How to Paint a Wooden Picket Welcome Sign
Paint a wooden picket welcome sign to greet guests as they arrive at your home. Made from an actual picket fence, the sign has the look and feel of primitive country décor. Look for old wood at antique stores, rummage sales or perhaps even along the side of the road. Create different signs for different seasons; have a sign in red, green and white for Christmas or use pastel colors for a spring theme. Transform the picket fence piece using a variety of decorative paint techniques.
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Things You'll Need
- Wooden picket
- Sponge
- Medium grit sanding sponge
- Paint
- Brush
- Plastic sheeting
- Rag or towel
- Paper
- Computer
- Printer
- Tape
- Pencil
- Liner or flat paint brush
- Decorative designs
- Water-based polyurethane
- Saw-tooth hanger
Instructions
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1
Clean the piece of wood by wiping it down with a wet cloth or sponge. Sand the wood, in the direction of the grain, using a sanding sponge with medium grit. Wipe the wood clean after sanding to remove any dust created in the process.
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2
Paint the sign with craft or house paint using a paint or foam brush. Lay the sign on plastic sheeting or a plastic garbage bag. Don't use newspaper because it will stick to the sign. Apply 1 to 2 coats of paint using a brush, gliding the brush in the direction of the wood grain. Use thin, even coats of paint. Paint all edges of the sign. Allow to dry 24 hours.
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3
Sand the edges of the sign to create a vintage, worn look using the sanding block. Wipe down the sign with a wet cloth to remove dust.
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4
Print out the words "Welcome" using a home computer. Choose the font, as well as the size of lettering, as you want it to appear. Print a banner for larger signs. Hold the paper copy up to the sign to ensure all the letters fit onto the sign.
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5
Tape the banner backwards to a window. Outline the letters using a lead pencil; the outline will be on the back of the printed paper. Remove and tape the paper onto the wood sign.
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6
Outline the letters again; however, this time outline the front of the lettering. The pressure of outlining will transfer the letters onto the surface.
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7
Use a liner or flat brush to paint the lettering. A flat brush is best for thick, block lettering and a liner brush works well for thin, scroll-type fonts. Use a paint marker if you prefer. Choose a paint marker with a fine tip.
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Add decorative elements such as hand-painted snowflakes, flowers or pumpkins to coordinate with the seasons. Decoupage paper elements to the signs for additional decoration.
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9
Apply 2 light, even coats of water-based polyurethane to the sign. Use a hammer to add a saw-tooth hanger to the back of the sign.
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