porch, I suggest taking the extra step of sealing your sign with a couple of coats of clear acrylic spray, to weatherproof it.

Deco 12

Using your drill and a large bit, drill holes into the corners of your sign, and thread the rope through each end, knotting the ends to hold them in place.

Now hang up your beautiful new sign and enjoy!  I made my sign for a French flower market, and I plan to hang it on my patio.  How about making a farmer’s market sign for the porch, or a bakery sign for the kitchen?  What other pretty signs could you make to decorate your home?

Happy crafting!

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