Decorationg Interior Design
Okay guys, I’m giving myself a little reprieve Barn door project to provide you with an easy and fun DIY project! There are a lot of little 2×4 ends left from the barn doors so I wanted to find a way to use them up. My first project is a set of fall-themed stacked signs! They were really easy, inexpensive, and a fun way to bring more fall decor into my home!
DISCLAIMER: Unfortunately, I don’t have hayrides or a pumpkin patch in my house. “Apple cider” points to my pantry, so I think that’s appropriate. LOL
Anyway, let’s get started!
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Materials for Stacked Signs with 2x4s
Step 1: Cutting and Sanding the 2x4s
The first step is to prepare your boards. If they are not the right length, use a saw to cut them into increasing lengths. I chose 16″, 18″ and 20″ because I wanted them to be pretty big. They could be as small as 6″, 8″ and 10″. I would like to add that I cut the boards all by myself with the circular saw and was INCREDIBLY proud of myself!
Once the boards are the right size, sand all the corners with 80-grit sandpaper. This helps give the boards a worn appearance and looks less like plain old 2x4s. Be sure to wipe down the floorboards after sanding. Alternatively, you can skip sanding and staining altogether if you use it this barn wood!
Step 2: Coloring the 2x4s
Don’t let stains intimidate you! It’s SO easy. I used a water-based stain from Minwax in American Walnut. You can find it at Home Depot where they will mix it for you at the paint counter, or a similar product here on Amazon.
To do this, simply use a foam brush and brush the stain in the direction of the wood grain. Make sure all sides are covered too! Let it sit for 2-3 minutes and then wipe off the excess stain with an old rag. Wah-lah! Completed! Plus, it dries very quickly, so you can get on with the project right away.
Step 3: Sand again
A second sanding will make the boards appear even more worn. I used 220 grit sandpaper and a hand sander for the front, sides and edges. Some of the stain will come off, but that’s “the look”! 🙂
Step 4: Whitewash the 2x4s
If you prefer natural wood over whitewashed wood, you can skip to step 5. Otherwise, read on!
Making the whitewash requires a bit of guesswork and testing. It’s just white craft paint mixed with water. I started with 2 parts water to 1 part paint, then tested my mixture on one end of one of the boards and let it dry for a few minutes. The first test was almost invisible! Needless to say, I had to go back and add more paint to get the right color.
Once the consistency was right, I applied the whitewash with a brush. A little goes a long way, so be conservative!
Mine was a little heavy, so I let it dry for a minute and then went over it with a paper towel in the direction of the wood grain. This made it look more like whitewashed wood than just white painted wood – I wanted the stain underneath to show through!
Step 5: Create a stencil for the lettering
There are tons of different ways to create stencils (hello, Pinterest!), so use a method that works best for you. I prefer to use mine Cricut Explore Air 2. I made the template in the Cricut Design Center and cut it out vinylso I can stick it to the surface and paint!
Once the stencil was on the surface, I used thinned craft paint for the letters. The ratio was about 2 tablespoons of craft paint and 1 teaspoon of water. I purchased the 50 cent Apple Barrel craft paint from Wal-Mart in these colors:
- English Navy
- Swamp green
- Harvest orange
I just let it dry for a few minutes, peeled off the stencil and VOILA!!!!
This project only cost me about $7 because I had to purchase the craft paints and more vinyl for my Cricut. If you have excess wood lying around your house, try this easy DIY project! Once the wood is treated, it is truly a blank slate for design. It would be fun to draw a giant pumpkin or jack-o-lantern on all three boards. Hmmm, maybe that will be my next project! 🙂
Have fun crafting!
