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    You are here: Home / Kitchen / DIY “EAT” sign from pallets

    DIY “EAT” sign from pallets

    Last Updated: January 14, 2022 | Published: July 23, 2012 | By: Laura | 27 Comments | Filed Under: DIY Projects, Kitchen

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    I love Pinterest as much as the next person. You know what we do, right? We see the cutest ideas and pin, pin and pin some more. But it’s hard to find the time to create them all, right? I am guilty for sure. But sometimes there’s one pin that sticks out more than the others.

    DIY "Eat" Sign from Pallets

    For me, it’s been this “EAT” sign made from reclaimed lumber by Sweet Pickins.

    I just love the big boldness of it! And I love words on my walls, so I decided to make my own out of some pallets I have. (I found the pallets for free on Freecycle.org.)

    10 Ways to Customize Your Home on a Budget Guide Button

    First, I drew out my dimensions. I knew exactly where I was going to put the sign, so I wanted to make sure it wasn’t too big or too small. I just printed some graph paper off the Internet and spaced it all out.

    The Mister graciously helped me cut up my pallets. I think I need a new blade for my reciprocating saw, because it’s too hard for me to cut. And then I started measuring and cutting with my miter saw.

    I followed my directions loosely and just did what looked right. My directions did help, though.

    I nailed the pieces together with my nail gun. I think wood glue would work just fine, if not better. And I probably would have used wood glue if I could have found it. But the nail gun worked.

    Then I started staining the letters. I did one at a time so that I could leave the stain on the same amount of time for each one. I learned my lesson while building my night stands. It’s hard to keep everything looking the same if you don’t watch how long you leave the stain on each piece. I think I left it on here for about 3-4 minutes.

    I used Minwax English Chestnut stain (the same I used on my night stands). I love how they turned out!

    Once the stain dried, I screwed D-ring hangers to the back of the letters. These were the only things I had to buy for this project. The total was around $6.

     
     
    And then I hung them on the wall over my new DIY Calendar upcycle. I love my little memo wall in the kitchen!
     
     
    {Update: I re-arranged this kitchen wall. Come see my post about it HERE.}
     Have a Happy Monday!
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    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Lurlene

      November 21, 2019 at 12:29 am

      I saw your books previously, but this one I believe the best.

      Reply
    2. Fredro

      September 23, 2019 at 5:10 am

      Nice post!

      Reply
    3. Royvia

      September 13, 2019 at 9:40 am

      Great post.

      Reply
    4. Gian Carlo

      September 05, 2019 at 4:46 am

      Hi, there are these pallets free from harmful chemicals? they said that only Canada pallets are free from Chemicals

      Reply
    5. Goldi

      August 10, 2014 at 8:53 pm

      Hello there talented lady!

      I recently bought a nail gun and I’m trying to figure out how you nailed the parts of each letter together. Do you angle the nail so that it goes through say, the top part of the A and then the nail goes into the side of the A?

      Did you polyurethane after or just left it?

      Thanks!!

      Reply
      • Laura

        August 19, 2014 at 1:44 am

        I did just nail them all in at an angle. No rhyme or reason to it, just whatever would make them stick together. 🙂 I did not put poly on them afterwards because nobody touches them. They just hang on the wall. 🙂

        Reply
        • Goldi

          August 19, 2014 at 2:46 pm

          I am BEYOND thrilled that you replied! Do you know how many times I ask a blogger for help with their tutorial and never hear back from them?? Thank you thank you!!

          Is it awkward to nail it at an angle? Mine has this thing that you need to push down (where the nail comes out) in order for the nail to go in. I am so clumsy, I might just slip and send a nail into my foot! haha

          Reply
          • Laura

            August 20, 2014 at 4:43 pm

            I know, I’ve asked bloggers questions before and don’t hear back, so I try to answer the questions on my blog. It may take me a while, but I’ll get to you eventually. 🙂

            Now, yes, it was a bit awkward to nail them in. And honestly, it’s probably better to go to the hardware store and get some flat braces and use those if you’re worried about injuring yourself. 🙂 I definitely don’t want you to do that!!

            Reply
    6. Carol

      June 29, 2014 at 1:46 pm

      I love your EAT sign!!! On your graph paper are your squares “inches?” I am trying to figure out exactly how big your letters are? 🙂

      Reply
      • Laura

        July 23, 2014 at 11:24 am

        Yes! Roughly 19-20 inches tall. 🙂

        Reply
    7. Christine

      June 21, 2014 at 12:04 am

      Very cute! What color paint did you use on your walls? I love that color!

      Reply
      • Laura

        June 22, 2014 at 6:33 pm

        It’s Stratton Blue from Benjamin Moore. I love it!

        Reply
        • Christine

          June 23, 2014 at 9:58 pm

          Thank you! It’s beautiful!

          Reply
      • Laura

        June 22, 2014 at 10:01 pm

        Hi Christine! It’s Stratton Blue from Benjamin Moore. Thanks!!

        Reply
    8. Teralyn Pilgrim

      June 07, 2014 at 3:18 pm

      I would love to see more pictures of that kitchen! I just bought a house, and I think I want to do our kitchen in this same color scheme. Thank you for the inspiration.

      Reply
      • Laura

        June 22, 2014 at 6:57 pm

        Here’s a link to all my posts about my kitchen: https://theturquoisehome.com/category/home/kitchen/

        I don’t have a ton of pictures of it, because I want to make it over in a big way someday! 🙂

        Reply
    9. alli

      May 31, 2014 at 10:30 am

      what size board did you use for the word eat and deminisions?
      Also maybe you can help me i put chalk paint (rustoleum) over magnetic board and it still shows the first word i wrote i will try your chalk method how long to leae it on ? Thanks alot

      Reply
    10. Desiree Fisher

      June 19, 2013 at 8:10 pm

      OHHHH I do love your EAT sign too. Thanks for chcking mine out.

      Desiree @ YourCraftyFriend

      Reply
    11. Cathy Jo McCall

      August 02, 2012 at 1:04 pm

      This is really neat, Laura! Way to get creative. Looking forward to future posts and ideas. Great job, girl! Love ya…Cathy Jo

      Reply
      • Laura

        August 02, 2012 at 1:57 pm

        Thank you Cathy! Glad you’ve joined me here. 🙂

        Reply

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