Chalkboard Bakery Sign on Canvas

Faux Chalkboard Bakery Sign on Canvas

 

I originally saw this cool bakery sign wall decor on a blog header over at Junkin Junky about a year ago, and she has since changed the image on her blog header so I can't really show you.  A couple months later I was looking for it (this was before pinterest) and found the bakery sign over at the Curious Sofa, although it's not there anymore either, but luckily I saved it because I FINALLY did it!  

Here is the original from curious sofa 

                                                            

I started with a 12x24 inch gallery wrapped canvas that I got on sale really cheap years ago...before I even became a mom, which was at least 5 years ago as JJ's bday comes up next week!  I didn't have any black acrylic paint, so I used J's Black Tempura/Poster Paint but due to my painting classes from college, I still have a difficult time using any paint straight from the tube...even black, so I mixed the black with some of my burnt umber...don't know if it made any difference, but oh well...I painted the entire canvas black.

Then I put a piece of chalk in a bag and smashed it with a hammer.  I used a wide dry paint brush and brushed the chalk powder onto the black canvas to make it look like a chalkboard.  Who needs chalkboard paint when  you can use black poster paint and basic crayola chalk to make a faux chalkboard finish?

 

I inverted the original image from curious sofa and enlarged it to the size I wanted in word and had it print onto several pages.  Then did the ol scribble chalk on the back and trace the letters onto the canvas.  I did try practicing my freehand at first which wasn't terrible, but I just wanted it to be uniform and even and so I traced the lettering on. 

 When I started, I planned to paint the letters with white paint, but right before starting thought...um since I'm making it look like a chalkboard...why don't I just use chalk? duh...

 To keep the chalk for smudging and wiping off, I took it out to the garage and sprayed it with fixative. You can find that in the drawing section a store that carries art supplies.

 I made this chalkboard bakery sign to go next to the door to the deck because there are two empty areas of wall, on the opposite wall, I just threw up this pizza paddle we already had.

 There...better than having nothing up there on those walls....slowly getting the house less bare.

 I just had to take a pic from this angle because I love the light fixture and brick fireplace in the kitchen...

Best part of the new kitchen decor?  It was free!  I just used things that I've had on hand.

To see how to enlarge images to print on multiple pages click HERE

To see how to transfer images as I did with the type on this project, click HERE

 

FYI- an update from last nights post...NO POOPY DOOPY DISASTERS this morning!!! THANKS FB friends for your help!!!

Bathroom Redo

Bathroom Reveal

Well this is one of those "reveals" where I'm a little apprehensive to share...it's not TOTALLY done because we need to paint the trim and woodwork, but I'm done with this project for now I need a break!  

The original paint in this bathroom was not looking so great, there were tons of water streak stains on all the walls...I think mainly due to the fact that the towel rack was no where near the sink so people were walking around with wet hands which were then dripping down the walls?  Anyways, I picked up some metal decor from Hobby Lobby 50% off and we wanted to go with an old world rustic look, using a faux finish on the walls.  But here is what happened...the tan color I picked out as the base went on and looked more like a creamy, peachy skin color...I felt like I was surrounded by skin.  So instead of just a light faux finish, I ended up doing a heavier, more dramatic faux with dramatic cracks in the walls to cover up the awful base color.  I also painted the cabinets and doors the same light color and started glazing them but it wasn't looking that great (I'm new to this stuff) and my husband said the door looked like it was covered in "diarreah juice" okay sorry for that gross description, that is just his sense of humor...I originally wanted to go darker with the woodwork anyways so I think that's what we will do now.  

Still can't decide if I like it...I've spent way too much time in that small bathroom over the last 3-4 nights and feel totally indifferent....don't know what to think of it.  I also want to put a decorative bracket type thing with a vase of flowers above the toilet possibly?  

Anyways, here is the before and after....and who knows...maybe there will be another "after" down the road if I decide I don't like this and redo the whole thing again!  Maybe at least an update after painting the trim and woodwork differently.

Here is when I had all the colors up to pick from...and of course the one I got ended up looking nasty and NOT like cappuccino! haha The swatch I went with was the 3rd in from the right on the 2nd to last row....

I did find out  after bringing home a ton of swatches that the main color throughout our house is Bistro Chair!

 See, need a different color on door and trim because it's too much the same...

Mod Podged/hotglued paper over the light switch cover

Here is the faux "process" I did (really was experimenting)

 Made a glaze with burnt umber and raw umber acrylic paint mixed with water and smeared a bunch on randomly with a 4 inch paintbrush....then take a wet rag, wring out all the water and then smear it, wipe it and dab it around until it looked like this....I would also go back with an almost dry paintbrush and do crosshatching to blend and texturize it as well

Anyways....did I ruin my bathroom? Last night I dreamed that I started over and painted the walls a solid darker color with light trim...

UPDATED PIC AFTER PAINTING CABINET AND BASEBOARDS with BEHR French Roast (or espresso roast...something to that effect)