DIY Vintage Lake Sign

I have a thang for vintage signs, y’all. And I love to create my own! This one started out as a $2 Goodwill canvas {the 1970s called and wanted their decor back} and turned into a little punny summer sign.

Purchasing old canvases {canvii??} at Goodwill is such a money saver. I can get a good thick canvas and just cover it up with some paint for a clean palette to work with.

I used my go-to paint for the base coat: Annie Sloan Chalk Paint in Country Grey {it’s such a nice neutral}. I like to use chalk paint when I cover up an old canvas. It has a great sticking factor {I believe that is the technical term}. Since I always sand and do other things to the top few layers of the canvas, I want to make sure that bottom layer doesn’t get scratched off in the process.

I used vinyl lettering cut with my Silhouette, but you can also use pre-made vinyl stickers from a craft store for this type of project. For reference, the first three lines of my sign are the font “Impact”, and the “Lake” word is in “Ballpark”.

I just used a simple acrylic craft paint to go over the vinyl letters and entire canvas. Before it’s completely dry, I pull the letters off. Pulling them off while it’s still tacky prevents them from pulling off any of the top coat, too. Note: the above vinyl colors have no significance here…they were scrap pieces!

I used a 150 grit sandpaper to rough up the canvas once it was dry. 

I mixed one part stain and one part water together. You can play with the ratios on this mixture depending on what level of aging you want on your piece. I went lighter this time.

I simply use a cloth and wipe the stain mixture onto the canvas, working it to where it has a natural look to it. After the stain dries, I spray the piece with a clear sealer.

I also have a free printable of the above saying over at my place, if you’d prefer the less messy version of obtaining this sign.

Click here to go and download your favorite color in an 8×10 print.