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Crazy Wonderful

home DIY lifestyle

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typography wall art – tutorial

August 23, 2011

I posted about making changes to my living room here a couple of weeks back.
It’s actually changed even more since then, but I’ll let you in on that in another post!
So, one of the changes was adding in some subway”ish” wall art to one of the walls.  I say subway”ish” since it’s not technically subway art, but you get my drift ;D

I thought I’d show you how I did it since I’m pretty sure I’m not the only one in the world without a Silhouette machine.  Although, there are times it seems that way!  So, this is the old school way to make them 😀
What you’ll need:
  • wood panel (I used two precut 16×36 pieces found at Lowes, want to say they were around $12 ea.)
  • primer (not a must)
  • paint for background
  • paint marker/pen
  • sand paper
  • stain
  • poly
  • computer with printer and paper
  • chalk
  • pencil
  • tape
  •  hanging hardware
STEP ONE:  Prime your piece of wood.  This is optional.  I did it because I wanted to see some of the gray primer show through when I distressed it.
STEP TWO:  Paint on your background color and let dry.

STEP THREE:  Using your computer, print out the wording you want.  I was looking around Pinterest for ideas (Ummm… ADDICTING) and found inspiration from a print by Made By Girl that I thought would be perfect.  I used Microsoft Publisher and created a custom sized page design to match the size of my pieces of wood (16″x36″). After I played around with font size and layout, I changed the font to an outline form so that when I printed it out I didn’t waste a bunch of ink.

Line up and tape together your sheets of paper.

STEP FOUR:  Flip the paper over and rub the entire backside with chalk.
STEP FIVE:  Position the paper on the piece of wood and trace around the words with a pencil.

Remove the paper and you will have a chalk outline of your words.

STEP SIX:  Use a paint marker to trace and fill in the words.  Let dry.

STEP SEVEN:  If you’d like, distress the edges and lightly sand over the front of the entire piece.  To give it a little more of an aged look you can dip a paper towel into some stain and rub it over the front and edges.

STEP EIGHT:  Apply a thin coat of poly and let dry.

STEP NINE:  Attach hanging hardware.  I took mine off an old mirror I wasn’t using.

STEP TEN:  Enjoy!!!

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I’ll be linking up to these fab parties!

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Comments

  1. The Doodler says

    August 23, 2011 at 2:36 am

    Love it! Confession: it took me a second before I figured out what the words were. Maybe I shouldn't blog stalk late at night. 🙂 But once I figured it out…LOVE IT! I'm a new follower!

    Brie from darlingdoodles.blogspot.com

  2. Debra says

    August 23, 2011 at 4:24 am

    That turned great! I don't have a Silhouette either and I often feel like the only one. 🙂

  3. Miranda says

    August 23, 2011 at 6:37 am

    Brilliant tutorial and ideas. I just finished up something similar, but yours was so much more organized and sensible. Plus it came out perfect. Great job!

  4. notyet100 says

    August 23, 2011 at 7:11 am

    so cool,.thnks for this,.

  5. Emily says

    August 23, 2011 at 10:26 am

    That's gorgeous! Thanks for the great idea! I'm stopping by from the Tuesday Confessional link up.

    Best,
    Emily from Nap Time Is My Time

  6. Y Mama says

    August 23, 2011 at 11:54 am

    Super cute! I don't have a silhouette machine either!! This was perfect! Thanks for sharing!

  7. Carrie says

    August 23, 2011 at 1:29 pm

    Very cute! might just use this tutorial myself.

  8. Adriane says

    August 23, 2011 at 1:46 pm

    These turned out great!! love the idea:)and your blog looks so cute…I'm going to become your newest follower!!

    -Adriane @ fruitfulhomejournal.blogspot.com

  9. Patricia Torres says

    August 23, 2011 at 3:16 pm

    TOTALLY LOVE IT… Such an amazing idea.. and you've made it look so so simple!! Thanks for linking in.. 🙂

  10. Stacy Curran says

    August 23, 2011 at 5:23 pm

    Wow, this is amazing! You did a great job!
    Stacy

  11. Christin says

    August 23, 2011 at 8:33 pm

    You are so great at instructing in a clear way. I'm so impressed with these!

  12. Marsha says

    August 24, 2011 at 12:12 am

    This was a great lesson. I don't have a Silhouette, either.

  13. [email protected] says

    August 24, 2011 at 12:23 am

    Great tutorial! Never could figure out how someone could paint in the lines that well. Prob solved. Love the signs.

  14. Yvonne @ StoneGable says

    August 24, 2011 at 12:39 am

    Shelly, You did a masterful job! I love how professional it looks! I would love to make a couple of signs with all the cities we have traveled to . Wonderful idea!
    Yvonne

  15. [email protected] says

    August 24, 2011 at 12:42 am

    Those are great! I am trying to figure out where I can put one in my house if I make one. Good idea with the chalk and paint pen!

  16. Natasha in Oz says

    August 24, 2011 at 12:59 am

    Wow, that is amazing! You did a brilliant job with this piece.

    Have you pinned a picture about it? I'd love to check out your Pinterest boards! I am so addicted to it and I even host a weekly pinning party on the weekends. Please pop by and check it out if you 5 minutes to spare.

    Best wishes and great job!

    Best wishes,
    Natasha.

  17. g.suzie says

    August 24, 2011 at 1:19 am

    Great 'Tut' I've been wanting to try some subway art. . .Yours looks
    awesome.
    You have inspired me with your cleverness! Please show and tell
    the rest of your room sometime!
    Sue

  18. [email protected] says

    August 24, 2011 at 2:22 am

    What a great project! You are so creative!

    Have a great day.
    Pam

  19. Kelsey says

    August 24, 2011 at 2:30 am

    Great! I have been addicted to pinterest too! I am totally going to do one of these signs but I don't have a cricutter or anything else like that soooooo this post was timely and very clear! Awesome! Great job too by the way!

  20. evie @ brown paper packages says

    August 24, 2011 at 3:11 am

    Those look awesome!! Great to see a tutorial that DOESN'T involve a Silhouette too! 🙂

  21. raggygirlvintage says

    August 24, 2011 at 6:31 am

    fab project, you did a great job!!
    Tracey

  22. Michele @ {Primp} says

    August 24, 2011 at 3:16 pm

    Love your signs! I made a similar one last valentine's it was a lot of fun. Yours look really cool and I like the idea of using the paint pen–thanks for sharing!

  23. Kathryn says

    August 24, 2011 at 4:24 pm

    Nice work, Shelley. When you run out of wall space in your house, you can come use mine!! 🙂

  24. trophyw.blogspot.com says

    August 24, 2011 at 8:13 pm

    Very cool. I love the paint marker idea. Thanks for linking up!

  25. Suzy www.savedbysuzy.blogspot.com says

    August 25, 2011 at 1:53 am

    Shelley – you rocked it AGAIN! I absolutely love these and I really want to try making one. And, I thought I was the only one w/o a Silhouette!

  26. paige says

    August 25, 2011 at 8:11 pm

    This is very cool – and educational because everyone in your house can learn those words in every language! I want to make this one.

  27. Camie at "Home is where they love you" says

    August 25, 2011 at 11:39 pm

    This is awesome…and such a cool way to share the "love"!

  28. Tonya says

    August 26, 2011 at 2:58 am

    Great idea!! They look beautiful! Thanks for sharing!

  29. ritajoy @harbourbreeze says

    August 26, 2011 at 4:23 am

    Very well done. It looks great! I, too, am "Silhouette-less", and make signs almost exactly like you do…although, I never thought of a paint pen. What a great idea! Where do you buy them?

  30. The Remodeled Life says

    August 26, 2011 at 1:59 pm

    Great tutorial! I love these!!! I'm with you – no machine here so I love your idea. They turned out beautiful!

  31. Aubrey {All Things Bright and Beautiful} says

    August 26, 2011 at 3:03 pm

    That looks so awesome…I can't believe you free handed that!!! You are amazing, girl, I'm thoroughly impressed (c: But definitely not confident enough in my own abilities to actually attempt it myself…but that is another story for another day! ha! Have a great weekend!

  32. [email protected] says

    August 27, 2011 at 1:21 am

    amazing…I cant believe you wrote those words…I hope you will link up with me here:
    http://www.thegingerbreadblog.com/2011/08/sweet-saturday-v2.html

  33. [email protected] says

    August 27, 2011 at 1:27 am

    Using a paint marker is an excellent idea. I love how these turned out. Well done.

  34. Miss Gracie's House says

    August 27, 2011 at 2:33 am

    Great tutorial…THANKS
    Rene

  35. Lori says

    August 27, 2011 at 11:49 am

    Fantastic, thanks for the tutorial. Visiting from TT&J

  36. Lisa says

    August 27, 2011 at 11:54 am

    Love the two hanging side by side! They look great!

  37. abby says

    August 27, 2011 at 5:07 pm

    Great Tutorial! I love the chalk part….Thanks!

  38. Big D and Me says

    August 28, 2011 at 12:33 am

    Looks wonderful – I've had a bored like this laying around for just this purpose. I am definitely going to start it this weekend…or maybe next weekend:)

    New follower

  39. The Hopeless Romantic says

    August 28, 2011 at 3:47 am

    These turned out great! Thanks for sharing ur secrets, i plan on making one of these soon, after dreuling over the hight priced ones in Ballard Designs, not that long ago. I remember thinking as i studied them. "I can make that", LOL, now i know that for sure. Still trying to figure out what graphics i want on it though……..Stop by for a visit if u get time……..now ur follower, Bonnie

  40. glamourpuss says

    August 28, 2011 at 4:54 pm

    These look wonderful!! I may have to do some for my house! 🙂

  41. Sarah, Three Boys says

    August 28, 2011 at 7:21 pm

    Nice job! Those look great. You are too smart with the chalk trick:) And FYI the changing table isn't for me, it's a client. No more babies over here!

  42. notes of sincerity says

    August 29, 2011 at 8:13 pm

    This is just fantastic!! I have not tried the chalk method and really need to get my hands on some of those paint pens! :o) Thank you for sharing it with us. :o)
    Sincerely, Trish

  43. Chef in Training says

    August 30, 2011 at 5:39 am

    love this! what great tutorial and it looks fabulous!

    I would love it if you would share this and/or any other projects you have been up to at Tuesday Talent Show at Chef In Training Tomorrow! Plus there is going to be a fun giveaway too! Thanks so much and I hope to see you there!
    -Nikki
    http://chef-n-training.blogspot.com/

  44. Kassi @ Truly Lovely says

    September 1, 2011 at 10:38 pm

    Love that you used several languages! That'll be something for the little one to learn as she grows older! Thanks for sharing on Fancy This Fridays!!!

  45. Chef in Training says

    September 6, 2011 at 5:32 am

    the different languages are so fun! Thanks so much for linking up to Tuesday Talent Show! I would love to have you stop by and link up again tomorrow with more great projects!
    -Nikki
    http://chef-n-training.blogspot.com/

  46. Elisabeth says

    September 13, 2011 at 2:09 pm

    lol You are not the only one that doesn't own a Silhouette. I'm another and that's exactly why I found your site. I was looking for how to make subway wall art without a machine.

    So, I'm very glad to have found a way that doesn't look tedious (as in cutting out every single letter).

    Your wall art looks great!

  47. Angie says

    October 2, 2011 at 2:40 am

    Thanks for inspiring me! I made a present for my dad using your method! 🙂 I am new to writing a blog, but I posted some pics if you're interested. 🙂

  48. Web 2 print says

    October 20, 2011 at 6:21 pm

    Nice posting, what I am exactly searched is available in your website. Thanks Bye

  49. Carli says

    October 20, 2011 at 7:16 pm

    I LOVE this! I don't have a silhouette machine either 🙁

  50. Vick says

    January 25, 2012 at 4:36 pm

    Hey! I absolutely love this creation! And I'm so glad you used Hungarian word too, but let me correct that word 🙂 "Love" is in hungarian means "Szerelem", "szeretet" rather means "affection" 🙂 Keep up great work! Greetings from Budapest, Hungary (Üdv = Hey)

  51. Anonymous says

    January 26, 2012 at 7:16 pm

    Hello! What font did you use and how did you get the a and e to "stick" together in kaerlighed? Thank you!

    • Shelley {Crazy Wonderful} says

      January 29, 2012 at 2:04 pm

      I can't for the life of me remember the font I used, but the A and the E is a symbol you can find by clicking on insert symbol in your tool bar. Hope this helps!

  52. Anonymous says

    July 13, 2012 at 1:00 am

    I don't have publisher is there a way to print like this on word?

  53. karthik sekar says

    September 16, 2012 at 2:24 pm

    Add Your Linksubmit your links for more traffic

  54. Erin says

    September 17, 2014 at 6:24 pm

    This is so cool! We just moved from Ohio to Richmond and I might do one board of each state and the famous things about each. 🙂 So cool.

Hi, I’m Shelley!  My belief is that with a little creativity and elbow grease, you can make your home look like a million bucks without spending it.  Read more >>


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