Do you ever come across imperfect boards in your stash? They aren’t perfect for the job, yet you don’t want to throw them out.
I nearly tossed away these two uneven fence planks, but then I decided to try something different!
Different is good!
Notice the space? Totally intentional!
I like sign text to breathe, and one board would have looked too skimpy. So doubling them up worked awesome!
And for a little extra quirk, the boards were spaced, then taped down to the table before stencilling.
Kinda like I did with the coffee sign here and the coffee crate lid sign here.
But here’s the most fun part! I wanted the hanging apparatus to chime in with an old apple crate feel.
And what better thing to use than good ‘ol rustic twine!
Here’s how I did it…
1. Paint 2 boards barn red.
2. Dry brush on a little aqua after the red has cured.
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To create the ‘barn boards, two fence planks were painted in Fusion Mineral Paint’s York Fort Red.
I’m VERY FUSSY with reds. This one looks turned out like a true barn red, so I was pretty ecstatic!
(thanks Fusion for sending these colour testers my way to try!)
Then a blend of Renfrew Blue and Champness helped create the mottled aqua colour.
The blue was added by swiping the brush against the wood grain randomly, careful not to blend, but rather, plop into place.
3. Masking tape the boards together with an intentional gap. Stencil on design with a very dry brush. (this step not shown)
Visit my tips on How To Stencil HERE.
4. Drill 3 holes on each side of the planks with a spade drill bit, (affiliate link) large enough to allow for two twine thicknesses.
5. Thread the first hole at the twine’s half way point.
6. Thread one side of the twine through the hole right above the bottom one.
7. Scoot kitty cat aside, showing gratefulness for their interest…
8. Then thread the twine on the other side the same way, intersecting the same hole.
9. Pull to tighten, but only how tight you stenciled the design on.
10. Repeat the twine through the upper hole…
11. Double knot on top of the board, leave a large hanging gap, then finish with one big knot at the top.
Done!
Now that’s my kinda sewing. 🙂
The wonky boards ended up looking as if every quirk was totally intentional.
There really is a project for every piece of junk, I say!
If your boards hang a little wonky, just drill a screw through it into the wall.
And that’s an Apple Farm kinda wrap!
What do you think? Do you like the added quirk to this one?
You can find the APPLE FARM stencil HERE.
For only $4 more, you can get You Cut Tree FARM PLUS APPLE to make 2 signs HERE.
Love it! I have lots of those old ‘useless’ boards. Now I have ideas.
Thanks!!!
Love all of your ideas – wish I lived close enough to attend the Old Farmhouse Vintage Market – keep all of your creative ideas coming!!
Love this Donna! I have a few of those wonky boards laying around.
And I already have your Apple stencil!
Love it! Can you tell me what color paint you have on your walls? Thanks! 🙂
Hi Jen! Absolutely… it’s by Cloverdale Paint in Canada, called Bamboo beach. I’ve been using it ½ strength these days though. Love it even more!
Donna, What do you mean by “using it 1/2 strength?”
I asked the paint store to mix the paint at half the recipe of the full colour.
ie: if it needed 3 drops of dark brown, they halfed the recipe to 1.5.
You rock! really, Love your style your like a bottomless pit of ideas!!!Thanks
Oh, this is super-cute, Donna! I love how the boards are of slightly different sizes and they are lusciously rough, too…the aqua paint really brings out that roughness and celebrates it! That red is soooo yummy, too…I’ll be picking up on some of that for sure! I even love how you hung it lower than you’d normally see a sign hung…but what a great little place to put your shoes…and those little red runners are really sweet, too!
Haha, I was wondering when someone would say something about the placement. The wall was full, I had no where else to go! 🙂 But I secretly love it!
Shhhhh…you shouldn’t have said anything…I never would’ve known it wasn’t done with purpose and conviction otherwise! Never give away your secrets…hehe! I do have to say, I love the placement of it, too, though…I’m definitely taking note of this for my little sunroom/front porch! You’ve started a revolution here, Donna…it’s time our shoes get a little attention, too! 🙂
Love that quirk!
I love this project- it’s a nice splash of red for that corner. I really need to start making signs – I’m enjoying everything you’ve been putting together lately. -Carole
I love this sign!! Love that splash of red!!
Really, really cute and clever. Unusual too, that’s what I like about it. <3
love it!
Love this idea Donna! I’ve got old boards and large twine kicking around – thanks for the inspiration 🙂
Love this so much! Thank you so much for the tutorial and the beautiful pictures!
Have a wonderful day friend!
karianne
LOVE, LOVE, LOVE IT!!!! How cool!! 🙂
Love, love, love your apple farm sign! What a fantastic idea. Please come share your blog posts over at the Home Matters Linky Party! We’d love to have you for a visit. The Door is OPEN. http://lifewithlorelai.com/2015/05/28/home-matters-linky-party-39/ 🙂
~Lorelai
Life With Lorelai
That looks great, what an imagination!!