Paint: how to handpaint without stencils
Or how to handpaint using any font, any size.
I made this sign for a friend’s country house in Millerton, NY using the same handpainting technique I always use.
Here’s how to handpaint without stencils:
1. Print out letters using your font of choice, here I used Bordeaux Roman Bold at 550 point.
Position printouts on painted wood board and using a ballpoint pen trace the outline of each letter.
The printout has become your ‘stencil’:
The pressure from the ballpoint pen leaves a slight indent in the wood:
2. Using a small brush (I prefer a #3 round), paint on and inside the indent:
3. Then add border details – stars and lines:
4. Seal the sign with Minwax clear satin poly, I prefer to paint on the poly with a sponge brush but you could use the aerosol version too.
Add sawtooth hangers to the back.
I’m linking up to:
Weekend Wrap Up @ Tatertots and Jello
SAS @ Funky Junk
Tutorials & Tips Tuesday @ Home Stories A to Z
Strut Your Stuff @ Somewhat Simple
Share Awesomeness Thur @ The 36th Avenue
Flaunt it Friday @ Chic on a Shoestring
Frugal Friday @ The Shabby Nest
SAS @ Just a Girl
Feathered Nest @ French Country Cottage
Remodelaholics Anonymous @ Remodelaholic
I love your signs but I don't understand how to figure out how to size the letters that sounds confusing. Lets try it this way ok I have an 8 ft board by 6 inch wide and I wanted do put welcome on it. How to I go about figuring and laying it out to print out. I know about font size but if I wanted the letters to be 5 inches high I don't understand the font size. Wow this post is confusing I should delete it.
Try one letter (or two) at a time on a sheet of paper that are 5″ tall. Then tape them together to form your word. Lay it out on your board to make sure it works the way you had invisioned and if it does, proceed to paint your sign.
Love your sign. How wonderful. Hugs, Marty
That's gorgeous! I tried this technique on a Home Made Chalk Paint chair. Didn't work! Then I realized that my recipe for the chalk paint had plaster of paris in it! Nothing was going to dent that stuff – I had basically made a big ceramic mold out of my chair! Haha – lesson learned. I'm still going to try this on something else. It's good to know since I also can't stencil worth a darn!
Jaye @ Just Tryin' to Make Cents of it All
Your sign looks great! Thanks for sharing how you did it.
Great tip! Thanks for sharing!
Any chance you would be willing to make and sell one to me?!