I love using old fence boards for artwork. I get them for free whenever I see someone taking down a fence, on Craigslist, on a curb . . . wherever I can! I wanted something to put above my upcycled windows in my living room. I started with painting one coat of chalk paint on the boards, then sanded lightly and painted on the words.
The words were printed out on paper and then taped together. Using graphite paper, I transferred the script to the boards and then painted using black, acrylic paint. Finally, I sanded the words lightly to distress a bit and finished with a coat of clear wax. When using this technique, I have a few, simple TIPS:
1. Invest in a good brush. This one cost me about 10.00 and is a number 2 round brush. It's perfect for lettering and fine detail.
2. Choose a simple font. The one I love to use is called Abbeyline and was downloaded for free at Freefont.com.
3. Water down your paint. I keep a small jar of water on the table and each time I dip my brush in the water, then in the paint (which I pour out onto a piece of cardboard or plastic lid) and then lightly brush the excess paint onto the cardboard before heading to my project. This was probably the most helpful tip -- you get nice, smooth, fine lines this way.
My favorite kind of project: Free, simple, quick!
