Scrolling through Pinterest there are so many DIY home decor projects that look amazing but are a little out of my range.
I could probably follow the steps to finally figure out how to cut that wood, sand it down, nail the pieces together and have a beautiful piece of furniture. But that seems like way too much work and like it has the possibility to give me a stress overload.
Do you get like that? Get so overwhelmed by a project because you have so little knowledge on how to do it that your body literally feels like it is having a stress attack? I definitely get like that!
If I feel like this project is too huge and I won’t be able to figure it out, my whole body tenses up with frustration. I stay away from those projects or sometimes pass them off to my handy husband.
That’s why, most of the DIY projects you find on my blog are going to be pretty simple and easy!
First of all, I want to be able to do each project and do them well.
And secondly, I want anyone to be able to do these projects! Even you!
This DIY home decor project I’m about to share, I guarantee, you can do this one! This one could probably be done in an elementary school- that’s how easy it is! So you’ve got this! Even if you aren’t crafty.
It is so simple and easy to customize for any room or style home you have. I tend to lean toward the modern farmhouse style so mine will have that look, but feel free to get creative with this! I made three, but you could make however many that you want, pair them in different ways or try them out in various spaces around your home.
DIY Home Decor Signs
Supplies
(Click on each item for the inexpensive versions of what I used or an item similar. I tried to do all the shopping for you. For more options or for the exact items I used, I will provide most of those throughout the content.)
- Canvas
- Paint
- Glue
- Mod Podge
- Sponge Paintbrushes
- Scrapbook Paper
- Decorations (for a finishing touch if you choose- I used jute twine and faux greenery)
Step One
The first thing I did was measure out the border for the boards. I wanted a boarder to give it a picture frame look and to add a little more character to it.
The border I drew out was a half inch from the edge all around on an 8X10 canvas board. I used a thin canvas, but if you want to hang them on the wall I suggest getting the thicker canvases or getting hangers to put on the back so you can hang them.
If you decide to use a larger canvas I would suggest making the border thicker, but it’s all personal preference.
Step Two
I debated on charcoal or black when painting the border. I’ve been trying to add some darker colors into our home because my husband really likes the industrial style so I’m trying to transition items to match an industrial and modern farmhouse style.
The color you choose could also depend on what paper you’re using. Most of mine were black and white so I stuck with that theme.
Don’t worry too much about staying in the lines! At first I was so cautious and was trying to keep it looking neat all around but then remembered that I’ll be placing the paper on top and covering up any outside-of-the-lines mistakes.
Step Three
Next step is to measure out your paper! I measured the inside of the border and then transferred those measurements onto the scrapbook paper.
Or if you really colored outside of the lines and want to be accurate, just subtract an inch off the width and length of the board and that will be the size you will want to cut out for your paper. So if you have a half inch border and an 8X10 board, then your paper will be 7X9.
Did you follow that math?! If you’re using the same size board I am, then cut the paper 7 inches high and 9 inches long.
I got my scrapbook paper at Joann Fabrics. I couldn’t find the exact pieces on their website, but HERE is a book of papers similar to my style.
Step Four
Once you’ve cut your paper out, the next step it to glue it on to your canvas board!
I would suggest being generous with the glue and using cheap sponge paint brushes to spread it around to the edges and corners.
The thicker the paper, the better the results. If you have thinner paper, you don’t have to be as generous with the glue because it tends to bubble the paper.
If you are worried about it bubbling, the textured paper shows the bubbles way less than the solid prints. I really only had a lot of bubbles on the thinner paper that I used though.
TIP: Put the boards under something heavy after you glue the paper on while you work on the others.
The paper doesn’t naturally want to stick to the canvas board. Canvas boards really just want to be painted, not glued to anything. Leaving it under a heavy item will help keep the paper on the board while the glue dries.
After it dries, brush a layer or two of Mod Podge on top with those same brushes. This will seal it, protect it longer and create a stronger hold on that stubborn paper.
You can get a combo package of Mod Podge and the brushes HERE. It gives you matte and glossy Mod Podge. I used the matte version, but I think the glossy would’ve looked nice too!
Step Five
Now is the time for your creative side to break out!
My original plan was to leave these boards finished just like this and creatively layer them on a shelf. That would’ve been fine and you can definitely stop here, but when I looked at the finished product, I wanted more.
So I got out my faux greenery and hot glue gun and just started having fun and coming up with different things to do with it. If you’ve read any of my other blogs, you know I’m a big fan of faux greenery. My DIY Dollar Tree Decor Planter might just be my favorite DIY I’ve done yet!
I ripped pieces off of a faux greenery piece I had found similar to this one HERE and glued them together to make a wreath on one board.
On another board, I wrapped jute twine around it and then glued one piece of faux greenery on it.
The third board I decided to leave just how it was because the pattern spoke loudly by itself and I didn’t want to get too crazy or over the top with the decorations.
I put these on a shelf in my living room, but I’m sure they’ll move around in their lifetime! I kind of think the white one would look best in my kitchen. Hmm…
Well have fun with this easy DIY home decor boards project! Let me know in the comments what you think and if you try it! I’d love to see your versions!
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