Friday, February 1, 2013

A Little Love

All You Need is LOVE.

LOVE is All You Need.

Wise, wise words.

 I'm not much of a pink and red Valentines type of girl.

My style is more "industrial"

But I do like to decorate my mantle for each holiday. So...this is how I made a "neutral" LOVE sign

24X24 canvas painted, dry brushed, taped and letters traced
 I used a 24" X 24" canvas (can be found at JoAnn's, Hobby Lobby, Michaels, etc.)
First I painted the entire canvas an off-white. When dry I dry brushed it with a light grey and a charcoal.
Next you need to trace your letters onto the canvas. There are several ways of doing that (large stencils, print off letters from your computer, cut and trace, etc.) I have an overhead projector so I used that. Then tape of a 1" "frame" using frog tape (I say frog tape, because it's way better than the blue stuff, it doesn't rip off the paint underneath)
Notice my lines aren't perfectly straight
Once all your prep work is done use a small tipped paint brush and fill in all the letters. Don't worry about it being perfect.
After sanding away any imperfections
 Once the letters are COMPLETELY dry (I let them dry overnight) sand the entire canvas. This is where you will "erase" any imperfections.
 I used regular flat laytex paint, because that's what I have. The colors used were:
Background: Martha Stewart- Glass of Milk MSL029
Drybrushing: Behr-Anonymous 780F-5 and Valspar- Chimney Smoke 4010-1
Letters:  also Behr- Chimney Smoke 4010-1

I also sprayed the entire canvas with a Clear Matte spray, just to protect it a little.

Love IS all you need......and a LOVE sign!

Come Party with Me At:

Redoux: http://www.redouxinteriors.com/ Common Ground: http://www.commonground-do.com/ Just Us Four: http://www.justusfourblog.com/ Shabby Art Boutique: http://shabbyartboutique.blogspot.com/ Rooted in Thyme: http://rootedinthyme.blogspot.com/ Chic on a Shoestring: http://chiconashoestringdecorating.blogspot.com/ ; Finding Fabulous: http://www.findingfabulousblog.com/ ;Homespun Happenings: http://homespunhappenings-tammy.blogspot.com/ ;French Country Cottage: http://frenchcountrycottage.blogspot.com/ Lovely Crafty Home: http://lovelycraftyhome.com/  The Gingerbread Blog: http://www.thegingerbreadblog.com/  Classy Clutter: http://classyclutter.blogspot.com/ Sassy Little Lady: http://www.sassylittlelady.com/blog/  Funky Polkadot Giraffe: http://funkypolkadotgiraffe.blogspot.com// Elizabeth & Co.: http://elizabethandco.blogspot.com/  Not Just a Housewife http://www.notjustahousewife.net/ The Ironstone Nest: http://www.theironstonenest.com/ Primp: http://micheleravendesigns.blogspot.com/ The Well Crafted Home:  http://thewellcraftedhome.blogspot.com/

10 comments:

  1. It's always the simpler things that leave the biggest impact... at least in my book they do! I keep forgetting to use blank canvases for signs but now that I see yours I will give a try! I have become your newest follower as I love to support those just starting out. After all, it was a year ago that I started mine and I know how much it means to have someone say "I like what you do so I'm coming back by following!" If you get a chance I would love it if you dropped by mine... we have a love of using our creativity in making a house a home! And I see that you go to auctions.. my kinda girl!!

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  2. thanks for sharing how you did this, it looks really great. Nice for all that just want a subtle approach to Valentine's Day!

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  3. I love it! And you made it look so easy. Thanks for sharing at Pinworthy Projects.

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  4. This is so very cute! Thank you for sharing it. I'm here via the Gingerbread Blog party.

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  5. Thanks for sharing this great project at Simple & Sweet Fridays. It turned out so pretty!


    Jody

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  6. Don't like the cheesy stuff also, so your sign is awesome.

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  7. Perfect!!! Thank you for sharing this at Rustic Restorations Weekend!

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  8. I love your tip about sanding the canvas after it is completely dry! Thank you for sharing.... your newest follower!

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  9. Thanks for linking up at Shabbilicious Friday Amy. You have been featured today.

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