Wednesday, July 28, 2010

Favorite Places Subway Art Tutorial

I have been seeing a lot of 'Subway Art Tutorials' on different blogs such as 'Tatertots and Jello' and 'Lil Blue Boo'. I decided that I needed to make one for our home. For my theme, I used the names of some of our favorite places here in New Hampshire. The nice thing about this project is that is can be personalized to fit you.

My tutorial is similar to others that I have seen, but with some additional steps that I thought may help someone.

The supply list for this project is:

- Plywood cut to size (Mine is 20" x 30", but you can adjust this to a size that works for your list of words.)
- White Spray Paint
- Black Spray Paint
- Contact Paper
- Glue Stick
- 150 Grit Sandpaper
- Dark Stain (I used Minwax Dark Walnut)

Let's Begin!

Using your favorite word program, print out 2 sets of your selection of words in varying fonts and sizes (I used Arial, Arial Narrow and Arial Black) . 'Set 1' will be used for placement guides and 'Set 2' will be used for the contact paper.

Layout 'Set 1' of the printed words in an arrangement and size that you like.

Take 'Set 2' of the printed words and glue the back of them with a glue stick. Adhere them to the non-paper side of contact paper.

Using a sharp pair of scissors, cut each letter from your 'Set 2'.

Store the 'Set 2' cutout contact paper words in marked ziploc bags to keep them separated.

Cut your plywood to fit your particular layout of words. Be sure to leave space for a border. Give the plywood a light sanding (I wanted a vintage look to my sign, so I intentionally kept the nail holes and dings on the plywood) . Follow this with a coat of white spray paint and allow to dry overnight.

Arrange your 'Set 1' of printed words on the painted plywood to use as a reference for placement.
Draw light pencil lines for each line of text as placement guides.

Using your 'Set 2' of cutout contact paper letters, remove the glued paper and the paper backing from the contact paper and carefully stick the individual letters on the painted board.

Using your finger, press around each letter again to be sure that you have good contact with the painted surface.
Spray the board with Black Spray Paint, covering the entire front and sides. Allow to dry for a few hours.

Remove the contact paper letters carefully to reveal the white background. I found that serger tweezers worked out great for this.

Your board should now look like this with all the letters revealed.

I wanted my sign to look vintage. To achieve this, give the board a gentle hand sanding with some '150 Grit' sandpaper.

Next, give the entire board a coat of 'Minwax Dark Walnut' stain and using a clean paper towel, quickly wipe until you have your desired amount of aging.

This is my finished 'New/Old Subway Art'. It reminds me of some of the vintage signs I've seen along the hiking trails in New Hampshire. It is so nice to have such a personalized item in your home. I hope you have as much fun making yours as I had making mine.

Until next time ~ Suzanne.

Linked to: Tatertots & Jello and Someday Crafts and The DIY Showoff and Today's Creative Blog Print Friendly and PDF

Saturday, July 17, 2010

Chair Makeover

Our laptop is set up on a sofa table in the family room with a wooden bench for a seat. My kids have never liked the bench and tell me their bottom side hurts when they sit on it for any length of time.
Along comes this 'well loved' chair that I found at a local antique shop. The 'gilding' really wasn't working for me and the padded seat had been badly neglected, but I figured with a little TLC it could be 'loved' once more.

Here she is now after a fresh coat of paint and a newly upholstered seat. I knew from the moment I saw her that the printed linen from my throw pillow would be perfect for the seat.

I gave it a coat of 'Mopboard Black' followed by a coat of 'Anamite'. To give it some character, I added some 'gentle distressing' with some sandpaper - just enough to let the black show through. I finished it with a couple coats of 'Minwax Polycrylic Clear Satin'.

We saw this cute little guy the other day feasting on some ferns. We watched each other for 10 minutes before he went along his merry way. I have seen more deer this year than any other - not sure why, but it's always such a nice surprise.

Linked to Someday Crafts and Tatertots and Jello and Its So Very Cheri and Funky Junk Interiors and Thrifty Decor Chick

Until next time ~ Suzanne. Print Friendly and PDF
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