“Vintage” Sign Tutorial

Do you love the look of old metal signs?

I do.

Do you love the price of old metal signs?

I do not.

Plus, what are the odds that it’ll be just the right size and color?  Not good, friends…not good.

vintage_chevy_sign

So, when I had the idea to put one on Macy’s pallet headboard, I knew I’d have to DIY it.

My first stop was the ducting section at Lowe’s.

photo (45)-001

They sell metal sheets elsewhere in the store (near the plexi glass), but they’re about 2-3 times as much.  Is it “nicer” metal?  Probably, but we don’t need nice for this project. Open-mouthed smile

The sheet measured 24” X 36”, but I wanted a slightly different size.  I cut about 2.5” off one of the long sides so my piece was 21.5” X 36”. You can score with a razor blade/utility knife and then snap the metal along the line, but it takes some SERIOUS patience and massive amounts of scoring.  I went the quick route and used tin snips (WEAR GLOVES) and then used a file to smooth the edge (WEAR GLOVES).

I liked the look of a metal border, so I taped off the edges and then I applied some yellow paint.  I used Jonquil from the new Martha Stewart Crafts by Plaid line.  That paint works on pretty much any surface, including metal.  You don’t need a great coat, because you’re going to sand it and beat it up.  Make sure it’s mostly covered, though.  Peel off the tape and sand.  I used an electric sander with 220 grit.  If you’re doing it by hand, you could use rougher paper (lower grit #).  Here’s a shot after I had sanded:

D7K_0270

I put the tape back on and applied some vinyl, cut with my Silhouette CAMEO™, in the center in the shape of a vintage Chevrolet logo.

Fullscreen capture 4272012 20519 PM

I traced the center part manually in the Silhouette Studio® Designer Edition software and then used the font “Hood Ornament” to add the lettering.  It’s not quite the same font that Chevy actually used, but only true car dorks would know that.

Once the vinyl was applied, I put on a coat of Martha Stewart Crafts by Plaid paint in carrot.

D7K_0275

After I peeled off the tape and vinyl:

D7K_0279

And then I sanded some more.  Once I was happy with it, I mounted it to the headboard with a screw in each corner.

D7K_0290

I will probably go back and put a clear coat on it, but it’s cold today and I’m a wuss.  Open-mouthed smile

April12-004

Please follow and like us:

Comments

  1. Thanks for sharing this, great sign!!!

  2. Thanks for sharing

  3. Char – This is seriously AWESOME!!!! I totally love it. I never thought to use metal as a canvas, but this is brilliant. And it looks so stink in’ cool. Great project. I bet she loves it.

  4. That’s freakin’ awesome, Char!

  5. I love this idea. It would be fantastic in my son’s room as a magnet board. Can’t wait to give this a try.
    xoxo

  6. This is so awesome! I love the whole headboard, but the sign really makes it extra awesome!

  7. Great sign!!! You are giving me so much inspiration right now and boy have I been in a craft rut so Thank YOU!!! So excited to see the finished bedroom, its going to be great!!

  8. Love it!

  9. This is GREAT!!! My husband spends soooo much on metal signs–will go this route in the future!!

  10. I LOVE this!! Such a fun and unique sign for her room! Love how creative it is as well!

  11. That is so awesome! Come do my boys room, will ya?!

  12. Char, that is amazing! Seriously, you’re super creative.

  13. LOVE, LOVE, LOVE it!! Great job, girl!! XO

  14. Wow! That is awesome.

  15. Jennie Penny says:

    Yep, You’re still amazing! Good work, my friend!

  16. This is AWESOME! SO cool. and ENDLESS possibilities.

  17. Carrie Lynch says:

    Holy. Crap. I’m still amazed that I know you. :-)

  18. Carolyn Windley says:

    Char,
    First of all love this!!!!! We are redecorating and loved some old tin signs but the prices at $15 to $30 each made them prohibative. We had decided to recreate them on thin wood. I really like your idea much better. : )
    I was wondering if you did anything to prep the edges to protect from cuts and scratches as that metal is a real mean booger. You mentioned a file but what kind did you use? Thanks for the input and for sharing this awesome sign and I think even a “car dork” would love this one.

  19. This is amazing Char! I absolutely love this! I am thinking my son might like one of these pallet headboards and he is going to love this vintage metal sign tutorial! Thanks for sharing!!!

  20. Totally amazing!! Love! Like the little light too.

  21. Michele N says:

    Love this idea! Gives me something to think about for my boys’ room. They have dark rough cedar on 2 walls and this might be a great way to hide some of it not already hidden by their bunk beds. If you know ahead of time Lowe’s can probably cut the metal for you too, I know they’ll cut wood and acrylic.

  22. This turned out awesome!! Cannot wait to see the bed all put together :)

  23. Love this. Pinned it. Stopped over from your feature at BeDifferentActNormal.

    ~Bliss~

  24. Oh, this is utterly fabulous!!

  25. I love this! I need this! I am praying for this:)

  26. Love this! so cool, Char! totally remembering this for when my boys get bigger.
    happy crafting,
    Linda

  27. Hands down, this is one of the best signs I’ve seen in a long time. You did an amazing job on it & layering it with the pallet headboard was genius! Sometimes it’s hard to find great projects or inspiration for teen boys so this was wonderful. I will be working on one this weekend for my 14 year old to go with the other tin signs & vintage finds in his room. Thanks for some great inspiration :)

  28. Wow I love your creativity
    Vintage Tin Signs are a thing I love and you are right finding the right one or right size can be difficult
    Will give it a try

  29. love this sign and how you used it, i would love to feature it if that would be ok with you please let me know
    lauren

  30. This is by far the most amazing sign I have ever seen done with the vinyl work. I to have the Cameo and love old Chevy stuff. You have my mind racing!

  31. Card games usually are well-versed enjoyable for up to anyone.
    What the web host requires will be one thing to be able to break the
    ice and get the particular guests to be able to mix along with
    communicate to one another.

  32. biedronka opony

  33. I every time spent my half an hour to read this web site’s content daily along with a cup
    of coffee.

  34. Thanks for sharing

  35. Maybe you have seriously considered resorting to illegal routines
    to carry on money your pastime?

  36. Surround yourself with nature and feel the surrounding who are around you, then you will be capable of express the customs special climate symptom
    in a particular location and condition, and also this
    may be the charm of landscape painting. Renoir was provided for the porcelain factory
    to find out skills when he was young. When any organization provides the Photoshop clipping path service they are going to also
    the basic price along with the time limit, that is forced to perform
    job.

  37. Thanks for sharing. The high cost of unique vintage publications is a noteworthy disadvantage for the normal authority. The firsts are not for those with restricted assets for home improvement. Then again, there is an answer. Replication of unique vintage blurbs is undeniably well known right now, and considerably more reasonable for the normal gatherer.vintage cushion covers

  38. Wonderfull post thanks for sharing. Taking a few to get back some composure of these vintage tin signs is significantly less demanding that you would think. A great deal of antique shops convey a wide choice of exemplary tin signs. Vintage tin signs

  39. I used to be recommended this website by way of my cousin. I’m now
    not positive whether or not this publish is written by him
    as no one else know such unique about my trouble. You’re amazing!

    Thanks!

  40. Nice work! My wife likes handmade beautifull things. She paints dishes now it is also cool!

  41. Hi there, this weekend is nice in support of me, because this occasion i am reading
    this fantastic educational piece of writing here at my house.

  42. Thanks for interesting info! It is an unique vintage sign.

  43. See, without keeping realistic expectations in the way online casinos operate, you
    are able too turn outt chasing some pretty crazy dreamms
    that may lanmd you inside the poorhouse within minutes.
    You just have to concfentrate on what you miht bbe holding, make right decisions, annd beat
    an online poker machine in the long run. Different ppayers generally different Poker strategies;
    some favouring aggressive tactics, although sme play “tight games”, only playing when they are sure they’re going to win.

  44. The poker industry presently estimated at some 300 million peopl is forecasted to grow to around a billion worldwide
    participants over the following ten years. The croupier spins the roulette wheel, containing coloured and numbered pockets, in one direction,
    when he releases and spins a bit all in the other direction for the circular tabs on the wheel.
    And winning ‘s all influenced by how well search for other people’s
    intentions annd shroud your own feelings and plans.

  45. I must thank you for the efforts you have put in writing this
    blog. I’m hoping to view the same high-grade content
    from you in the future as well. In truth, your creative writing
    abilities has motivated me to get my very own site now ;)

  46. Piece of writing writing is also a fun, if you know
    after that you can write if not it is complicated to write.

  47. Hello, always i used to check website posts here early in the daylight,
    as i like to find out more and more.

Trackbacks

  1. [...] Edwards, eighteen25, Infarrantly Creative, WhipperBerry, Craftaholics Anonymous, Skip to my Lou, Crap I’ve Made, House of [...]

  2. […] Diy pallet headboard with vintage sign. Tutorial… […]

Leave a Reply to Stephanie J Cancel reply

*


Creative Commons License
Crap I've Made by Char is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-Share Alike 3.0 United States License.
Based on a work at www.crapivemade.blogspot.com.
Permissions beyond the scope of this license may be available at www.crapivemade.blogspot.com.

MyFreeCopyright.com Registered & Protected
BLOG DESIGN BY: