Recently one of my best friends got remarried. I wanted to make a gift for the whole family since between the two, they have 7 children. Of course, I searched Pinterest and found several options out there, but I decided to take a few of the ones I was inspired by and incorporate them into my own version. I am so excited to share my blended family sign as a part of this month’s Pinterest Challenge. Especially since I made this earlier in the summer, but couldn’t share it until after the wedding!
My Plan
Before leaving for the lake I had every intention of making a wooden pallet sign using my excess crate wood similar to my rustic menu chalkboard or the belt rack O-Man and I made. But, as usual, I had way too much on my plate and I was in the middle of a tunnel on the Pennsylvania Turnpike when I remembered I didn’t get the signboard made.
So, I regrouped and decided to use a large canvas, I think it’s probably a little more of Amy’s style anyways.
Knowing her main living area (I hadn’t seen her new house yet) is a pale gray, I painted the background in a dark gray with a bit of dry brushing lighter and darker grays on top.
I’d love to show you a picture of just the painted background…. but, I think I took it on someone else’s camera because I don’t have any of the pictures of the process!
When I bought the canvas, I considered using stencils for the wording. However, none matched what I had in mind, something similar to their wedding invitation.
Plan B was to print the font and use it as a stencil or tracing… but, this didn’t work either. After wasting several sheets of paper, I opted not to kill any more trees and sketch the lettering by hand.
Hand Lettering
I do have neat handwriting to begin with. If I don’t write neatly, I can’t read it! While I don’t have major drawing skills, I can do some basic sketching. Recently I got my daughter an e-book about hand lettering and several of the tips in the book were helpful in making the sign.
Using a pencil and ruler, I started with marks for where I wanted the letters to go, following the mock-up I made in PicMonkey.
Then, I went for it and drew the letters. Anything that didn’t work, I just painted out and tried again. The great thing about PicMonkey is being able to zoom in on different parts of my design so I could see the details.
Another cool thing in PicMonkey is being able to make more than one design. My original version was much simpler and a close copy to one of the inspirational versions. The layout I went with mimicked their wedding invitation.
Amy is a nurse, which made the “little to do with blood” part of the quote even more fitting to me.
Blended Family Sign
Once I was happy with the penciled letters, I jumped in with a paintbrush and white paint!
The sign is far from perfect. But, that makes it even more perfect for Amy, she appreciates the imperfections in the world more than anyone I know.
Pinterest Challenge
To join next month’s #pinterestchallenge, click here to sign-up ⇒ September Pinterest Challenge.
Now let’s see what other things Pinterest inspired! Head over and visit the other hosts to see what they crafted, cooked, built, or tried!
Erlene – My Pinterventures • Jenny – Cookies Coffee and Crafts
Alexandra – EyeLoveKnots • Joanne – Our Unschooling Journey
Chelc – Inside The Fox Den • Erin – The Usual Mayhem
Beverly – Across the Boulevard • Lynne – My Family Thyme
Laurie – My Husband Has Too Many Hobbies • Lydia – Lydia’s Flexitarian Kitchen
Leslie – Once Upon a Time & Happily Ever After
Lauren – Mom Home Guide • Emily – Domestic Deadline
Debra – Shoppe No. 5 • Roseann – This Autoimmune Life
Terri – Our Good Life • Lisa – Blogghetti
Kelli – The Olympic Nest • Rebecca – Hello Central Avenue
Bri – Halfpint Design • Cherryl – Farm Girl Reformed
Julie – Sum of their Stories • Habiba – Craftify My Love
Shirley • Intelligent Domestications
Pin and Share
As always, feel free!
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