DIY French Farmhouse Sign – Reader Tutorial

DIY French Farmhouse Sign

Today I’m sharing another fabulous DIY project! This one was submitted by reader Janice from French Velvet Horses! Janice created this beautiful French Farmhouse Sign! So charming!

Here’s what Janice had to say about this project: “The graceful curves of the upper ornament on this graphic inspired me in designing the shape of this sign. I had been working on a custom sign order, using the top of my Farmers Market sign, so I happened to have those materials before me. I studied that scalloped top and decided to flip it and use the top of that sign for the bottom of this one! I love how it turned out!”

Supplies:

1) Wood Sign

2) Black Chalk Type Paint

3) Flat White Paint

3) French Sheep Printable Transfer

4) Embossing Stylus Pen (Michael’s Crafts)

5) Small Paintbrushes

6) Furniture Wax

Steps:

Step 1) After carefully cutting the wood, I applied black chalk paint to the sign edges. I then worked on a variety of distressing techniques and followed up with flat bright white paint.

Step 2) Once dry, I took my disc sander and focused on giving this piece the look of time worn edges. I preferred not to heavily distress throughout the midsection as I wanted somewhat of a flat uninterrupted surface to hand paint the sheep graphic. The wooly swirls of paint for his coat I felt would be too busy with a lot of surface crackling.

Step 3) I took Karen’s beautiful graphic and added several lines of my own text to suit the look I wanted for this piece, plus some spencerian flourishes . I do not have any programs on my computer, therefore I used what I call “the elbow grease method” of design and transfer. I simply take a soft grip embossing stylus pen which has only a metal round tip and I use this to trace over my lettering and sheep outlines. Using an embossing stylus to trace instead of a pencil,which leaves marks on the original paper design, allows you to use that same paper over again many times without marking up your original. Very little pressure is needed! The hard stylus tip allows for great detail to come through onto your wood. The embossing and stylus set is inexpensive and can be found at Michaels. I purchased a pack of 3 which has soft grips for probably under $10.

Step 4) My design was traced onto my wood along along with the outline of the sheep graphic and then hand painted. I used the outline of the sheep I had made on the wood and did some stippling and crosshatching in his leg area to add definition to the darkest areas. I thinned my black paint down at points while working on the sheep to produce gray tones in the areas of his body that needed to be highlighted where the light was hitting his coat the most. Small circular motions with my brush on his face gave the look of rolls of dense hair. The finish is a hand rubbed wax finish. Thanks Karen for such a great site I have enjoyed for years!

Thanks Karen for such a great site I have enjoyed for years!

Thanks so much for submitting this lovely project Janice! I hope you guys enjoyed it! Be sure and visit Janice over at her Etsy Shop French Velvet Horses and on her Facebook Page, to see more of her wonderful wares!

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