When one of my daughters was a little girl (the one who doesn’t like it when I tell her “naughty” stories) she had a very strong sense of her own identity. She proved this by writing her name everywhere and with any available “tool” at her disposal. . . a sharp rock to etch her name down the sides of our new Honda station wagon; red lipstick to leave her mark on her auntie’s baby blue carpeting; and a felt pen to leave her signature, three feet up from ground level, around the entire outside of the church we attended at the time. The problem was that by signing her name, she always gave herself away! Haha, LOVE that girl!
I have an appreciation for words and letters myself and enjoy the use of beautiful script in home decor . . . furniture, pillows, bedding, towels . . . it’s enough to make me want to start writing poetry on my walls right now! Before I get to the walls, though, I decided to start small. There are several methods for transferring letters onto walls or furniture and one of the best sources I’ve found is at The Graphics Fairy. Head over there to check out her 12 Easy Image Transfer Methods.
For my project I used only paper, a soft pencil, a ballpoint pen and a Sharpie. So, starting with the vintage ironing board that I previously blogged about, in “A Chalk Painted What?“, I set to work creating a phrase. For my mom, Monday was always washday and Tuesday was ironing day. Therefore . . .
Below is the ironing board before, which I painted with homemade chalk paint (recipe here) before adding the lettering.
I chose a font I liked (don’t ask me to remember what it was), enlarged it to the the desired size, and printed it out on my home printer. If you want really large letters, simply print one letter per page.
The next step was to turn the letter (or word) over and use a soft lead pencil to fill in the back side of the printed letter. It is okay to go outside the lines here!
I then taped my words where I wanted them on the ironing board and began carefully tracing the outline of each letter with my ballpoint pen. This transferred the pencil markings I made in the previous step onto my board.
After tracing every letter I pulled off the tape and used my Sharpie to fill the letters in. How easy is that?
Whatcha think?
I’m lovin’ my little ol’ ironing board 🙂
Anyone can create beautiful lettering with this method. Give it a try and let me know what you come up with. I love getting pictures of the projects you create from the tutorials I’ve shared with you. It makes me so happy 🙂
Blessings,
I’ve been known to link up to the following great parties!!!
Sunday:
UnderTheTableAndDreaming, TheDIYShowoff, TheTablescaper, IHeartNapTime, My1929Charmer, LifeOnLakeshoreDrive, NavyWifePetersUSSCrafty, SuburbsMama
Monday:
IShouldBeMoppingTheFloor, ModVintageLife, BetweenNapsOnThePorch, TheGraphicsFairy, TheDedicatedHouse, UncommonDesigns, WestFurnitureRevival, BoogieboardCottage, DIYHomeSweetHome, HuckleberryLove, RainOnATinRoof, AlderberryHill, TwelveOEight
Tuesday:
HomeStoriesAtoZ, AStrollThruLife, Elizabeth&Co, MyUncommonSliceOfSuburbia, CoastalCharm, CozyLittleHouse, PJHDesigns, NaptimeCreations, CedarHillRanch, BloomingHomestead, FlusterBuster, KatheWithAnE,
NotJustAHousewife
NotJustAHousewife
Wednesday:
SavvySouthernStyle, The36thAvenue, SouthernLovely, VintageOnADime, IvyAndElephants, DIYByDesign, DesignedDecor, ViewFromRiverMountain, TheStyleSisters, AdornedFromAbove, SewCraftyAngel, Timewashed, SomedayCrafts, GreenWillowPond
Thursday:
NoMinimalistHere, ImpartingGrace, DesignDecorTuesday, TheVintageFarmhouse, TheSabbyCreekCottage, EmbracingChange, HaveADailyCupOfMrsOlson, BeyondThePicketFence, StoneGable, AllThingsWithPurpose, MyRepurposedLife, FromMyFrontPorchToYours, ADelightsomeLife
Friday:
MyRomanticHome, FrenchCountryCottage, TatertotsAndJello, MissMustardSeed, ThriftyHandmadeDays, CraftJunkieToo, CommonGround, TheShabbyNest, LizMarie, Redoux, JenniferRizzo, TheCharmOfHome, RootedInThyme, 504Main
Saturday:
FunkyJunkInteriors, ClassyClutter, SixSistersStuff, It’sOverflowing, BeDifferentActNormal, TooMuchTimeOnMyHands
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This is great. Not only did you do an amazing job, you gave such wonderful step by step instructions that you make it feel like anyone can do it.
– The Tablescaper
Patti,
You already know that I adore this ironing board from my comment the other day. Just thought I’d stop by again to say the same. Love It!
Still haven’t done anything with mine yet, have so many other projects in the works that I’ve just not had the time. Some day though…it’s on the “to do” list.
Beautiful transformation…what a great idea to transform the letters…
You make that sound so easy, yet the lettering is just perfect. What a fun project and a great way to remember your mom!
Lynn
It is adorable! I love the colour you chose. What a great tip for transferring the letters on. I recently used simple stencils to make a sign and then did the sharpie trick too. I found the paint kept killing my sharpies and I had to go through about five of them… did you find that? Maybe it is just craft paint that does that and chalk paint wouldn’t do it?? Thanks for the tutorial!
Krista
The ironing board color and the color of the words are just perfect together.
I have a question. Why do you have to turn the letters over and fill in the backside with a soft-leaded pencil?
Judith
I just started following you on bloglovin’ and invite you to come over to visit my blog.
Judith
Just added this post to my fav list:) I luv what you did here…it looks GREAT!
Blessings,
Linda
just love this! and what a perfect color..can you share that color by any chance? thank you for the easy to understand and (follow 🙂 tutorial, greatly appreciated here
i have a similar ironing board, recently purchased. also a hand plow that i thought would look cute with “day is done” up the side
Love using old ironing boards as signs! Such a neat addition for any place especially a laundry room!
Thanks for this tutorial! I am going to try it. Visiting from Stone Gable.
I love the color of your transformed ironing board. Thanks for the very helpful tutorial, will have to give this method a try:-)
Thanks Patty, I am pinning so I remember next time I want to add text.
Joy
love this! a great method if you don’t have all the fancy tools – and I don’t!
The stories are priceless. Love reading about your daughters antics and your transfer is so sweet!
Liz
By golly, I think I can do that. Your ironing board is great! blessings to you and yours, Patti!
Wow you did a wonderful job on that! It looks so beautiful…and very professional! Your tutorial makes it seem so easy too!
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I’m visiting from the Show and Tell Friday linky party. I would love for you to visit me at calliescrafts.blogspot.com
Graphics Fairy is such an amazing resource, isn’t it? How fun to see you use one of her techniques so we can see first hand how easy it is! Thanks a bunch for sharing this. The result of your work is lovely!!
I love how this ironing board turned out. So adorable.
Have a wonderful weekend,
Bev
@ Eclectic Red Barn
Thank you SO much for this tutorial! I have a pallet project I am working on, and I could not figure out how to transfer lettering onto it. I will link you into my blog whenever I get my project done!!! Thanks!!!
Oh my goodness I love this ~ so cute!
Great Idea! Love the blue paint too. It’s especially nice that this project reminds you of your mom. Incidentally, I also love the Graphics Fairy and her 12 Easy transfer methods!! Catherine
What a great idea! It brings back memories of my childhood at vacation bible school singing that rhyme! “Wednesday, sewing, Everybody happy? Well I should say!”
It look great! I will pin this for later! 🙂
This is so great Patty. I love the color and the font and what a smart repurpose idea for an old ironing board. I love this transfer method and I use it frequently.
Thanks for sharing!:)
Oh I do love this. I have looked for a long time for a wood ironing board, this is such a clever idea. Thanks tons for joining Inspire Me. Hugs, Marty
What a cool and easy technique! Thanks!
Selene @ Restoration Beauty
I love it! That’s one of the easiest transfer methods I’ve seen and your project is just charming.
Jeanette @ Creating a Life
Visiting from Marty’s, this is such a nice tutorial, thanks for sharing it.
Beautifully done, Patti! Love the vintage ironing board – it makes a marvelous decorative item for your laundry room. I will be featuring your post in this week’s Home and Garden Thursday,
Kathy
I love it, Patti! I haven’t tried this method, but think I will. I wanted to make a few signs for my booth and I want to try the Citrasolv method as well as this one for them.
P.S. Your nails look great! : ) What color is that?
Oh, I love this, Patti! It looks fabulous, and such a great idea! Just pinned. Thank you so much for sharing with us at A Bouquet of Talent this week. So thrilled to have you share with us. Happy Friday!!
Hugs
Kathy
you make that look easy! Not sure my letters would look so perfect :o) Thanks for sharing at Tasteful Tuesdays @ Nap-timecreations.com. You are being featured this weekend in me Writing on the Wall round up! :o) Would love for you to put my featured button at the bottom of this post…
Emily
http://www.nap-timecreations.com/2013/05/alphabet-art.html
Brilliant project! And I love the outcome too!
Brava!
Martina
Hi Patti,
I love that wooden ironing board even before paint and typography. Lovely job. So glad you joined us at Transformed Tuesday.
Hugs,
Peggy~PJH Designs
Nice tutorial Patti! Such a pretty update for your ironing board!
What a pretty project, I love the color you used for the board, the sign just perfect! Stopping by from Cedar Hill Ranch.
Great tutorial and I love the finished product! It turned out so great! thanks so much for sharing at Crafty Tuesday.