Hand Painted Sign | FolkArt Home Decor Chalk

Updated on June 19, 2024

Hand Painted Sign | FolkArt Home Decor Chalk. Create your own custom hand-painted sign using FolkArt Home Decor Chalk Paint and FolkArt stencils.

We are slowly getting settled in our new home. One of my favorite parts of our new house is our front porch.

At our last house, we had a nice front porch, but it was not covered, so my options for decor were pretty limited. Now, that I have more front porch space and it isn’t completely exposed to the elements, I am having so much fun decorating it. 

Today, I am going to show you how to create this hand-painted sign I made using FolkArt Home Decor chalk paint and stencils. 

Supplies:

• Wooden Sign
• FolkArt Home Decor Chalk Paint
• FolkArt Stencils
• Paint Brushes
• Glass Knobs
• Hanging Lids
• Glass Jars
• Drill and Drill Bit

If you have not tried chalk paint yet, you need to! It requires no sanding or priming. This, honestly, is my favorite feature. It dries to an ultra-matte finish. It cleans up with soap and water. Chalk paint is perfect for layering and distressing. You can also add wax to your finished project to give it a soft, glowing shine.

Paint Sign with FolkArt Home Decor Chalk Paint

Start by painting your sign blank. I used FolkArt Home Decor Chalk paint in White Adirondack. This sign is incredibly rough textured and is raw wood. With any other kind of paint, I would have started with both a good sanding and then primer. This was not at all necessary with the chalk paint. Allow to dry for 2 hours.

Note: I got good coverage with just one coat. Since I am going for a more rustic look with my sign, I didn’t mind a few areas where the raw wood showed through a little (like where there were knots). But, I would have definitely had complete coverage with a second coat.

Use Stencils to Create Your Design

Next, choose your stencils for your sign. I found this beautiful FolkArt Adhesive Stencil of a butterfly and a Martha Stewart Adhesive Laser Cut Stencil with floral letters.

FolkArt Home Decor Chalk Paint Colors used: Patina, Sage, Seaside Villa, Nautical, Spanish Moss, Castle

Peel the adhesive backing from the stencil. Line up the stencil on your painted board. Begin painting your design. Using paintbrushes specifically made for stenciling is the easiest way to apply the paint, but you can also use regular paintbrushes. Take care to not get paint under the edges of the stencil. Using a small paintbrush makes getting into detailed areas of the stencil much easier.

Helpful Tip: If you are not using an adhesive stencil, use some painters tape to hold your stencil in place while you paint.

I blended the paints on the butterfly and the letters by overlapping slightly between each color.

Once you are finished, carefully peel your stencil off at an angle while the paint is still wet. Wash the stencil and your brushes with soap and water, and allow to dry.

For the floral letters at the bottom, I wanted to spell out “The Silvas”. The way the V was cut and the fact that there was only one S in the pack meant I had to paint the letters in layers. I started by painting THE SIL A.

Then, I allowed the chalk paint to dry to the touch. After it felt dry I added the V and the S back onto the design and painted both of those letters.

Allow the paint to dry.

Seal and Protect Your Project with FolkArt Home Decor Wax (Optional)

At this stage, you can choose to add FolkArt Home Decor Wax to your finished project. There are three types of wax – clear, white, and antiquing. The clear will protect the surface without adding color. The white will add a white-washed or faded finish. The antiquing will add a vintage look to your project.

The wax helps to seal and protect your finished product. However, it will not protect a project that is outdoors and exposed to the elements.

If you choose to add wax to your project, allow the paint to dry for 24 hours before applying. Then, you will apply the wax to your project using a brush. There is a specific wax brush you can purchase to make this process easier. Allow the wax to dry for 24 hours and then buff to your desired shine.

Since my project is very rustic and the surface is so rough I opted to not add any wax to my project. 

Attach Hanging Jars to Sign

The final part of this project is adding some glass hanging jars. Use your drill and appropriate sized drill bit to create holes for the glass knobs. Hobby Lobby has an excellent selection of decorative knobs and they are often 50% off.

Assemble the knob and attach to the board. After that, if the screw hangs off too far in the back for where you will be hanging your project, you can cut it using heavy-duty wire cutters.

Screw the hanging lid to the top of your jar, and hang from the decorative knob.

Add some faux flowers to your jar and your sign is ready to be enjoyed.

I love that I can change out the flowers or greenery in the jars to match the current season. Butterflies are my favorite and make a beautiful welcoming addition to our front porch.

Using stencils and chalk paint make it so easy to create a custom and personalized handmade sign.

Learn more about FolkArt Home Decor Chalk Paint: https://plaidonline.com/brands/folkart/folkart-homedecorchalk

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• Wooden Welcome Sign
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