DIY Shiplap Sign for Your Home

Elizabeth Fencl
by Elizabeth Fencl
4 Materials
Don't you just love the look of Shiplap Walls? I have been obsessing over doing some walls with shiplap and I keep getting sidetracked with other projects. Yes, I did do a post on doing a Shiplap Wall with a Pencil, check out the post for a quick/cheap shiplap fix: http://www.hometalk.com/diy/decorate/walls/do-you-have-a-pencil-create-a-shiplap-wall-13758810). Then the painting bug took over and I redid the entire kitchen (http://www.hometalk.com/diy/kitchen-dining/countertops/painting-my-kitchen-counter-tops-to-look-like-granite--19741655) and painted over my "Penciled Shiplap" wall. Needless to say, I haven't tackled a room with this hot trend yet, but decided to create a DIY Shiplap Sign instead.
This was a fun project to put together. I am lucky to have a husband that believes in having the right tools on hand which helps me out when inspiration hits.
I started with a piece of 3/8 plywood that we had on hand. I measured out 24 in. x 19 1/2 and using the Bosch jigsaw, I cut this board.
I also had some 1/4 inch Luan Plywood from Home Depot on hand from another project that never happened. I measured out strips at 4 5/8 in. wide. Using the table saw, I cut the strips lickety split.
I measured out the 24 in for the length and then randomly cut them so that they would have the random pattern of what a wall would look like if it had that great Shiplap look.
Using a sponge brush (because they are cheap and I was lazy and didn't feel like washing a brush) I painted the plywood black for the illusion of depth.
After I primed the "Shiplap", I used a nailer to attach the strips to the plywood. For spacing I used a couple of penny's then got out the Elmer's Wood Filler for the holes from the nailer. I love this stuff!! It dries super fast (within 15 minutes), then you sand the spots out and paint. Awesome stuff!
I make my own chalk paint for projects because it is so much cheaper and so easy to make with paint you have on hand. Here is my recipe (Thank you, Pinterest): 1 cup of latex paint, 1 1/2 Tablespoons cool water and 2 1/2 Tablespoons Plaster of Paris. I carefully painted the Shiplap trying not to get any in my seams.
I had fence boards in my stash of wood and ripped them at 2 1/2 in. wide for the frame. Again, using my nailer, I attached the boards to the sign. I love this wood with the rustic look it will give a room. Just for the record...if you don't have a nailer in the house, you need to get one (along with a compressor). This is one of the best darn tools and will make projects so much easier to create. You do have to be very careful with it, but again, you will be so happy if you pick one of these up.
Here is one of my favorite ideas that I picked up from Pinterest also. Transferring words onto anything you want to create without using a cutting machine. I do have a Cricut, but for this project, I wanted to show this method of transferring words because I know that not everyone has one of these wonderful machines in their craft room. Print out whatever words that you want on your project, cut them out and then get out your children's or in my case, grandchildren's sidewalk chalk.
Rub the chalk on the back of the pieces of paper and place on your project. You will then outline the words and those words will be on your project for you to fill in with paint. It is a little tedious, but in the end you can stand back and pat yourself on the back for being such creative and talented writer.
Wipe off any chalk remains after painting and follow up with some sort of sealer. I love Anne Sloan Wax ... this product is amazing. You don't need to use much, you put a little on a brush or rag, apply it to the sign, followed by buffing it to a gorgeous finish.
Look at those awesome knots in the frame...don't you just love those! I didn't sand the frame because I love the roughness and texture that this wood has. So here is a little piece of Shiplap artwork that you can make for your own home without having to totally go crazy with a huge mess and a lot of work.


I will be honest though, I can't wait to totally transform a room into that wonderful cottage/farmhouse look, but until then, I will have this little piece of artwork to look at to keep me inspired for that future job that I am itching to do.
Suggested materials:
  • Plywood
  • Under Layment
  • Elmer's Wood Filler
See all materials
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