While this month is a great time to focus on all the blessings in our lives, really anytime is great time for that. I am always trying to get my kids to have an attitude of gratitude. This sign is just a reminder of all the things we have to be grateful for. So I made this mini rustic pallet “be grateful” sign.
Supplies:
Pre-fabbed rustic 12” X 14” pallet
Krylon Glitterblast Clear Sealer
Krylon Glitterblast Silver Flash
Silhouette Cameo, Vinyl and transfer tape
Sandpaper
Pre-Wood Conditioner
stain of your choice (I used Minwax Dark Walnut)
3M Command Picture Hanging Strips
Last year I made a large “pallet” art Be Grateful sign for less than $10. Ya’ll loved it and so did 33,000 people on Pinterest! I ended up giving it to my cousin and it now graces her home. So I thought I would make a mini one from a pre-fabbed pallet board from Jo-Ann Fabric and Craft Stores for a blank spot on my mudroom wall. So for those of you who don’t like power tools this project is for you!
Here is the DIY Pallet art I made last year.
Jo-Ann has a few sizes of these pre-fabbed pallets. They even have one as large as 14” x 24”. The one I got was a 12” x 14”. It was super rough wood but it has great grain lines in it.
1. In order for my vinyl stencil to stick I ended up sanding it smooth. I started with 100 grit sandpaper followed by 180.
2. Next I wiped on a coat of Pre-Wood Conditioner wiping it on the entire piece. This helps it from getting splotchy. I followed that up with a Minwax Dark Walnut.
Originally I had planned to paint the entire thing white with the “Be Grateful” in wood tones. But I loved all the imperfections of the wood that I decided to go a different route and use some Glitter Blast for the letters.
3. Next I cut out my “Be Grateful” from vinyl with my Silhouette Cameo machine. If you don’t have a Silhouette machine you should buy one 🙂 But if you don’t want to buy DF and use an Exacto knife to cut out the letters and use repositionable spray adhesive to stick it to the wood.
4. I removed all the letters which left me with a stencil. Using transfer tape I transferred the vinyl to the front of my pallet.
5. I then burnished (a.k.a “pressed really hard”) to make sure the stencil had good adhesion onto the pallet. Next I sprayed it with the clear sealer. This helps seal the vinyl so if anything bleeds it will be the clear sealer (which you won’t be able to see) rather than the paint.
6. After that was dry I sprayed it with white primer. Then once that was dry I used the Silver Flash Glitter Blast. I did 3 coats a minute apart. If you have never experimented with Glitter Blast you are missing out. It is FABULOUS.
7. While the Glitter Blast was still wet I removed the vinyl.
Swoooon!
I am loving the sparkly shine with the wood tones. And I love the imperfections of the pallet with the dark wood stain. The peeps at Jo-Ann did a great job giving some natural imperfection to these pre-fabbed pallets.
I hung mine with 3M Commands strips, which makes it easy for removing.
So grab your coupon and head to Jo-ann Fabric and Craft Stores and pick up some of these pre-fabbed pallets. They are perfect for creating your own custom art. I have mine in our mudroom. It is a great reminder as we come and go into our home. Because we really have SO MUCH TO BE GRATEFUL FOR!
Disclaimer: This post is a compensated post from Jo-Ann Fabrics and Crafts. All experiences and opinions are my own.
This reminds me of when Anastasia leaves the orphanage in the cartoon movie.
Love this, Beckie! I didn’t even know there was such a thing as pre-fabbed pallets at Jo-Ann!
Do you have a jpeg of the Be Grateful graphic? I can’t open it on my computer.
The file is a Silhouette Studio file, so you’d have to have that software to open it.
Thanks, Erin! They are an awesome find for sure!
Hi, Unfortunately I don’t have a silhouette… yet still working on that. Fingers crossed that my husband finally gets the hint and buys me one for my birthday that’s coming up in July (: If it is not too much to ask is there a way that you could make the file pdf or some equivalent so that i can make one of these lovely signs using regular old no 2 pencil and carbon paper?
I had some paint bleed under the vinyl. Did I spray the paint on too heavy? Did I spray the sealer too light possibly? Suggestions would be greatly appreciated. I cleaned it up with qtips and acetone and it’s fine for me. I’d love to know how to do a better job on the next project.