walk barefoot in the grass...

how 

an old summer 

t-shirt 

inspired 

a new summer sign...

a few years back i bought a super-cute summer t-shirt {apparently long enough ago that i had to scan the picture in} that had this whimsical summer quote on the front. i always loved the words...capturing two of the best feelings of summer. i recently remembered the shirt and thought that it would make a wonderful quote for a wooden sign to put on our screened in porch. while i would love to tell you that i hand painted this sign--haha, i actually used what i like to think of as a "reverse stencil" on a 12x18 piece of wood from home depot...


1. using vinyl, i cut out the letters on my cricut using the doodletype and lyrical letters fonts. 
2. i laid them out on the board for spacing purposes (without sticking the vinyl down) and lightly marked in pencil where each word would be.
3. next i taped off the board into sections (based on the words) and brush painted {2 coats} the sections the various colors that i wanted each word to be.
4. after the paint dried {overnight}, i applied the vinyl to the board making sure each letter was pressed down completely smooth and secure.
5. then i spray painted the whole board {heirloom white}, giving it three really good coats.
6. i let the board dry for about 5 hours and then i couldn't take it anymore and peeled the vinyl off...i was excited that it worked :)
7. then i lightly sandpapered the whole board to give it a bit more distressed look. (corners and sides too)
*i know this probably isn't the easiest way to paint a sign, but it was a learning experience! oh how i would LOVE to be an apprentice at barn owl primitives!!!


finally, i got my youngest little helper to come outside and take pictures with me...i discovered i was actually happy that we are a bit behind in mowing the grass and that my helper was more interested in standing on the sign than walking in the grass ;)

...aren't little feet just the CUTEST?!

happy summer!