Wood Work Collection

Wow, isnt it crazy that we are already more than a week into January of 2014! With the kids back in school, I sat down to post some new items to my Etsy store and I wanted to share a project.
Over the holidays, I had several requests to make signs for gifts. The fun thing about custom requests is that many times a they turn into one of my favorite items.
This sign is one of those favorites.
This particular sign was for my best friend Tamaras brother-in-law and sister-in-law. Tamara wanted me to create a mile marker sign that listed some of their favorite places. Favorite vacations spots, where they met, home towns...just really personal and special places.
She also wanted to keep it fun, distressed and sort of beachy.
One of the things I loved most about this sign was the paint finish. Using just a simple 2x4 foot plywood board cut to a 2x3 foot, I used an easy aging effect, with a white wash and a simple scoring to create a barn wood effect. This sign is going up in my Etsy shop but its easy to create yourself.

Heres the how-to:
Supplies :
2x3 foot plywood or scrap wood of your choice
aging solution
white paint
chip brushes
yard stick
ice pick tool
water color pencils
sharpie paint pen

Using the publishing layout on my computer, I listed the towns and their mileage. In this case, I chose a more casual and fun font called "Connie." I used letter spacing to widen each word to make them all stretch to fit the same width...keeping it with a subway sign layout style. I then printed it out on an old page protector to use with an overhead.

Tip...for images I will only use once, I print out my layouts on left over school page protectors from my boys. It is cheaper than transparency paper but just dont smear it! Thats how I created this mural project.

The boards I select for signs are 2x4 feet which I usually have cut down to 2x3 at Home Depot. I also usually select the birch wood plywood which I find has a smoother finish than pine. This runs about $16+ dollars and I use the leftover scrap for small signs. ww.homedepot.com/p/Project-Panels-1-2-in-x-2-ft-x-4-ft-Birch-Plywood-154153/203504316#

Tip...always view your wood sideways to check to make sure it is not warped.

To prep and age my wood boards, I always use a solution of vinegar and steel wool. Here is a link to my go to recipe at one of my favorite blogs, Country Design Style. I store it in an old jar. Just brush on and in hours the solution will give your wood an authentic aged looked.

Tip...as the solution ages the tint deepens...it looks good at all stages but if you want a

certain look you may want to consider this.

To create a beachy white wash effect. I used some left over white paint thinned with water and applied vertically, leaving some open more "open" then others, revealing the weathered wood.

To create the barn wood effect. Measure increments even or uneven if you like, across the top and bottom.

Tip...I use a water color pencil so I can easily wipe away marks later. Looking back, I would have used a brown pencil just to add depth to the scoring. Who knows why I grabbed neon yellow??? Oh yes, Im lazy and it was probably closest.

Using your yard stick and pick, press down and score the wood. I did this several times, pressing hard, to get a nice deep grove.

Once you have your board painted and scored, transfer your image. I use a projector and traced letters with a black water color pencil.

I hand painted the letters and numbers in using a sharpie acrylic paint pen. I highly recommend these for letters...keeps it neat and so easy!!

Find beauty in your day! Debbie

Wednesday, June 22, 2016

My Favorite Autumn Display and The Tobler Grounds and Garden Tour

For over 6 years now, my boys and I have been making a 45 minute commute each way to their school (I know, crazy). And each year, we know fall has arrived and Halloween is coming when we drive pass this display of autumn perfection.

Standing amongst bails of hay, an assortment of colorful gourds, crows and chickens, is the scarecrow. A perfectly weathered and weary figure with a touch of creepy. Every morning with my sleepy kids in tow, he would great us and the boys would perk up.

Then just before Halloween would arrive, we would drive by to find the scarecrow surrounded by glowing sculls and boney hands reaching up from the ground. I always marveled at what a perfect way the scarecrow transitioned into halloween.

Now the other week, after all these years, I decide to ask the home owner if I could take some pictures of the scarecrow for my blog. At least, I wanted to let the home owner know how much we have enjoyed him all these years and how much we appreciated the effort that must be put into erecting him year after year.
So, I left a note in the mailbox and was thrilled when I received a call from the home owner, Lynell Tobler. Lynell not only invited me to come take some pictures of the scarecrow, but also to visit and show me around her historic farmhouse.
When I met Lynell, she was beautiful, vibrant and guess what else? I found out she too writes a blog! It was one of those things that actually came as no surprise. Not only was Lynells home fascinating, but she was as well. She shared with me some of her own journey which included her transformation into fitness buff, her love of fashion and her devotion to animals to name a few. In addition, she had just returned from her sisters side after seeing her through brain surgery. Lynell shares these stories and more in her blog.
After spending time with Lynell and learning some of her homes history, I set off to take some pictures. In this post, I wanted to give you a tour of the outside and the grounds of the home. It was magical. The home retains so much of its original character and the rustic feel of the grounds suites its history. And let me tell you, the inside of the home was just as charming as the outside...and Ill share that with you in another post.

Enjoy the tour

and please drop by Lynells blog at www.lynellsvintagelook.blogspot.com and say hi!