Hey friends!  So you might have noticed all the kitchen projects I have going on lately.  I have been in the process of decorating and getting it all put together! So today I’m coming at ya with this really cute and rustic home decor project.  I’ve always thought that area above the window by my kitchen sink was just begging to be adorned with a really cute sign of some kind.  Well, I finally got around to making one and I wanted to share it with you all today!  This was one of the easiest projects, and I can’t tell you how happy I am with the outcome!  Check it out…

For this project I used this board I bought from Joann’s.  It worked perfectly in the space I was wanting to use it in!  You will need to make sure whatever board you decide to use fits where you want to hang it.

 So to get started, stain or paint your board.  I opted for a dark walnut color stain.  I always start with a thin layer when I’m staining because you can always add more, but you can’t really go back if you add to much.  So that’s what I did here!

It took only two thin layers to get the board stained to the exact color I was hoping for!  Now you will need to get the vinyl ready.

Before I started this project, I was so indecisive and torn on what word to use!  I finally decided on ‘kitchen’.  But you can do any word you would like.  This project really is so versatile!  I used LW Classic font for this stencil and cut it out using my Silhouette Cameo.  Any vinyl cutter will work great though.  (And for those who may not have a machine, you can usually purchase vinyl cutouts from wood craft stores or even online through a vinyl shop.)  Once your vinyl is cutout, just trim it up and square it off.  I’m dumb and didn’t line up the grid on my transfer paper very well.  Ha!  Oh well!  Make sure you leave some vinyl around the outer  edge of your work so that you have buffer room when you stencil the paint onto your board.

Your board should be completely dry before you apply your vinyl.  Once dry, stick the stencil on and peel up your transfer paper.  Just be careful not to tear any of the vinyl!

You may end up with some bubbles in the vinyl.  Just use your finger and do your best to smooth out any crinkles or bubbles.  It’s most important that the edges of the letters all have a really good seal.  So before painting any letters just go around the edges a few times to get it really smoothed out.

Now you will get to start painting the letters!  I used a white chalk paint for mine.  Just carefully get good coverage over each letter.  You can go back over it again a second time if you would like after it has dried.

This is what you will end up with once you finish painting each letter!  Wait for the paint to dry almost completely before peeling the vinyl up.  I was so impatient for this part!  I wanted to pull it up right away.  But it really is better if you want so you don’t get any smears.

It’s such a satisfying reveal to peel up the vinyl after you paint the letters!  And it’s totally okay if you have a few little imperfections.  I just took a paintbrush and worked over as many of them as I could.  And after you fix it up how you want it, you can sand it to your preference or just leave it how it is.

I lightly sanded mine to give it a rustic looking finish.

And that’s it!  I used Command Strips to hang it because it’s pretty light.  That will make it easier if I ever want to switch it with a different sign too!

I seriously just love how this turned out.  It’s exactly how I pictured it in my mind!  Don’t you love when that happens?  And this little sign pairs perfectly with these DIY topiary’s that I made awhile ago.

 

I keep going in and out of my kitchen and walking through just to be able to look at this new sign.  I think it adds so much to the space and my husband even loves it!  Total win-win.

Thanks for reading!  I would love to see what you create.  Tag me @thecraftycarlson so I can swoon over all your projects!

Until next time….

Emily