April 1, 2014

Velvet Undertow Fave- Welcome Landscape Timber

I came up with the idea of a painted landscape timber that says Welcome while putting the finishing touches on my garden in preparation for a family reunion.  It's easy to do whether freehand, traced, or stenciled.  You'll love it, and so will your neighbors.  Be prepared. They may want you to paint one for them, too!
      Enjoy,
     Jane Marie
 
an Amelia Island's Velvet Undertow fave at http://greenlightwrite.com/velvetundertowjanemarie.htm



 
 

read "The Goodbye Lie"

 

You'll need:
  • 1 pressure treated landscape timber, length is your choice
  • Acrylic paints in assorted colors, black for lettering, white for background under the letters
  • Paint brushes
  • Pencil for marking/outline/tracing, stenciling, optional
  • Stencils, optional
  • Spray paint, optional
  • Sealer
  • Newspaper
Spray paint or paint the center third or so of the timber with white paint to set off the lettering. 
Find the center point of the timber and mark it with pencil.
Plan the lettering style and spacing.  Draw the letter C in Welcome on the center point.
Working from the center out, evenly draw the other letters of the word Welcome, making sure to keep the spacing even between letters.
Using black paint, paint the letters, adding decorative gold or single color trim on the upper left edges of each letter, if desired.
Trace, stencil or free hand vines from the center out to about 3 inches from each end of the timber.
Add leaves and colorful flowers in the same fashion.
Wash paint brushes with soap and water.
Let your painted timber dry over night.
Seal the painted surface by spraying it with two coats of acrylic sealer.
 
Seasonal Timbers*
Paint Merry Christmas with green holly vines and red berries.
Valentine's Day / Anniversary:  Paint Happy Valentine's Day or Happy Anniversary, adding green vines and different sized hearts instead of flowers, angling the hearts differently.  Trace a bird or two.  Add some painted curling ribbon.
Halloween: Paint Happy Halloween, adding green vines with orange pumpkins.
St Patrick's Day: Paint Happy St Patrick's Day, adding light green vines with gold and/or dark green shamrocks instead of flowers.
New Home / Wedding Gift for Newlyweds: Paint the couple's last name in the center with the wedding date written as: Est. 2006 (Established) on one end in smaller letters.  Paint vines and flowers along the length.
You get the idea.  Make any occasion special with a painted landscape timber.
 
 
Reprinted from: www.GraciousJaneMarie.com