God Bless America Sign – Made with Paint Sticks

Happy Friday ya’ll! I am assuming most of you are not officially on summer break. My kids got out of school a week ago, our garden is in full bloom, and salad and strawberries are my diet right now. 

Anyway, I have been in a hugely patriotic mood lately.  It seems like I have lived with red, white, and blue this week. 

I created this “God Bless America” sign made with paint sticks is one of the pieces. 

Supplies:

• 5-gallon paint sticks (I used 9 of them – if you don’t have any you can buy 1/2″ stock)
• Red, White and Blue paint (I used Valspar sample pots from Lowes in La Fonda Geranium Red, Indigo Cloth, and Colonial White)
• Wood Glue
• An old frame (I got my old barn wood frame on a trip to D. Lawless Hardware)
• God Bless America file to cut with a Silhouette machine
• Vinyl and transfer paper
• 3M sanding sponge
• Saw
• Sponge brush and pouncer brush

How To Make A sign with Paint Sticks

1. I first measured my frame to figure out how many paint sticks I would need and also to know how wide to cut my paint sticks.

My frame was an odd size since it was made from old barn wood.

 

2.  I cut my sticks to 11 1/4″ with my chop saw so that they would lie vertically.

3.  Next using my sample pots of paint in Colonial White and La Fonda Geranium Red I painted the sticks with a foam brush.

I applied two coats.

4.  Once dry I used my 3M sanding sponge to distress the edges.

5. Next I flipped the frame over and glued the edge of the frame and then I spaced my sticks. 

I eyeballed it this time, although I usually use nickels as spacers.

A nickel space wasn’t enough of a space and I didn’t want to have to rip one of the paint sticks to a thinner size. 

So eyeballing it was!

6.  Let it dry overnight. 

Then cut out the vinyl with the Cameo machine and apply it to the painted paint sticks.

7.  Using a pouncer brush add the Indigo Cloth Valspar paint. 

It has great coverage so I only needed one coat.

8.  While the paint is still wet remove the vinyl. 

I used a vinyl hook to get the letters off but you could also use a stick pin.

Then hang it on your wall year-round or just from Memorial Day to the 4th of July. 

Although being patriotic can be year-round!