{2×6 spring decor}

Spring is coming!

We’ve had such beautiful weather the past couple of days, and after a long and cold winter, we are {so} happy that the end is in sight. We’ve been outdoors as much as possible, with trips to the park, nature center, and in our own backyard.

I don’t have much by the way of spring decor, and wanted a little something to celebrate. So, I headed down to the workshop, went through all the scraps of wood, chose a 2×6 board about 8 inches in length, and got to work!

This is such a fast and easy project, plus it’s super inexpensive. It would make a fun gift, and would also be perfect for a craft day. I chose “spring” for my text, but you can use this technique to spell out anything you like!

Spring Block Decor

ITEMS YOU NEED:

• 2×6 board
• vinyl lettering “negative space” OR stencils
• spray paint
• craft paint
• stain
• power sander, or rough grit sandpaper
• ribbon

DIRECTIONS:

1. Paint your board with spray paint. I used Rustoleum’s Aqua…such a fun spring color! Then I painted it again, white this time, and then a third time with the aqua again. (This is so the white would show through when I distressed it later.)

2. I used my Silhouette to cut out vinyl to spell “spring” (font = tingle institute). Without removing any vinyl, I cut each letter out, so I had 6 different pieces. That is an important step! If you don’t, it will make it much more difficult to remove the negative space without ruining the whole thing. Then I removed the actual letter from the center, leaving just the outside vinyl, or negative space. Once the paint is dry, place the vinyl on your board, and press down firmly–sealing the edges as close as you can to the board.

*If you don’t have a Silhouette, you have a few options:

a. order vinyl (I love Writings on the Wall)
b. use stencils (Click HERE for my tutorial on how to make your own)
c. Lemon Tree Creations has an easy way to transfer a pencil outline for painting…check it out HERE!

3. Use craft paint to paint the insides of your stencil and let dry. Repeat if necessary.

4. I chose to use the negative space to paint the letters on versus using the vinyl letters, because I really wanted a distressed look–even the text. Take your power sander or sandpaper and go over the entire piece of wood, including over the words. Be careful over the words, because craft paint will come off quickly.

5. Once it’s sanded to where you like it, you’re ready to add a little stain. Dab a small amount of stain (I use Minwax Dark Walnut) on a lint-free rag, and blot it a few times. You don’t need much, so it’s better to err on the side of being lighter than darker. Gently run the stain along the edges and face of your block, using the rag to remove any excess.

6. Tie your ribbon on!

I liked it so much next to the yellow, that I tied it on the my wreath for a different look. Whether you set it out for display, or make your own spring wreath, it’s darling!

I {LOVE} it!

…..

Happy Spring!