wild sparrow designs

Lately I’ve been painting signs in addition to painting furniture. This is a sign I made for a friend’s new grandchild. I used a combination of hand painting, image transfer and decoupage to create a shabby chic weathered look for this baby announcement.

For the image transfer I used Mod Podge. Below is an example of how i created the image transfer.

This isn’t the image I used for the baby sign, but I just wanted to show you an example of what I use.  This image came from The Graphics Fairy website. She has such wonderful images that are copyright free.  This is one of some French Typography. Notice how the image is in the reverse.  When you are doing an image transfer, you need the typing to be in reverse so when you apply it to your surface it comes out correct.  If it’s just an image you don’t need it to be in the reverse. You want to cut out your graphic as close to the image as you can, trying to leave as little white showing as possible.  This was printed on regular white printer paper from a laser printer.

After cutting out your image, you want to apply it to your surface.  In this case, I had used a tin box that I had painted with chalk paint. Use a foam or a chip brush to apply the Mod Podge to the front of the image, not the back.  Make sure you press down firmly and get out all the bubbles and wrinkles.  Let this dry overnight.

When it’s ready, you will take a damp/wet sponge and press it over the image.  Then, you will start rolling off the excess paper and leave the image behind.  You have to do this carefully and slowly at first, making sure you are not taking off the image. It takes a little practice, but when you get going its really addictive!  You’ll know all the paper is off when there is no more white haze over the image. I use either Mod Podge to seal this or a Polycrylic.

I used this wonderful chalk paint from Pure & Original for this project. I had painted the wood I used for the sign black first, and then I used the color Aged Paper over it.  I sanded it very well with my palm sander to get a weathered, dry brushed look.

I hand-lettered the name, date and statistics of the baby. I just used black acrylic paint and a long thin brush to paint the lettering. I use carbon paper and I trace the outline of the lettering and then fill in the outline.  For the black and white images I used the image transfer process above.

The color images of the roses, etc I also found on The Graphics Fairy website. I cut them out using a small scissor and applied them using Mod Podge as well.

After everything was dry, I used the Mod Podge as a sealer over the entire sign.

I attached some vintage pink ribbon to the hardware on the back and it was complete!

Let me know what you think!