Hello amazing friends!! Today I’m back with a headboard that came with us from the old house three years ago. And, I had it for at least three years before we moved. Ain’t that a shame?
I found three of these headboards for the bargain basement price of $3.49 each at the thrift store:
I turned the other two into signs which you can see HERE and HERE.
And because these headboards are such a great shape for a sign, I decided this would become one too! I’ve included a few affiliate links so you can find the products I love.
For this one, I started with a good cleaning with White Lightning.
Painting a weathered finish
Then I gave it a base coat of Manatee. I knew I wanted to do a weathered beachy feel for this one, and so I followed the Manatee with a custom color I mixed up using Cotton and Antebellum…
I love this color! I just dipped a stir stick into the Antebellum and then put it into about a quarter of a cup of Cotton and stirred it up. I got this lovely beachy aqua blue!
I didn’t cover the Manatee completely, but left some areas unpainted to give it a weathered feel.
Adding the Lettering
While that was drying, I went to my computer to work on my graphic for this sign. I knew what I wanted to put on the sign, I just needed to lay it out.
When I have an odd shape like this and especially if there is a curve to work with, I prefer to print and cut my letters so that I can arrange them how I want:
Most people have Word on their computers, and I shared exactly how I print my letters using Word in this post HERE.
For this sign, I used the fonts Bodoni 72 Old Style and Good Vibes.
I printed mine on card stock. Then I just cut them out, arranged them, and then traced around them with a pencil…
Then I painted in the letters using acrylic craft paint (I prefer this to chalk paint since the chalk paint dries so fast) and a small brush…
I ended up needing three coats for solid coverage. Then I sanded across the entire surface with 220 grit sandpaper wrapped around an old sanding sponge to make all the letters super smooth.
I vacuumed up any sanding dust with my shop vac and then sealed with Dixie Belle’s Clear Coat in Satin using the blue sponge applicator.
And that was it!
We live just a couple of miles from the ocean here on the coast of Virginia, and I thought this was a perfect sign for a beach house!
There is a large window to the right that is making the blue look much brighter than it is. The color is more like you see in the in-progress photos…just lovely!
And can you see my sweet girl, Lyla, there all snuggled up?
I just love her to pieces!
This is in my office. I get questions about that wall each time I use it as a backdrop. You can read all about it and see the sad state of my office when we moved in HERE.
I slip-covered this sofa when we lived at our old house.
You can see how I made it HERE.
I dragged this coffee table in from our living room for photos…
I added the planked top and new legs to it not longer after we moved in.
You can see how I did that HERE.
And the tray was a $4 thrift store find:
I made that ugly duckling over HERE.
Also, this pillow was made from a thrift store fabric shower curtain!
I didn’t expect to take a walk down memory lane today, but it is so rewarding to look around and see the many things that have been rescued and given new life!
Including Miss Lyla!
And of course, this old hotel headboard that has been hanging around for six years too long!
One more project done!!
If you missed any so far, you can catch up at the links below:
DropLeaf Table and Chairs Makeover
I’ll be back on Thursday with my Furniture Fixer Upper girls sharing what I did with this secretary:
See ya then!
update: You won’t want to miss the after of this one! See it HERE now!
XOXO,
Don’t Miss a Thing!
If you like what you see, there are several ways to follow along!
Mary Kaiser says
WOW, so cute now. Best $3.00 ever spent!! It is so beautiful. I love how you did the letters, I don’t have a fancy machine to cut out letters, I love the old school way to do it like this. It may take a little long, but the out come looks better to me, hand painted but not so commercially manufactured. Great job and so inspirational once again!
Christy says
Thank you, Mary! Yes, these were a steal! They had a bunch of them so I grabbed three. I like this way of doing the letters also…it can be overwhelming to try and figure out those machines on something like this! XOXO
Christina says
Christy this is so completely charming!! I love how you staged with Lyla as your warm & fuzzy component. She is so adorable! GREAT job with the lettering, truly beautiful.
What did you put on the back to hang this? (Forgive me if I missed this)
IF this goes in your booth, it won’t last, that’s for sure.
Be well and create on!! I can’t wait to see that desk!!
xoxo
Christy says
Thank you, Christina! I moved my sofa to that wall and Lyla climbed right up and made herself comfy lol. I didn’t mention how it was hung, but it already had a narrow strip that was open at the back that ran horizontally and on an upward angle. My guess is they had hung it by attaching another strip with an opposite angle on the wall and attaching it to that. I’m sure that makes no sense…sorry! Enjoy the rest of your week and I’ll see you Thursday! XOXO
Christina says
Actually, the french cleat system makes perfect sense, thank you for that! 🙂 Give Lyla some ear and chin rubs for me!
Christy says
Oh ha ha…I should have known it had a fancy name! Thanks, Christina and will do! ❤️❤️
Gail says
I just recently found you on the web and am losing hours every day browsing your site for information and inspiration! I’m thinking I need a bigger house or a few friends who need furniture makeovers to scratch this re-do itch! Thank you for sharing all your creativity! P. S. If it’s Lyla approved, it has to be good! 😉
Christy says
Oh ha ha…I’m sorry you are losing hours on my site, but I am so glad you found me, Gail! Thank you!! And yes, Lyla definitely approves! XOXO
DONNA says
I love it and it looks perfect above your couch!
Christy says
Thank you, Donna! XOXO
Janice Holt says
What a pretty sign. It almost looks like it’s made from boards the way you finished it which I love. Great job again.
Christy says
Thanks so much, Janice! It kinda does! XOXO
Denise Cox says
I LOVE IT!! And I love your choice of font!! It does look rather blue in the after photo ( considering how I adore coastal), but I was really ” grooving” the before color as well… 😉😊😋.
Christy says
Thank you, Denise! Yes, the light plays tricks with the color for sure! XOXO
Deanna Casto says
I love this sign, as well as the two previous ones. ❤️Lyla❤️
Christy says
Thank you, Deanna!! XOXO
Sandi Allen says
This is Beautiful! Love the color!
Christy says
Thank you, Sandi! XOXO
Becky says
Lovely! Whew, what a relief to get that one off your conscience, haha!
My 8-year-old is sitting beside me getting all excited. “Mom! You basically do that! Mom! You could do that too!…” Haha! Of course I do/can. Guess who I learned it from! Thanks, Christy!
Christy says
Thank you, Becky and yes!! This headboard probably wins the prize for the longest kept item in my stash lol! And how funny…I love your eight-year old!! XOXO
susan says
Love that color! Will be mixing that one up!
Christy says
Thank you, Susan! It’s a pretty one!! XOXO
Rosie says
Love it Christy! Wish I lived near the ocean lol. Living in Canada I will have to wait for cottage season to return 🤷♀️Looking forward to seeing Thursday’s project!
Christy says
Thank you, Rosie! I live near the ocean but definitely don’t take advantage of it like I should. See ya Thursday! XOXO
gwen says
I had a sneaky suspension of the color pallete you were going to choose! It’s a lovely sign. I have a headboard to paint also. I’m thinking something like “Blessed to Be in a Home in the Big Horn Mountains,” or something along those lines since that’s a lot of words! Fun project Christy, thanks!
Christy says
Thank you, Gwen! That is a lot of words, but I think just a sign that reads “Big Horn Mountains” could be cool too! You could include the elevation. XOXO
Teresa Farrell says
I would never ever have thought of a headboard for a sign. Absolutely beautiful. So smart and talented.
Christy says
Aww thank you so much, my friend! XOXO
Sharon L Austin says
Pretty! How you always manage to match everything perfectly just defies logic!! Can’t wait to see what you do with the secretary.
Christy says
Thank you so much, Sharon…you are so sweet!! XOXO
Linda Dreher says
Love the headboard!!❤️ Love the color you painted it and the saying. I love all beachy looking colors and how you give them a new life! You are so artistic! Thank you for your new ideas.
Linda D.
Christy says
Aww thank you so much, Linda! I love all things beachy too! XOXO
Michele M. (Finch Rest) says
Oh, my word! Christy! Is there nothing you can do? This is extraordinary!
Your vision for this – wow! And you can sew pillows and slipcovers too?
Sigh. Love this transformation. (And your stone wall!)
Christy says
Thank you so much, Michele!! I sewed long before I painted, but I don’t enjoy it nearly as much as painting! XOXO
Charlotte says
Very creative!
Christy says
Thank you, Charlotte! XOXO
Stacey says
I just love to see Miss Lyla in the pictures! Soooo precious!!🥰💕💕
(And the headboard turned out beautiful!)
Christy says
Aww she is the sweetest! She is always nearby when I’m photographing but on this day, she decided to make herself comfy as soon as I moved my sofa to that wall lol. Thank you! XOXO
Sue H Mellette says
Always impressed with your talent. You would make a great teacher, showing folks “how to” in real time!!! But I am grateful that you share each project step by step. I especially like what you did with this headboard. The costal sign is so pretty and would cover a wall nicely. I love the lettering. Thank you for sharing the fonts you used. That helps if one wanted to replicate the sign or use to create their own sign. You share so many ideas, it is hard to decide which ones I like the most. Looking forward to Thursday!
Christy says
Aww you are so sweet, Sue, thank you! I love when someone can use what I share on their own projects! See ya Thursday, my friend! XOXO
Debbie in TX says
Really love the color and the fonts you used. The weathered feel adds great texture. An excellent transformation, but for me the kitty really steals the show : )
Christy says
Thank you Debbie! Lyla will always steal the show and I don’t mind at all lol! XOXO
Susan Pletcher says
I love it! Now off to thrift shops for a headboard!
Christy says
Thank you, Susan! I hope you had some good luck shopping today! XOXO
Nancy @ Artsy Chicks Rule says
That turned out great!! And aw, sweet kitty looking so cozy! xoxo
Christy says
Thanks, Girl! I know, right? She snuggled right in there as soon as I moved that sofa lol! XOXO
Jo says
So lovely!
Christy says
Thank you, Jo! XOXO
Margie says
Love the color,keep the sign looks great there. Lyla looks regal on the sofa 😏
Christy says
Thank you, Margie! I think she does too…princess Lyla lol! XOXO
Debra Hubbs says
Fantastic, love this!
Christy says
Good luck, Debra! XO
Megan says
Love it! And Miss Lyla too 🙂
Christy says
Thank you, Megan! XOXO
Leanne Smook says
That sign is gorgeous, but I have to say not as gorgeous as your cat. She is a stunner!
Christy says
Aww thank you, Leanne! I have to agree!! XOXO