Nail head art

 

This project has been on my to do list for a while now. I really wanted a sign for my garage/workshop/office/reception area, but I didn't just want to get one printed. I wanted something that would represent both sides of my business, graphic design and woodworking. I wanted to use my logo, but look sturdy enough to 'belong' in the garage.

I've seen a few pieces of art that use nails and string between the nails to make a shape, so that was my original intention. But then I thought about it a little more, and I figured if I got nails with a big enough head, I wouldn't have to bother with string, since string might detract from the look I wanted anyway.

The project was a little more time consuming than I expected, but well worth it in the end. It still didn't take me a total of 2 hours, so not too long, just longer than I thought.

Supplies:
- Scrap wood, how much you need depends on exactly the size and shape you need. (Mine is about     20"x 20", so I used 1x3s and 1x4s to make a large square. Check the scrap bin at your local hardware store)
- Paint for the background and then paint for the nail heads (I used acrylic craft paint for my undercoat and nail heads since you don't need much!)
- Nails (I used these from Lowe's)

Total cost for this project? About $4! Sweet! I had most of the stuff I needed, but even if you have to buy a little wood and paint, you can still make it for under $10.

 

I just started with some scrap 1x3s and 1x4s. I laid them out and made a square, then I drilled some holes with my Kreg Jig, and screwed them all together. I tried to make sure none of the 'seams' lined up so they wouldn't make one big awkward line.

 

Then I flipped it over and painted it a dark turquoise (my business color). Once that dried, I went over it with an off white that I had lying around. We're sticking with cheap here! I sanded down the edges and where the boards joined together until the turquoise and some of the wood showed through.

I printed a large version of my logo and taped it to my board. Then I started nailing! 

 I tried to make them even, but wasn't precise about it...

It was good practice on nailing straight too. If any of you have a teenager that you want to entertain for a few hours, you could enlist their help!

Here it is all nailed! I ripped the paper off. (And got so excited I forgot to take a picture.)

Then I took my acrylic paint and using a fairly small paintbrush, I painted all the nail heads. This is the part that actually took the least time. Didn't it turn out great? I couldn't wait to hang it up!

I drilled a hole in each corner, and used some twine to hang it over my workbench. Don't you think it would be just great in a little boy's room with his initials? Or the shape of a train, or a car, or both! The possibilities are endless!

I also made a few small chalkboards to help me stay on track and organized in the garage. I had door fronts from a TV stand screw up. (I'm sure you've never had any of those though!) I painted them the same, dark turquoise underneath and then off white on top. I distressed them too, and then painted the inset part with Rustoleum's chalkboard paint that was given to me. (I used 2 coats, following the directions on the can.)

Thanks for stopping by! For pictures between posts, find my on Facebook or Pinterest. And, if you don't want to DIY, you can buy from me on Etsy! 

*P.S. I love to DIY, and I love that you want to as well! Please remember that all designs, files and tutorials are for personal use only.

Fourth of July chalkboard printables

I couldn't resist one more little Fourth of July decoration. I made chalkboard signs! Yay!

I took a piece of 1/4" plywood and cut it to just a little bigger than my sign sizes. (I made one that is 16x20 and one that is 8x10.) If you choose the 8x10 you can just print it at home! I sent mine to Walgreens to get printed since I had a bigger one, and they are a little shinier than I wanted but I think they still turned out great!

I stained the pieces of plywood dark walnut, waited for them to dry and then simply used tacks to attach them to the pieces of plywood. (I did have to cut the tacks off on the back since they were a little too long.)

 

I used the lyrics from one of my favorite songs, 'Chicken Fried' by Zac Brown Band. There's one specific verse that applies perfectly to the Fourth! 

I made a few different versions for you! There's the 'Chicken Fried' one I used, the Pledge of Allegiance, and a horizontal one that just says, 'America: Land of the Free, because of the brave.' Love that saying too!

All you need to do is right-click (or control click if you're on a mac) on the one you want and just go to file: print. I would print it on something a little thicker than regular paper, maybe just plain white card stock. Cut it out and you're good to go! You could even just put it in a 8x10 frame.

As always, for pictures and updates between posts, find me on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/AutumnOstlundDesign and if you don't want to DIY, find me on Etsy http://www.etsy.com/shop/AutumnOstlundDesign

*P.S. I love to DIY, and I love that you want to as well! Please remember that all designs, files and tutorials are for personal use only.

Fourth of July pennant banner

July is getting closer.... and guess what that means?!?! My two FAVORITE holidays, my birthday, and the Fourth of JULY! Which means BBQ, corn, yard games, friends and basically all things summer. I wanted a little something extra on our front porch this year, so I came up with this wooden pennant banner. You still have three weeks to get your own up!

I started with scrap 1/4 inch plywood I had, but you can buy craft wood at a craft supply store or buy part of a sheet at your local hardware store. You could even use chipboard or scrap matte board, honestly whatever you have laying around. Be creative and get rid of some of that junk!

I wanted my pennants to be 9 inches tall and 7.5 inches wide. I decided that by strictly scientific methods. Or not. Honestly, I just thought they looked best that way.

So I ripped my plywood into 9 inch strips, and the drew out my pennants. Easy, peasy.

Then I put my miter saw at 22.5 degrees and started cutting.

 

Then I turned them the other direction and cut the other side. I cut a whole stack in about 2 minutes. Awesome.

 

Then I drilled holes in each corner so it would be easy to hang them once they were painted.

 

I primed them all white, then taped off half of them horizontally with 1" painters tape and stuck some star stickers I had laying around randomly over the other half.

I painted the ones with stripes red and the ones with stars navy blue, waited patiently for them to dry and done! Seriously not an hour worth of work. (I used twine I had around to hang them with, but ribbon or string would work too.) I also sealed them quickly with a spray spar varnish to protect them from the moisture here and since they would be up for an entire month.

Hope you're all having a great start to summer!

For pictures and updates between posts, find me on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/AutumnOstlundDesign and if you don't want to DIY, find me on Etsy http://www.etsy.com/shop/AutumnOstlundDesign

*P.S. I love to DIY, and I love that you want to as well! Please remember that all designs, files and tutorials are for personal use only.

Logo design

Just wanted to share a few logos I just finished for the Kaneohe Bay Running Club! I love seeing what I design on the computer come to life!