DIY Large Rustic White Leaning Wooden Front Door Sign
Decorating your home for the fall season can be a fun and creative endeavor. One charming way to embrace the fall is by crafting a rustic wood board. In this step-by-step guide, we’ll walk you through the process of creating this eye-catching fall decor piece, perfect for welcoming the cozy vibes of fall into your home.
Prefer watching it instead of reading then go check out my YouTube video where I walk you through it:
Materials Needed:
- 12×72 inch wood board (pre-sanded or sand it yourself) – I bought this one – https://www.homedepot.ca/product/hdg-1-inch-x-12-inch-x-6-ft-laminated-whitewood-panels/1000140872
- Sandpaper
- Sander
- Wood stain – I used https://www.homedepot.ca/product/varathane-ultimate-oil-based-interior-wood-stain-in-kona-946-ml/1000833138
- Acrylic paint in white (chalk paint will also work)
- Paintbrushes
- Clear varnish or sealant – I used https://canada.michaels.com/en/americana-duraclear-satin-varnish/10254972.html
- Vinyl decals with “Hello Fall” text, pumpkin, and leaf designs – I used my Cricut to design and cut these pieces
- Transfer tape
- Squeegee or credit card for smoothing vinyl
Step-by-Step Instructions:
Prepare Your Wood Board:
- If your wood board is not pre-sanded, sand it lightly to create a smooth surface. Once you’re happy with it give it a good wipe down with a wet cloth or rag;
- Choose your favourite stain and stain the whole board (front, back sides), follow the instructions of the stain you choose to use (the one I used is linked above);
- Once the stain is dry, use your favourite white paint and paint the board (in my video I used spray paint as a test but that was the first and last time I will do that). I have had success with acrylic paint or chalk paint (and it’s much cheaper);
- Once the white paint dries, grab an electric sander (electric is a must, otherwise what will happen to your hands?!?!). I used this Ryobi one – https://www.homedepot.ca/product/ryobi-1-2-amp-corner-cat-sander/1001157062 and sand away until you achieve the rustic look you love.
- Seal your board, we need to seal it since it will be outside in the elements. However, white paint tends to yellow with most varnishes or polyurethane. My absolute favourite one to use is DecoArt Satin varnish (linked above). I made a few boards back in 2021 and nearly 2 years later they still look white.
Prepare your design
Let’s move on to the design. I used Cricut Design Space to design my board, I knew I wanted “Hello Fall” on it together with some leaves and a cute pumpkin and so I went to images in Design Space and grabbed the leaves and the pumpkin. I wrote out the words and chose a font. I do have Cricut access membership which makes this a little easier for me but you can of course grab a free font or design (or upload something from your stash!)
Add your transfer tape to your completed weeded design and carefully add your design to the board.
Creating a rustic wood board is a wonderful DIY project to celebrate the beauty of fall. With a few materials and some creativity, you can craft a charming décor piece that welcomes the cozy vibes of the fall season into your home. Enjoy your handcrafted fall masterpiece! And don’t forget to tag me so I can see your finished product!
