The V Spot

Rants, observations, and home decorating... from a woman with no time for a blog.


Distressed Spring Artwork Tutorial.

107 Comments

The day the LORD created HOPE
was probably the same day
He created SPRING.

I love that!
Let’s make some artwork based on it!

spring quote artwork tutorial - distressed artwork - diy
  • Grab a piece of wood. In this case, I used 1′ x 2′ scrap of 1/4″ plywood.
  • Grab a paintbrush and some good white primer. ( I like Kilz.)
  • Put 2 generous coats on.

Once your primed board has dried, you’re ready to put on your letters. I used my Cricut to cut out the letters for the Spring quotation that I chose. You could also use pre-cut adhesive letters.

(Tip Of The Day: You DO know you can use regular old household contact paper/shelf-liner instead of the expensive vinyl, right…? And that it comes in black…?)

So using some of the contact paper I had on hand, I cut out my letters and kind of eyeballed where I wanted them to go. I just played around with the spacing until it worked for me.
spring artwork tutorial - distressed typographic artwork - diy

  • Once you know where they’re going, peel off the backing and stick them down on the board.
  • Rub them on with your finger until you get a good adhesion, then take your primer and put another thin coat over the top of the letters. (This ensures that you’ve got a good seal over the letters)
  • Once dry, take the paint color of your choice and paint the entire board. In this case, I chose a Robin Egg blue.
  • When your color base coat is dry, paint your bird (or leaves, flowers, bunny, whatever…) onto the board. I did this free-hand (and boy does it show) but you could use a stencil too.



spring artwork tutorial - distressed artwork - diy - painted birdYou will be painting the bird (or whatever) over the top of your letters. While the bird’s paint is still wet, start pulling off the letters under the bird. If you let the paint dry, it winds up pulling off the blue base color as well and you want the edges of the letters to be as crisp as possible.
spring artwork tutorial - distressed artwork - diy

spring artwork tutorial - distressed artwork - diy

See? Sometimes it pulls up anyway.
spring artwork tutorial - distressed artwork - diy

No worries. Once I’m done I will take a smaller paintbrush and touch up the black paint. (Possibly a Sharpie if it needs to be really detailed.)
spring artwork tutorial - distressed artwork - diy

Let it dry overnight.

artwork featuring quotes about spring

 

  • Toss it on the floor of your garage.
  • Dig around on your husband’s workbench for an orbital sander because yours is buried somewhere on Your side of the garage under arts and craft supplies, holiday decor and other thrift items you bought but haven’t put away properly or finished working on because you have decorating A.D.D. and. Oh yeah….
  • Sand it really well.

spring artwork tutorial - distressed typographic artwork - diyIt’s OK to distress it really heavily. I would have done more, but I worried the script I chose wouldn’t stand out enough if I kept going.
The day the Lord created hope was probably the same day He created spring.

Mix a few drops of a pearl or silver acrylic paint with some water and lightly brush it over the artwork. (Think: brushing egg on a pie crust. It just finishes it off.)

spring artwork tutorial - distressed artwork - diy

Try to figure out where you’re going to put it since you have the asymmetrical mantel from hell.

spring artwork tutorial - distressed artwork - diy

Like it? Give it a try!


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Comments

  4. This looks so professional that it could be in PB or Ballard.
    Thanks for the very easy and well written instructions and pictures.
    Wonderful!!!!! I would love to make a big board for 1 wall that needs something other than a picture.
    Thanks!!! What a great and inspiring stop.
    Yvonne

    Reply

  13. I’m really sorry if this posts about 12 times because for some reason, it keeps disappearing (or “redirecting” to nowhere), but just wanted to say that I’m so glad you found my blog so I could find yours! This artwork is AMAZING! I seriously thought someone made the quote in Photoshop and cannot believe you made it – very impressive! : )

    Reply

  17. What a great project, I finally opened my Cricut a couple of weeks ago and I’m going to give your project a try. Thanks for sharing and for the great tutorial.

    Reply

  20. I love that quote and the blue you chose is so fresh and “springy”! I do use contact paper, but the cuts don’t do so well. What settings on your Cricut do you use to cut it?

    Reply

  36. i am so impressed by your patience and attention to detail…i want one, but i could never do what you do.

    i love the family rules one you did a while back, i think about it often. wish i had that kind of patience and talent.

    Reply

  49. Hi Vivienne…

    Ohh my gosh…you are just full of great spring project ideas, my friend! I was in awe of your yard chandelier and know this…this pretty spring plaque! I love this saying too! It’s gorgeous, my friend! Thanks for sharing it with us! It certainly is looking springy at your place…just beautiful!

    Happy spring wishes,
    Chari @Happy To Design

    Reply

  50. This is so gorgeous!! I love it!! I don’t have a cricut but may try it with contact paper and stencils. Thanks for this tutorial.

    Ruth

    Reply

  51. beautiful artwork…you are one creative and talented girl…this blue is just the right shade…thanks for linking it up!

    blessings,

    alison
    stuff and nonsense

    Reply

  52. That is such a cute plaque! I love the bird, the message and the color. Very well done.

    Visiting from Tatertots and Jello. It’s great to find your blog.

    Have a great weekend.
    Pam

    Reply

  55. You gave such a good explanation of the process that I’m fairly certain I could tackle it. I just realized that I may need to get a manicure before I attempt to post a how-to at Brambly(your hands look so nice in the photos).Thank you for the inspiration. Have a terrific evening!

    Ann-Marie

    Reply

  69. I LoVE LoVe LoVe this. I wish I could free hand that well. I have tried to free hand birds (which seem easy) but mine always look 9 months pregnant. I am your newest follower and I would love a visit from you over at fineandhandy.blogspot.com.

    Reply

  74. Wow. I really love this! I would like to invite you to post this at my link party Masterpiece Monday, at my blog, Boogieboard Cottage. Have a great week! Mary :O)

    Reply

  80. hiya i came visiting form night owl craftand i am so glad i did , this tutorial is very simple but detailed thanks for sharing x maybe i will see you at mine /
    xmaggiex

    Reply

  87. Wow, this looks amazing and I love Spring, so this is a great craft.

    P.S. I am having a giveaway on my blog, the cutest and most practical diaper bag you have ever seen!

    Reply

  91. I love this. Great idea to use the letters under the paint. Thanks for the tip on the contact paper hadn’t thought of that one. DUH..

    Reply

  92. Great project! Thank you so much for linking this creative project up to Saturday Spotlight hosted by SAS Interiors and Green Door Designs. I loved your project so much that it was my pick of the week. Please grab the ‘I’ve Been Featured’ button the right sidebar of http://www.sasinteriors.net. Can’t wait to see more of your amazing creations!

    Jenna, SAS Interiors

    Reply

  97. VIvienne,
    I love this! … beautiful saying.
    And thank you for the helpful hints you gave my yesterday … I have since opened up my email AND added a button!
    Thank you for linking up with me!
    ~Bec

    Reply

  99. What a completely awesome tutorial! I’ve been dreaming of creating my own similar art projects, but thought I might have to come up with some kind of screen printing system. I SOOOO have to get a cutting machine…been wanting one a long time! Thanks for sharing 🙂 Lisa

    Reply

  105. OMGoodness! That is such a beautiful art project… I can already see ideas for “Personalized Christmas Present Projects” cooking in my brain… 🙂 Thank you so very much for sharing this. My husband recently got me a Silhouette Cameo for my Birthday & I’m just now starting to use it… I can picture eventually “selling” my work.
    So, I have this CHRISTMAS Image of a pretty tree and inspirational wording. would I put in “the negative” (outer image) instead of placing the wording?

    Reply

  106. Thanks so much for the “Contact Paper” tip… YeeHa! I know I have a bunch from our old house that was destined for the Donation Box… Yeah, for repurposing & saving Money!!!
    Question? – What type of paint did you use for the blue? Acrylic? You mentioned that the white was primer. Does that mean that you used Kilz? Sorry, I’m really new at this….

    Reply

  107. Hey there, KM_Designs. Your email isn’t enabled, so I hope you see this. The blue is just acrylic paint, but you could use spray paint as well. (That would make the letters a bit more crisp and clean, actually.) If you want to make the works look like the are “over” an image, you put them on the board first, then paint your image over the top of them. When you remove the letters, they’ll look like they’re written on the Christmas tree. Hope that helps.

    Reply

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