Create your own rustic Christmas ‘Joy’ sign
Habitat bright ideas with Fleur Thorpe – DIY projects
Follow these step-by-step instructions to make your own rustic Christmas ‘Joy’ sign.
Wall: Resene Eighth Canterbury Clay, Mantle: Resene Half Rice Cake and Small wooden Christmas trees: Resene Lonestar.
You will need
- Resene FX Crackle effect - this causes the topcoat to shrink and crack, giving an aged look
- Resene testpots in your choice of colours; Fleur used Resene Double Blanc and Resene Lonestar
- Board – this is salvaged pine from an old pallet (45cm tall x 14cm at widest point).
- Sandpaper, medium grit, paint brush, small piece of sponge
- Printout of the word Joy
- Sellotape
Instructions
Step 1: Prepare your board by sanding off any rough areas with medium grit sandpaper. Paint Resene Double Blanc over your board. For a more rustic look don’t go right to the edges, allowing some of the weathered timber to show.
Step 2: Once the paint has dried, paint on Resene FX Crackle effect over the painted area. Leave to dry for two hours.
Step 3: Cut out your Joy letters and use loops of sellotape to stick them to your board. Make sure the letters are evenly spaced and straight. Using a small piece of foam sponge, dab Resene Lonestar over the letters, making sure to cover all the Resene Double Blanc paint.
Step one
Step two
Step three
Step 4: Carefully remove the letters while the paint is still wet. If you want to give your finished piece a more aged and distressed look, lightly sand it all over with a medium grit sandpaper.
Top tip: For a multicolour effect to suit your seasonal theme, use 2-3 Resene testpot colours sponged over your base colour. Make sure your letters contrast well with the colours you are sponging on.
Step four
Sign detail
Styling and images by Fleur Thorpe, 2018.