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DIY Monogram Plaques

November 3, 2009 By Rhoda 59 Comments

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I’m adding this to Chris at Just A Girl’s, I Can Do That party, so welcome if you’re dropping by!  Take a look around and stay awhile.
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Last year, I showed you some cute monogram wood plaques that I made for my sister and niece for Christmas.  Thought they turned out pretty cute.  We are also doing some craft projects for the Holiday House to sell, so I volunteered to put together a few of these and put them up for grabs, hoping they will sell.  I put a Christmas spin on some too, so I’ll show you the details on how to put these all together.IMG_7202

First, you know those unfinished wood plaques that all the craft stores have?  These are from Hobby Lobby.  Find the right size for your wooden letters to sit in the middle and you’re all set.  I spray painted the edges and didn’t even cover the middle since that part will be decoupaged.  Pick out scrapbook paper that you want to use.  Wait for it to go on sale 1/2 off at Hobby Lobby. 🙂

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Just place the square edge of your paper onto the wood plaque and crease it on 2 sides where you’ll need to cut with scissors.  Cut to fit the top.  Then get out the decoupage and a brush and go to town slopping the decoupage on there.  I did the backside first and then placed it down.  Rub your finger over the paper to smooth out the bubbles.  Those seem to happen.  Paint over the top of the paper with the decoupage too and keep smoothing til it is flat.   And you will have wood plaques that looks like the above.  Let it dry well.

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On to the next ones.  I decided to do 3 plaques and spell out JOY for Christmas and picked out some pretty Christmas-y striped and polka-dot paper for this one.  I used some left over wall paint on these and again, just painted the edges, along with the letters. IMG_7205

Same thing, cut your paper and glue it on.

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Now, we’re ready to put on the letters.  I glued these on with wood glue and let them dry overnight.  Then, I got out my Rub N Buff, which you’ve heard me talk about before.  I love this Spanish Copper color when used on black. It really accents the edges of black painted things well.   Put this on with an old cloth over your finger.  And just rub it along the raised edges.  I did the sides of the letters and the sides of the wood plaques. IMG_7211

And if you don’t wear a glove, your finger will probably look like this.  Don’t worry, it will wear off soon. 🙂  Rub N Buff is a metallic paste product and is really fun to use on things like this.  You can get it at Hobby Lobby or Michaels.IMG_7217

These are just random letters I chose.IMG_7220

The black ones are done.  Time to move back to the JOY plaques. IMG_7213

There are several ways to antique things.  You can sand and add stain or glaze.  Or you can just use some glaze, which works well for lighter painted things.  For these, I got out my Ralph Lauren glaze.  This one is Smoke.  I had a can of Tea-Stain glaze too from my old kitchen cabinet glazing project that I showed you last year, but it was completely dried up, since the can was almost empty.  These are wonderful glazes and I’ve been using them for years.  This can I think I picked up free (or almost free) at a yardsale along the way and a little goes a long way with these glazes.

Now, for small projects you really don’t need a whole quart of this, I just happened to have it on my shelf.  You can buy craft bottle sizes of glaze (at the craft stores) and mix your own.   Use about 1/2 and 1/2, glaze and paint.  Pick up a small bottle of Raw Umber craft paint and mix it with glaze and you’ll have the same thing as this one.  You can darken or lighten it depending on how much Raw Umber you put in.   Got all that??IMG_7214

Get out a small paintbrush and brush the glaze along the edges.  Have a damp cloth handy.  You will need to immediately go back and wipe off most of the glaze. IMG_7215

Brush along the edges, then take most of it off with the damp cloth.IMG_7216

Don’t let it sit too long.  Once the antiquing is done, then I added some fun polka-dots to the letters.IMG_7222

Got out my craft paints and found some colors that worked with my Christmas paper.  I actually ended up using the green wall paint from my kitchen (Laura Ashley Olive 4), on the green dots, since I liked it the best.
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You’ll need an extra special tool just for this part…ummmm, I mean, a pencil eraser.  Daub it in the paint and start dotting.  You’ll need to have it loaded pretty well to make a nice squishy dot.

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And just have fun putting those dots randomly over the letters.  Let your imagination and creativity run wild. 🙂

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Dots and more dots.IMG_7229

And here’s the side of the white plaques where the glaze is “hanging up”.  Yes, that’s a technical term.

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And here they are all finished!  I think they are pretty darn cute and I would hang them up for Christmas in my kitchen if I kept them.

Hope you got some ideas on this one and will try it yourself.  I originally got this idea from Joy and ran with it.  There are endless possibilities for colors and scrapbook paper combinations, so have a ball with this one and try it out.  These would make some very fun and inexpensive Christmas gifts .

Joining Kimba’s DIY Day.

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Filed Under: Paint Project, Projects and How-To 59 Comments

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Joanie @ The Bright Side says

    November 3, 2009 at 12:10 pm

    Love this idea!! You’re right, they are really cute!! Thanks for sharing. I’m off to sift through my scrapbook papers for inspiration!

    Reply
  2. Thena says

    November 3, 2009 at 12:13 pm

    WOW!!! You make it look so easy. Love them.

    Reply
  3. PAM says

    November 3, 2009 at 12:49 pm

    I love these. Now I will make some for Christmas too. Thanks for the inspiration
    Pam

    Reply
  4. Amy says

    November 3, 2009 at 1:05 pm

    I love this project! It’s crafty and thrifty and the results are wonderful! And I haven’t used my 40%-off coupon at Hobby Lobby yet this week. This project idea goes on “The List.”

    Reply
  5. GapGirl says

    November 3, 2009 at 3:18 pm

    OOHH what a beautiful project. I just love Hobby Lobby and anything monogrammed. Thank you for sharing…
    XoxoGapGirl

    Reply
  6. [email protected] and Cheese says

    November 3, 2009 at 4:06 pm

    These are great Rhoda. Can’t wait to get started!

    Reply
  7. grannyann says

    November 3, 2009 at 4:36 pm

    Cute ideas – thanks

    Reply
  8. Sharon says

    November 3, 2009 at 4:43 pm

    Oh Rhoda … what a great idea. I’m off to Michael’s …

    Reply
  9. jenjen says

    November 3, 2009 at 5:07 pm

    Beautiful Rhoda!
    I love a good mod podge project! I love the paper you used and the colors. FABULOUS!

    XOOX
    Jen

    Reply
  10. Sharon K says

    November 3, 2009 at 5:14 pm

    I love the letters and mod podge…I will have to try making one, hope they turn out as good as yours. Thanks for the idea and I will be back soon.

    Reply
  11. Jane says

    November 3, 2009 at 7:12 pm

    What a great project in time for Christmas!! Thanks for the tutorial, Rhoda. It must have been time consuming and I know you are a busy lady!

    xoxo
    Jane

    Reply
  12. Debbie says

    November 3, 2009 at 8:20 pm

    I think I am going to do this for our church! Great ideas Rhoda. Love seeing what you are upto…I haven’t left too many comments because I am working more now…but I love to visit and see what you are working on. Always inspiring. thank you.
    Blessings,
    Debbie

    Reply
  13. Kimm at Reinvented says

    November 3, 2009 at 8:31 pm

    Oh, Rhoda, those are soo cute! I love the “JOY” letters, my favorite colors for Christmas decor are red and lime green.

    Reply
  14. Tammy Healey says

    November 3, 2009 at 8:48 pm

    I met a woman once who collected anything with the word JOY on it because she said it stood for how we should live our lives…..
    J (Jesus)
    O (others)
    then
    Y (You /yourself)

    Reply
  15. Sarah @ Thriftydecorchick says

    November 3, 2009 at 9:27 pm

    Adorable Rhoda! I am a sucker for “JOY” at Christmas….don’t know why I love that so much but I do!!

    Reply
  16. Vanessa says

    November 3, 2009 at 11:30 pm

    Loooove, looove the JOY plaque set! It is adorable! I’m definitely going to make one of those. Best! Vanessa

    Reply
  17. Kat says

    November 3, 2009 at 11:39 pm

    Hi sweet friend! Life is gradually getting back to “normal” for me so I’m hoping to be able to visit everyone more often.

    This looks like a fun project. You go girl!

    Hugs!
    Kat

    Reply
  18. Laurel says

    November 3, 2009 at 11:59 pm

    I’m really loving all the polka dots!

    Reply
  19. Lisa says

    November 3, 2009 at 11:59 pm

    Oh wow! This is gorgeous. Thank you for sharing your tips and ideas too. I am LOVING your blog and am a NEW happy follower. 🙂

    Reply
  20. Melissa says

    November 4, 2009 at 10:02 am

    I love these. Now I know what my mom is getting for Christmas!!

    Reply
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Thanks for stopping by! I’m Rhoda, from Atlanta, GA and I love decorating and DIY projects. Decorating a home doesn’t have to cost a fortune and I’ve spent years thrifting at antiques markets and yard sales, finding those treasures that make a home unique. I’m here to inspire and encourage other women to find their own inner creativity. Won’t you join me?

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