DIY Cardboard Numbers

I recently decided to change the mudroom coat rack/ frame. I was ready for it to say something besides “Home” and Something more like: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5.

Totally original, I know, but numbers are so classic and timeless.

I mean, they’ve been around forever. 😉

DIY Cardboard Numbers | The Wood Grain Cottage

I really didn’t want to spend any money on the project, so I grabbed a couple of pieces of left over cardboard and got to work.

Here’s how I made them:

First, I opened a Word document, picked a font, chose my number size and printed them on heavy card stock. I cut the numbers out and placed them on the cardboard.

step 1 | The Wood Grain Cottage

Then I traced each number on the cardboard.

step 2 | The Wood Grain Cottage

I grabbed a sharp pair of scissors and started cutting out each number.

step 3 | The Wood Grain Cottage

Note: to cut out the middle part of number 4, I used a razor blade. Worked like a charm. The scissors worked for everything else, but they need to be sharp!

The numbers will lay flat once they are painted…

step 4 | The Wood Grain Cottage

With all the numbers cut out, I starting painting the face of them with acrylic black paint.

step 5 | The Wood Grain Cottage

step 7 | The Wood Grain Cottage

I waited for it to dry, then painted the sides of each number.

step 8 | The Wood Grain Cottage

Painting the sides is very important. If you don’t, you will absolutely be able to tell the numbers are made from cardboard. If they are painted, you can’t tell they’re not expensive letters from a home improvement store…

Cardboard Numbers | The Wood Grain Cottage

I love the way the black numbers look against the burlap… and a couple dabs of hot glue secures them in place.

Cardboard Numbers | The Wood Grain Cottage(It’s totally weird that the 5 looks offset… I used a tape measure and each number is equally spaced on each side… Must be the angle.)

And they just happen to pull everything else together too… which I’ll show you a bit later… I know, I know…

Cardboard Numbers | The Wood Grain Cottage

I am totally digging how EASY these were to make, and how big of an impact they had on the room.

Plus, they’re free. AND you can pick your own font! Double bonus!

DIY Cardboard Numbers | The Wood Grain Cottage

I can’t wait to show you more of our mudroom… it’s come such a long way.

Signature

P.S. You can see the cardboard “Home” version here.

Linking up to:

The 36th Avenue

Fox Hollow Cottage

House of Hepworths

Love of Family & Home

Design Dining & Diapers

Tatertots & Jello

DIY Show Off

Rain On A Tin Roof

24 Comments

  1. I love the makeover! And you did an awesome job cutting those letters out, mine would have been all kinds a wonky! I’ll be pinning this later tonight!

    Reply

  5. Love the simplicity of this project. Classy, elegant and earthy! All of my favorites! Just so you know.. I just painted my entry way with stripes. I love it, the Mr. thinks it’s pretty cool and my daughter is going to steal the idea for her house too! Thanks for the great ideas! Your fan,D.

    Reply

    1. WOW! THANK YOU Diane! I am so glad you like them. AND I am SO HAPPY to hear that you are loving your stripes too. 🙂
      THANK YOU for the lovely comment!
      Big hugs!
      -Shayna

      Reply

  6. I LOVE it, LOVE it, LOVE it! Shayna! what a great project you did here! I love everything about it! 🙂 it’s beautiful, the black numbers look amazing against the burlap! I love burlap projects! 🙂 btw, Shayna, I just saw an e-mail pop in my inbox from “roadkillrescue.com” and they just featured your beautiful Herringbone side table makeover! congrats! 🙂

    Reply

    1. THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU! I’m so happy you love this as much as I do! 🙂
      I just got the e-mail featuring my side table too… whoa! I’m speechless…
      Hugs to you!
      -Shayna

      Reply
  10. Pingback: DIY Sunburst Stick Wreath | The Wood Grain Cottage
  11. Pingback: April In Review | The Wood Grain Cottage

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *