Stenciled Beach Sign

by To Work With My Hands

9 Materials

$15

30 Minutes

Easy

If you’ve got a collection of shells that you’ve been waiting to do something with, then I think you’ll love this Stenciled Beach Sign that’s super easy and comes together in less than one hour!

Here's all you'll need to make it:

an unfinished wooden arrow sign
capital alphabet stencil
acrylic craft paints in coastal colors
a stencil brush
beach shells
scrap pieces of lint-free cotton (an old t-shirt works great)
hot glue/gun

Start by painting the sign with the coastal paints. To get the weathered look, use the paint as you would a stain. Dab a bit of paint onto the cloth and wipe it into the grain of the wood.

This wood is perfect for a project like this because it has grooves that soak in the paint while leaving other areas lighter.

Paint in three different long sections and don't worry if they overlap a bit. In fact, that actually helps it look more casual-beachy and weathered.

One of the perks of this painting method is that it dries almost immediately. You're really just staining the wood and using very little paint.

Now you can see how it looks from the end.

Using the stencils and a stencil brush, add the letters to form the word BEACH. If you prefer a different word...go for it! Make the project your own by adding colors, words, or even a stencil style you like best.

If you have trouble keeping the letters spaced and even, try this tip: start in the center and stencil the A first. Moving to one side or the other, continue stenciling the letters, laying the next letter over the letter you just stenciled. (For example, lay the F template over the A and stencil the E. Then lay the C template over the E and stencil the B).