When I had my yard sale back in the Spring, I took my proceeds and bought myself a Silhouette Cameo. I’d been wanting one for a while, but didn’t want to spend the money. Money in my pocket = the perfect opportunity. 🙂
I wanted the Silhouette Cameo mainly to help me create signs for my house. I know it can create a ton of different things, but having typography in my decor is one of my favorites. {Before I remembered that it was called typography, I called it words on my walls. Ha! Sad for a journalism major.} And I want to be able to make my own meaningful typography.
I broke out the machine yesterday afternoon, was able to figure out how to use it and finish this sign before I went to bed. The longest part was just waiting for the stain and paint to dry. It was so fun to finally do a little, quick creative project again. With redoing the living room, laundry room and patio, and those last two are going slowly, it’s been a while since I’ve done a small creative project. I’ve officially missed it.
I started by figuring out exactly what I wanted my sign to say. I have been inspired by signs I’ve seen at various markets around town. They always say something cute like “Farmer’s Market” or “Grocery” or “Produce” – something perfect for the kitchen. I thought “Puckett’s Grocery” would be perfect since it’s a local restaurant in my home town.
I started by staining the sign with some leftover English Chestnut, a Minwax stain. I knew I wanted to distress the sign and have some of this dark stain come through.
Everything I used for this project I already had on hand. Yay for free! {Except for purchasing the Silhouette Cameo of course.}
I created my letters in the Silhouette software and cut them out with the double adhesive paper that came with my machine. I’m sure there’s probably a better way to do this, but it’s what I had on hand. I did accidentally cut through my cutting mat not once, but twice! I finally figured out what I was doing wrong and fixed it. As Miss A says, “oopsie daisy!”
Starting to look pretty good. I think I fell in love when I pulled back the adhesive letters. I’ve never been able to make such crisp and clean lettering! The adhesive did bleed through a little bit, but it was good enough for me!
And then I started painting the letters in a fun mustardy yellow color from Lowe’s. It’s called Redstone Dining Room Gold and I got it for free with a coupon back in the winter sometime.
I thought it would be a good idea to use the adhesive outlines of the letters to help me go faster, but when I pulled them up it pulled up a bunch of the white paint too. I didn’t like the look, so I free handed the rest of the letters.
This little cutie wanted her picture taken, too. Two-and-a-half is a fun and challenging age. We’ll just say that. 🙂 I think I’m overdue for a Miss A update … definitely need to write one soon! Otherwise I’ll forget all of the fun and challenging aspect of this age.
Once I painted all of the letters, I let it dry and then roughed it up a bit with some fine grit sandpaper. I absolutely love how it turned out. I originally planned to put it over my windows in my eat-in kitchen, but it’s too small. I think I’ll do another larger one for the windows and I’ll hang this one over the stove.
What do you think of my first Silhouette project?
Do you like typography in decorating?
Have you made signs for your home?
Lori
Do you know if you can copy a signature of a person and download it to the silhouette and cut it out?
Sarah
What setting do you use to cut contact paper? Does paint bleed thru this when using as a stencil on rustic wood?
Sandy
Found you via a linky party – your sign turned out great. I absolutely ADORE my Silhouette Cameo and don’t know how I ever lived without it. Here is a great tip for you – instead of using the expensive stuff that comes from Silhouette, use contact paper that you can buy at Wal-mart for about $5 a roll and cut it out to use as a stencil. It works wonderfully well, as does the clear contact paper to use as a transfer paper. You can check out my blog for some of my recent projects and tips.
Laura
Oh my word! That is the BEST tip ever. I actually tried to cut out printer paper with the Silhouette before I tried the double-backed adhesive. But I never thought about contact paper. Genius! Thanks so much for letting me know!!
Regena Fickes
Love the sign. Do you live anywhere near Christiana? Just asked because of the name on the sign. Just found you by way of DIY Dreamer and your sign. Miss A is a cutie.
Laura
Thanks Regena! I’m originally from the Middle Tennessee area, so does that count as near Christiana? 🙂 I’ve never been there, but I’ve heard of it. Thanks for stopping by!!
Sharon @ Elizabeth & Co.
What a great sign! A Silhouette has been on my wish list for a long time too!
Laura
Thank you Sharon!!
Donna Heber
Your sign is fantastic! What a wonderful project. Have a great weekend.
Stephanie
Looks great! I love the look of a aged sign. I have a Cricut but would love a Silhouette!
Stephanie
JNW1016
This looks great! So ready to buy a silhouette for myself! Great job
Sam Dull
Love it! I’ve been wanted to do something like this myself!
Sam
The Kitchen is My Dance Floor
(Stopping by from Southern Lovely)
Jona @ Boho Willow
Very nice! I love my Silhouette!
Haley Estes
Hey!!I popped over from Wow Me Wednesdays Linky party and I LOVE this sign! you did such a great job! I have been wondering if it would work to use my silhouette in reverse and make signs this way so thanks for sharing! I will totally have to try it out!
Tara from The Magnolia Barn
I love your blog, you have the cutest ideas! This turned out great!
Beverly Ritch
I LOVE your sign! Yea for getting to use your Silhouette for the first time! I have a Silhouette Portrait coming to me soon (just found out I won one in a Giveaway!) And can’t wait to Play!!!
Bev @ Give Me a Paintbrush
Abby Lawson
It turned out so beautifully! (And speaking of beautiful, your little girl is precious!!!) I’m so jealous of your cameo, too. One of these days I’m just going to have to plunk down the money and buy one! 😉 Thanks so much for sharing, Laura!
~Abby =)
Shelley Robertson
Hey girl! OK question… are you from Franklin or the Leipers Fork area?? If you are then you’ll know of course what state I am talking about! LOL Anyhoo… I saw your Puckett’s Grocery sign at From Dream To Reality and I just had to see if maybe you were! Franklin is my hometown! It’s a small world! We would pass Puckett’s like all the time! Fun fun! I would love to invite you to link up at Party In Polka Dots!
I hope to see you there!
You have a new follower!
Shelley
Ritchil Shafer
Your wood sign looks great! I love using my Silhouette Cameo but I haven’t tried making these wood signs, although I might just have to make this real soon. Thanks for the tutorial!
Ritchil
Donna Wilkes
I love a cute sign. Your “words on wall” for the sign turned out great!
Laura
Thanks Donna!!
Katy @ Lolly Linens
Very nice, thank you for sharing!
[email protected]
Your sign is very nice! beautiful way to personalize your home! I wish I had a Silhouette, I’ve been seeing and loving many of the projects everyone creates with them! 🙂
Ingrid
Laura
You would love it for sure! 🙂 Hopefully you can save up and get one soon!
Julie Fagundes
LOVE it! I have a machine my friend traded me for some “Etsy Credit” in my store. I have yet to open it and figure out how to use it. You have inspired me to do so!
Thanks!
Julie
Laura
Good! I can’t wait to see what you make … I know it will be great!
Susan Homeroad
Your sign came out great! I am waiting to get my Silhouette in the mail and can’t wait to start using it… hope I don’t cut through the mat too! If you had trouble painting in the mustard color you might try staining the wood, then paint the whole thing mustard color, then do like you did with the letters and paint over the whole thing with white. When you peel up the letters, there will be mustard color underneath, no trying to paint in the letters!
Thanks for your tutorial!
Susan
Laura
Thanks for the suggestion, Susan! I’ll have to try it that way next time … and probably let it dry longer so the adhesive won’t pull up the paint. 🙂 I’m kind of impatient.
Thanks for stopping by!
Linda Walker
That sign came out so nice. Now I want one of those cutting tools. I LOVE signs!
Linda
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