Sweet Tea Sign
Yes, spring has totally arrived. And yes, I’m totally thrilled. And just like every year, the wind has also arrived in full force, which leads me to my next statement. I’m completely ready for summer.
I definitely don’t want to rush the seasons, and spring is absolutely wonderful, but I’d really like to be able to step outside, or place something on our front porch, or patio, without it blowing away. Seriously.
So today, I’m going on a bit of a day dream of summer. A day when we can actually sit on our back patio, enjoy the views and sip on sweet tea. Today, I’m sharing my sweet tea sign… because as fun as it is to chase our patio furniture across the field, I could really use the escape from the wind…
Now for the full scoop on this project, I’ve joined a group of bloggers that were given the challenge of coming up with a DIY project using Krylon® Spray Paints. We were each given a unique color palette, and we each had to use all the colors in the project. Quite challenging!
Here are the colors: Rich Plum, Natural Stone Jasper, Shimmer Metallic Blue, Bright Idea.
And here’s how I made my sign….
I had Anthony build me a plank sign, just like this one…
Then I began taping off the different planks to create stripes…
And I began painting the different planks a different color…
Once I had all 3 of those boards covered….
I pulled off the tape on the covered boards…
I let the freshly painted planks dry for a good 30 minutes, then I covered them with tape and started spraying the other boards…
Once I was done painting, I pulled off the painters tape and let everything dry another 30 minutes or so…
And because we all know I’m more of a neutral girl, I had to put my spin on things. I gave each board a nice white wash, but was careful to let enough of the colors peek through…
And because it really looked like summer all rolled up in a sign, I couldn’t wait to add one of my very favorite drinks into the mix: Sweet Tea.
I used my Silhouette cutting machine to cut out the design, then I just held it in place with tape…
I used white paint and my sponge to cover each of the letters (& numbers)…
Then I just lifted up the stencil…
And because it’s hard to reach the gap at the top and bottom of the planks…
I used a small brush to fill them in with paint…
Once I finished with the painting, I let everything dry…
Then I sanded down the corners and rubbed on a coat of clear wax…
I am so happy with the way it turned out! It basically screams “Summer” to me… even if there are pretty tulips in the pictures…
And I love the white wash over the colors…
The white numbers and letters are fabulous too, especially paired with the textured spray paint… it reminds me of sand…
Actually, each color reminds me of something summer related… Tan for sand, Purple for summer flowers, Yellow for the sun, Blue for the sky and water…
And who could resist a glass of sweet tea for only .75?
Certainly not me…
Now, when summer really comes around, all I need to do is roll my bar cart onto the patio, pull up my lounge chair, and relax… all while sippin’ on a glass of sweet tea!
But for now, I think I better go anchor down my patio furniture… again…
*This was a sponsored post for Krylon®. However, all opinions about this lovely sweet tea sign are my own! For my full disclosure policy, click here.
Hi Shayna, the wind is ridiculous in my part of CO too. I’m constantly finding my outdoor pillows four or five houses down the street. Lookin’ forward to the summer too! Your sign is beautiful, and its quite a transformation from the brightness of the original colors to the soft and subtle colors you created them to be. Great work!
THANK YOU so much, Allison! I’m so happy with how it turned out! Here’s to hoping the wind will quit blowing SOON! 😀
The wind just picked up here in NY and it’s gray and cloudy… not even very spring like, until that is, I looked at your sign and smiled smiled smiled! It made me think of summer days with family on the back porch, cold iced tea (we northerners don’t really do sweet tea) laughter and the clang of some playing horse shoes. Love the sign, and thank you so much for that few minutes of day-dreaming about summer and making happy memories! Love all the things you do, as we have similar taste, and wondering if they’ll come a day you post something I don’t like, LOL. I’m thinking nope, not gonna happen!
THANK YOU so much for sweet comment, Amy! It totally made me dream of summer too! Sending BIG hugs your way! 😀
OMG, I love this sign and need to make 4 of them. I did a road trip with my family (all girls) for my 40th birthday and we stopped at a fast food restaurant so I could get some tea, we where heading to South Carolina. So I just ordered a glass of tea, and the lady behind the counter asked if I wanted “sweet tea” (insert southern accent) or regular tea. I said regular and she handed me a cup and and said it’s right over there. I looked and only saw sweet tea, so I had to ask where is the regular tea, and she replied (insert S. Accent) right next to the sweet tea mam, and the lids are right next to the unsweet tea, which is next to the sweet tea, then turned and to the other customer and said, may I help you? So now in my family when any one asks for tea, we ask what kind and then give them full directions of where it is all with our best southern accent. So I must make this sign! 🙂
OH Jane! THANK YOU so much for sharing your story! It sounds like an absolutely wonderful trip! Isn’t it amazing that certain things can bring back such great memories! 😀
Wow! what a cool project! I love how it turned out and it looks like it was fun to create. I want one too!!!
have a sweet day , Elizabeth
THANK YOU so much, Elizabeth! It was fun to make, and I couldn’t be happier with how it turned out! 😀
Oh I love it, how fabulous is that. Great colors too. Thanks tons for linking to Inspire Me.
THANK YOU so much, Marty! 😀
Love it, Shayna! So creative, & the colors…WOW! I’m going to join you on that “sweet” patio of yours…I’ll bring pizza:) teehee…Blessings & <3
M
THANK YOU so much, M! It’s a deal, you bring the pizza and I’ll bring the tea! 😀
Love the sign – it is great – have a couple of questions – is it one large board and then the grooves are made or are they individual boards put together and what is the total size. Also, is Sweet Tea the same as Iced Tea and do you have a special recipe for it. Don’t think we have Sweet Tea in Canada. Thanks for sharing all that you do. Karen
THANK YOU so much, Karen! The sign is made from cedar tongue and groove, so the grooves are where the two boards are joined when we put them together. The size is 32″ wide x 21″ tall. Sweet tea is iced tea, just with sugar! I just add sugar to my regular tea. 😀
The colors you chose are GORGEOUS!!! Love the sign, Shayna! 🙂
THANK YOU so very much, April! 😀
Hi there! Love the sign<3 I was so happy (in a weird kind of way) that someone else actually has to deal with the wind! I live in Southeast PA and am always amazed at all the blogs and pinterest pictures of porches. I spend hours thinking to myself, "How do these people deal with the wind?" I would love to have a really welcoming porch, but in all honesty, I'd be shopping and decorating for some neighbor a few streets away…
THANK YOU so much, Lisa! I know EXACTLY what you mean about seeing all those pretty porches… I try really hard to make ours really welcoming, but during the spring it’s near impossible… Glad to hear I’m not the only one experiencing the “patio furniture chase”… only mine is thru fields! 😀
I don’t have a silhouette
i have a vagabond….how else can i cut words and letters?
Hi Tina! You can print the letters and numbers onto heavy card stock, cut them out, then tape them on and either trace then paint, or use a sponge to dab around the letters. I hope that helps! 😀
Silly question I’m sure . . . but how did you do the whitewash???
Hi Robbin! That’s not a silly question! For the whitewash, I typically mix white paint with water. You can play with it to reach your desired consistency, or strength, but once it’s mixed, I lightly brush it on, letting it dry once I’m done. I hope that helps! 🙂