I have another free pattern for you to download so you make the project. You can find the file here. In the download there are 3 files: a PDF for hand-cutting of the pieces, a PNG to use with your electronic cutting machine and a text file with handy hints and tips (and the sizing information) to use the PNG.
As with most of these projects I cut all the pieces from medium weight white card-stock, the kind used to make cards and such. This is way more economical than having to purchase a bunch of colors and in my experience the paint colors are a lot more stable than the paper colors. I rarely get noticeable fading with the painted projects.
You are free to use the pattern as many times as you wish and even to sell the finished project. But, please don’t give away or sell my patterns. I spend a lot of time creating them and the only compensation I get is from people watching the videos and checking out the blog post. I really want to keep offering these for free so please if someone else wants to make one send them to the video and blog so they can get their own copy of the pattern.
When I designed this sign I knew I wanted to age it up a bit to make it look a bit worn. I love the idea that the sign was made of boards and has maybe been around a while. On my first prototype I used 3 layers for the backing piece and it was not a success. I found it bent badly when I tried to sand the edges. I also had some issues with 4 layers, that is why the backing piece has 6 layers. If you want to make a “new” sign you won’t need all 6 layers so use as many as you wish.
Here are the pieces still on my Cricut cutting mat.
We start like always by gluing the pieces into groups. The leaf top is only 2 layers. I glued the rest in groups of 3. it was way to hard to line up all 6 layers of the back at once and also the glue took a long time to dry with I tried that. So glue your groups of pieces to look like this. And allow to dry.
Now we can glue the 2 backing groups together and allow the glue to dry.
Now the fun part the first step of painting. I only used 2 basic colors a green and a red. Note on the picture and in the video the parts I kind of skipped because they won’t matter and also the little bits of green on the berry parts.
Allow the paint to dry and begin gluing the “boards” to the backing. Line up the bottom piece and the top piece then center the middle “board” between them. Allow the glue to dry.
Now use some find grit sandpaper and age the edges of the pieces. Do as much or as little as you like.
Once aged glue the leaf piece onto the berry and allow the glue to dry.
Once the glue is dry you can age the green area.
Now time to touch up the edges of the sign as well as any areas where you took off too much color in the aging process. Apologies for being off screen when I was doing the touch up painting, I didn’t realize until I was editing the video.
You do the sanding and paint touch up as many times as it takes to get the effect you are going for. Just be sure the paint is completely dry before you try to sand it.
Next I added a thin wash of brown paint to the sign to tone down the white that was showing where the sanding had revealed the paper. It also toned down the color of the paints used giving the sign an older aged look.
Optionally now add some “seeds” with a warm yellow paint using a toothpick to apply as many or as few as you would like.
Once you are happy with the sign give it a thin even coat of mat Mod Podge. I like to coat the back of the sign also so layers of the paper don’t pull off later when I down from displaying it. Also sealing it will protect the walls of you dollhouse from paint that might have gotten on the back.
Once dry your sign is ready to display anywhere in you dollhouse you wish. I think this would look great in a themed kitchen as well as the porch.
As always I do want to sincerely thank all of you for watching my videos and reading my blog posts. It means so much to me that you are supporting me in this way. If I could ask you all to do just a bit more by subscribing to the channel and liking the videos and leaving comments. Those help more than you can imagine. Also if you could pass the links on to your friends I would appreciate it so much.
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