Make beautiful decor for $3!

I used a 12″ Dollar Tree blank wood sign to make this Valentine’s Day decoration. It has an outer wood frame, but it’s also wood in the center. You could also use a canvas, either an 8×10 or a square like a 10×10 or 12×12, to create a reverse canvas. That will give you the wood frame on the outside and the inner sign will be canvas. If you need a tutorial for creating a reverse canvas, check out this post where I created several to make a $180 Pottery Barn piece for $15.

If you’re using the $3 Dollar Tree wood frame sign, you’ll first need to tape off the inside of the frame so that you don’t accidentally get stain on it. You’ll be painting the inside so if you get stain there you’ll have to sand it off. Going the tape route will save you a lot of time, trust me!

mini tea towel ladder if you need a tutorial. I used Rust-oleum’s Stain + Polyurethane in weathered gray. This is a great stain because it’s all done in one step. Remember to brush in one direction when you apply the stain, not back and forth like you would with paint.

Create Stripes with Painter’s Tape

Once the paint or stain on the frame is dry you need to use the painter’s tape to create stripes on the main part of the Valentine’s Day sign. Tape off the inside edges of frame first.

Next, place a piece of tape across the top, right along the edge. Tear off two small pieces of tape and place one right up against the first piece on each end. That will help you keep the stipes even. Place a second stripe of tape right against the two small pieces of tape.

Paint the Inner Sign

Paint the areas between the tape with your lightest paint. I went with my pink chalk paint first because I always have issues with the white Apple Barrel acrylic paint that I was going to have to use on this project. It wants to rip off when I remove the painter’s tape. I never have any issues with any of my other chalk and acrylic paint, just this one bottle. Add a second coat once the first dries.

Create or Cut a Design

Now it’s time to create a design to use on the bottom left side of the sign. I cut the word “love” on a piece of gold glitter vinyl with my Cricut. You can download my free design and either cut it with your cutting machine or print it and use the carbon copy method to transfer it onto the sign. It’s such an easy method and will take you no time with this small word. You can see exactly how to do that in my door hanger without a Cricut tutorial.

Whichever method you’re using, go ahead and download this free “love” file. It was created on an 8.5×11 canvas so if you’re printing you won’t have to change any settings.

winter door hanger tutorial or my winter porch leaner tutorial to see exactly how to do it. I have video instructions included so you can see how easy it is!

Transfer the Design to the Valentine’s Day Sign

Finally, it’s time to add the design onto the painted sign. Transfer it with transfer tape or by tracing the pencil lead covered paper. Place it in the bottom left quadrant of the Valentine’s Day sign.

That’s it! Now place your beautiful Dollar Tree Valentine’s Day sign in its place of honor to admire it for the next month!

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