Could your own outdoor shed use a little lift? Try this easy DIY vertical garden shed sign complete with a rusty rake to decorate your own outdoor shed! Cute, easy, and very garden-appropriate!
Could your own garden shed use a little lift? Try this easy DIY vertical sign complete with a rusty rake to decorate your own outdoor shed!
You may remember my little rustic garden shed I had revamped last summer…
Well, it was time to continue this project and decorate the plain shed for spring and summer!
And I knew just the thing I wanted to add this year… a rustic vertical sign for the garden shed, along with another way to create easy flower bed edging. With plenty of rusty junk for garden art of course!
Read the entire Save The Shed series HERE
About the garden shed
.
The garden shed had fallen apart, so last summer the shed frame was rebuilt, then the siding was redone using reclaimed wood. It’s as sturdy as all get out and pretty cute too!
However, with summer fast approaching, it was time to add some summer shed decorating touches.
There is one spot along the side that I felt would be perfect for vertical signs…
So a larger scale vertical Garden Shed stencil was designed to potentially flip any plain shed into a statement piece!
With a newly revamped way to create durable flower bed edging as well.
So no need for professionals… if you’d like to decorate your own plain garden shed, ramp up your own creativity with an easy yard sign plus new flower bed!
This post contains some Amazon affiliate links in which I earn a small percentage from qualifying purchases through these links, at no extra cost to you. Thank-you for helping to support my blog!
Vertical sign for a garden shed
with easy flowerbed edging
View Garden Shed – Large stencil HERE
About the vertical Garden Shed stencil
Garden Shed – Large is a tall, vertical stencil complete with large, readable text and a decorative wheelbarrow filled with flowers at the top!
Garden Shed actually comes in 3 variations you can view in the listing HERE
This round, I desired to use just Garden Shed, because I had something rusty in mind to replace the wheelbarrow…
Supplies you’ll need:
Fusion Mineral Paint in: (get HERE for 10% off)
Delta Ceramcoat acrylic craft paint in Brown Velvet
3 reclaimed wood planks (already black)
Cordless drill and drywall screws
Designing the vertical sign
1. 3 reclaimed wood planks were cut to the desired length to incorporate the vertical Garden Shed stencil.
The planks used were tongue and groove and already painted black. How cool is that?! This is the same lumber I used to create the garden shed door and facia boards HERE!
Plank measurements
.
Each plank measures: 5″ wide x 51″ tall
The overall sign measures: 15″ wide x 51″ tall
2. Position the Garden Shed stencil with an old rake on the sign where desired, then tape the stencil into place using masking tape.
Because I desired to leave the vintage rusty bike beside the shed, I decided to team it up with a rusty rake hardware piece I had on hand. Not only was it the right tone, it was also perfectly garden-themed too!
HERE is another rusty rake Potting Shed sign I’ve made in the past. How I LOVE to collect rusty garden tools.
3. Stencil in Garden Shed with your paint colour of choice.
Because I desired to make the letters look rustic, which ultimately turned rusty, here’s how I achieved the desired effect:
How to stencil to achieve sharp images:
.
- Dab stencil brush into paint, then remove most onto a rag until brush is dry to the touch.
- Tap or swirl paint through the stencil for the desired effect.
Learn more about how to stencil from THIS post.
Also be sure to watch the super short video at the end of this post!
How to stencil rusty letters with texture
Fusion Mineral Paint in: (get HERE for 10% off)
4. To stencil the rusty letters, several shades of paint were layered along with some splattering effects. Here’s how:
- Stencil letters with Algonquin first.
- Dry-brush on top with Raw Silk.
- Tap on some Brown Velvet next.
- End with some splattered Raw Silk last.
Here’s a comparison.
The E is stenciled with just Algonquin which is a mid-beige tone.
The H is lightly stippled with Fusion’s Raw Silk to give it some contrast and texture.
Adding a splatter effect to the letters
Here is where I started adding Brown Velvet, which is a warm rusty brown, then splattered raw silk on top. See how the letters immediately warmed up?
Once I got the sign outside, the tones looked lighter, so I kept adding more Brown Velvet until the colour ended up the same as the orange rusty bike.
It was all about layering paint and texture until the desired look was complete!
5. Screw the sign onto the desired surface.
Which in my case was the garden shed siding.
But before I share the finished sign, let’s fix up the flowerbed next!
Creating an easy flower bed
Beside the shed is this little flower bed, edged with treated reclaimed wood.
However since some of the boards had started to rot, this was a good time to replace it!
How to build a flowerbed edge with wood
.
1. Measure the desired flowerbed, then cut the shape out with a half moon edger.
I removed the old wood, then used the plank as a guide for a new cut straight line since I enlarged the flowerbed a little.
To use a half moon edger, place it into position, then stomp on it with your foot to cut the soil.
Flowerbed edging video
.
.
Click above to watch a short video on how to edge flowerbeds like a pro, with or without edging!
Read how to edge flowerbeds like a pro with one simple tool HERE
2. 6 treated reclaimed wood boards were cut to the desired length, sanded, then stacked two-high to create more height.
3. Using long screws, screw the stacked boards together from the top using a cordless drill.
Painting the flower bed frame
4. Treat or paint the flowerbed edge boards as desired.
Because I desired chime in the flowerbed edging with the new Garden Shed sign, I painted the boards in Fusion’s Coal Black. Why not, right?!
I’ve never had a black flowerbed edge before so I wasn’t really sure what to expect. But as soon as I started painting, the green plants and deep rich soil positively popped against it!
And here’s the end result…
Finished Garden Shed sign with easy flowerbed edging
And BAM! There it is! A rustically pretty garden sign for the shed!
This side of the shed won the spot for this decadent Garden Shed sign teamed up with a rusty rake head, along with some pretty decadent rusty letters!
The garden shed sign is the perfect fit! It makes quite a statement without taking over, don’t you think?
Love how the black sign boards marry the shed trim and of course, that new black flowerbed edging!
And all that rust!
Those stenciled rusty letters really did turn out well for just being several layers of paint.
A rusty rake ties it all in
.
That rake is everything though, is it not? It chimes in so well with all the rest of the rusty garden relics.
And with whatever this thing is. I think it’s an old pot cooker if I remember correctly.
It was positioned it on top of the plant before it started to grow. Love the look!
Rust and old wood always look SO good with plants.
And for more rusty junk viewing pleasure to decorate the garden shed up with, another old rusty rake head is hanging up some other rusty garden tools.
The best thing about rusty garden art is it’ll just keep getting rustier.
And we junkers know, the rustier the better!
I also cut back the grapevine this spring, so it doesn’t take over the garden shed this round.
Love how the grapevine tumbles over the shed using it as a trellis! Fun to harvest grapes from too.
This little rustic shed with it’s vertical garden shed sign with easy flowerbed edging is looking pretty fine, with it being only spring and the start of our growing season!
I’m excited to see how this will all ultimately fill out come summer!
And here’s a peek at the front of the shed so far…
The front of the shed
.
The little Orchard crate turned shed window box will be a perfect spot to plant some flowers. I just have some snipped red rhododendrons so far.
Build this window box / How the shed was rebuilt
More plans for the front of the shed will transpire this summer. However I think it’s looking pretty cute already, thanks to the sign and flowerbed improvements already!
Video for vertical sign
.
.
Click above to watch a short video of the Garden Shed sign process!
And that my friends…
… is the beginning of this summer’s shed personality.
All thanks to a vertical garden shed sign with easy flowerbed edging.
Do you have a cute sign on your shed? Think one could help enhance yours into something even more special as well?
DIY vertical sign for a garden shed (with easy flower bed edging)
Supplies:
Instructions:
How to create a vertical sign for a garden shed
- Cut planks to the desired length to incorporate the Garden Shed stencil. Each of the 3 planks in this tutorial measures 5" wide x 51" tall. Overall: 15"wide x 51"tall.
- Position Garden Shed stencil and an old rake on the sign boards.Garden Shed Large stencil
- Stencil the Garden Shed image in tones as desired. I used Algonquin first, then layered Raw Silk, Brown Velvet, then Raw Silk.
- Hang sign to shed by screwing it to an exterior wall.
How to make easy garden bed edging
- Measure, then cut out the shape of the desired flower bed with a half moon edger.
- Cut treated boards to the flower bed size, then position into place.
- Paint the frame in black if desired.Fusion Mineral Paint in Ash
Find the Garden Shed stencil HERE
And more Garden-themed stencils HERE
Other garden projects to make:
Visit the entire Save the Shed series HERE
Check out all rustic garden shed updates through the years HERE
How to create garden walkways from scrap wood
Learn how to edge flowerbeds like a pro with one simple tool!
Visit many other creative outdoor projects HERE
Wow ! Amazing shed, looks so great ?. Wonderful job.
I love it all, you did a great job.
Nice!
This is so Awesome! I Love it all! I will have to get that garden shed stencil.
I have a rusty rake in my stash. You are such an inspiration. love your
Funky Junk style❤️
Loving the look of your new shed. Perfect embellishments and hand made by you. How fun is that.
It looks awesome! So the big plant in the pot – did you plant the pot and then add the greenery? Does the pot contain the plant? Looks great!
Thanks Sharon!
If you are talking about the small bucket with some plants in it, I just snipped some fresh flowers and stuck them in the bucket for the picture. LOL
There are you other potted plants in the pic so if you mean something different, let me know!
Love this! Wish I had a place that I could decorate in this style.
I just love your shed Donna! The sign is awesome and really completes that side of the shed.
Donna, I adore how your garden shed has evolved and was rehabbed, a labor of love for sure! The black trim and edging is a wonderful addition and your sign is fabulous, love the addition of the rake!
I love it so much I feel a backyard shed makeover coming on. Right after the wood floors are done, the upstairs is put back together, the bbq area gets the final touches, the sunroom makeover is complete, the guest room is finished, the mother in law suite is done, the craft room is organized, #5’s wedding is over, guests have left, and summer has ended. Whew.
Awesome! I’ll wait. LOL Your home is looking spectacular! I think you should blog about the mess going on!
Love all the rust and the garden rake head at the top of the sign. And yes, the black painted wood edging does let the green plants pop. Always, always have loved this shed. Absolutely awesome Donna.
Beautiful! Love it all. The shed is amazing. The old garden rakes & garden tools…the wood edging…you have amazing ideas, as always.