Happy Friday guys! I shared our new piece of art from Minted on Wednesday and how absolutely perfect for the space it is, and it was paired with this easy little DIY piece that I just couldn’t wait to show y’all. I am almost as obsessed with it as I am the Minted piece!
*affiliate links included for your convenience, see my disclosure policy here
This doesn’t take many supplies at all, and they’re likely things you already have around the house (aside from the stencils, maybe, I had to buy those).
- Scrap wood, the rougher the better (mine is plywood, roughly 12″x20″)
- Stencils of varying sizes
- Chalk paint in two different colors (other paints would work, but maybe not distress as well)
- Paintbrush, foam brush, or stenciling sponge
- Palm sander with fine sandpaper (or sanding block)
I used my Annie Sloan “graphite” chalk paint which is left over from our console table and put one coat of it on the board. I wanted it to look pretty rustic and faded so I wasn’t careful or anything and put it on pretty light. I made a little mock-up of how I wanted things to be laid out and what sizes, then just started painting, no measuring or anything, I just eyeballed the evenness of them. I definitely need to get a stenciling sponge or more little foam brushes to use for stuff like this, rather than my regular paintbrush, so if you have one of those instead definitely use it!
I also didn’t make an effort to have clean edges on the numbers so that it would look like they were faded and worn. After the stenciling was done, I used my little palm sander to sand down the edges of the board and lightly over the whole thing, just until it started taking the raised areas off. Initially, I planned to go over the piece with wood stain after sanding (like I did here), but I loved how it looked and decided not to mess with it any further. Which is probably good, because I’m not sure how that technique would work on the more absorptive chalk paint…probably not as well. If you’d like to use that technique on this, I’d suggest probably using regular latex paint instead of chalk paint.
Then I just set it up between my driftwood pieces and the Minted art! It is such a perfect balance up there now, and the graphite chalk paint matches the console table across the room as well as the darker stormy grays at the base of the painting.
I’m still relatively new to distressing things so it is still TONS of fun to me to do it! Like alot. Like, I get sad when the piece is finished and I have to stop.
I am obsessed with how weathered it looks with such little work. It looks like it washed up with those driftwood pieces. Aside from a wedding date, it’s be super cute in a nursery or kid’s room with their birthday also!
Sidenote, isn’t this wall just BEGGING to be planked?!? I’m DYING to plank this wall too! Someone please convince my husband that the TV will only have to be moved for a couple of days.
Hope you guys have a great weekend!
Plank wall would look good. You’re amazing.
I’m not sure about amazing, maybe just bored ;) Help me convince Matt we need that wall planked!!
Super cute Em!!!!! Love it!
Thank you!! :x
Oh, I love this so much, Emily! I love displaying little mementos of special events around the house. Helps the hubs out on anniversaries too. ;) A plank wall sounds so exciting and perfect. I love them so much I could seriously plank all of my home’s walls if my hubby would let me.
That’s EXACTLY what my husband said too! Maybe I’ll hide it a few months before our anniversary ;)
Emily –
Your anniversary wall art is so cute! I need to make something like this for our house! I haven’t seen you around the party in a while, we would love to have you come back! I always look for your posts! Hopefully we’ll see you there tomorrow,
Cat
Thanks Cat!! I’ll be linking up tomorrow :)
LOVe this! And, I think a birthday would look awesome too! Plank wall sounds amazing!
Thanks Jessica!! Soon hopefully :)
It looks great–and makes such an impact in your room. Thanks for linking it up to the Pretty Preppy Party!
Thanks so much Christy!!
Super cute and easy! Great idea! And yes yes yes for the planking!! When in doubt plank it out!
YES Laura!!! Best.mantra.ever!!
Girl, I love this!! Such a cute way to display special anniversary dates. Featuring this at The Creative Corner on SUnday! :)
Aw, thank so much Amanda!!
I love this, Emily! I’m a sucker for typography and I love that this can be personalized! I’m featuring this project at the Talented Tuesday Link Party tomorrow – I hope you’ll stop back by!
Thanks SO much Amy!!!
I LOVE this sign :) I absolutely can see myself redoing this sign in my own home. I’m featuring the sign at the Talented Tuesday party on my blog page tomorrow! Hope you’ll stop by and say hi!
Eeee! Thanks Lindi!!
I love this!!! It looks perfect with your display. And yes – that wall IS begging to be planked. I have a couple of walls in my house begging to be planked too, but my husband won’t hop on board either…
Thanks!! I’m thinking we’re just going to have to do some guerrilla planking when they’re gone. That totally needs to be a thing.
I love this and it totally inspired me to do my own. I love your site, your ideas and your style…keep it coming.
Yay Tiffany!!! Go for it!! I would LOVE to see pics when you get it done so tag me or email me :) Thanks so much for being here and following along <3
Emily, I love how playful your anniversary sign is. What a great idea!
Thank you Heather!! About to make one for a friend too :)
Awesome idea. Love it. The planked wall would look great.
Thanks Alicia!! Still working on that plank wall idea ;)