Before starting this project, decide how many letters you plan to use. Do you plan to spell out the child’s name? Do you plan on accenting the walls with several words here and there? (For example, words like fun, love, sports and angel can be used.)
What you’ll need:
1: gel medium (a lot of people choose mod podge with a gloss finish for this project)
2: tubes of acrylic paint that’ll accent the child’s room (example, if the child’s room is sage, consider using a celery color or lavender)
3: several sponge brushes
4: paper towels
5: newspaper
6: scrapbook paper, a separate piece for each letter, with patterns and pictures featuring the same color and theme of the room (for example, if the room is blue and has a sports theme, pick out papers in a coordinating color and theme)
7: light grit sandpaper
8: pencil
9: knife (like an exact-o knife)
10: small dishes to squeeze the paint into
Putting it all together:
1: cover your work surface with newspapers, fill dishes with paint
2: paint the edges of each of your letters using the sponge brushes and the acrylic paints, set aside to dry
3: decide which scrapbook paper you’d like to use for each letter
4: when the paint is dry, apply gel medium to the front of the first letter and place it on the blank side of the scrapbook paper
5: turn the letter over the patterned side of the paper and, with a paper towel, rub out any bubbles or creases you see, set aside to dry
6: repeat this step with each of the letters, allow to dry completely
7: once all the gel medium is dry, lay out all your letters with the pattern side down and cut the paper off using the knife (be sure to go slow and trace along the edge of the letter)
8: reserve scraps for another project
9: with the light grit sandpaper, rube the edges of the paper so it’s smooth against the wooden surface (it’s okay if the paint distresses a little; it adds drama)
10: cover each letter with another coat of the gel medium
Some of these letters come pre-drilled so they can go right up on the wall when you’re finished decorating them. Others choose to affix them to wooden bases or pieces of canvas board to make a more elaborate project. There are a lot of options with this project, so keep your mind open to other creative avenues to venture down.
