Make an Unusual Farmhouse Sign With a Vintage Vent
A couple of months ago, I picked up a pair of pretty awesome window vents. Not your ordinary flimsy vents with metal screens, but a fairly sturdy set with green metal vents.
As you know, I buy items not just for resale or to decorate with, but also to upcycle into something new and fresh. Such was the case with this recent purchase.
I only had to wear my thinking cap for a few minutes before I decided to create an unusual farmhouse sign by stenciling on one of the vents. I’m pretty pleased with the industrial/farmhouse style results.
So in the space of about 5 minutes (the length of time it took to apply the stencil). I made an attractive and unique sign with a distinctly industrial/farmhouse vibe.
It then took another 2 minute to give it a couple of coats of spray on poly (in satin). Bob’s your uncle and it was done.
[I bought my stencil on eBay from Homestead Stencil Co. Angie at Knick of Time also has great farmhouse stencils.]
This is the “blank canvas,” just as I saw it at the sale, looking much like a window vent and with patches of rust.
But I that’s part of the vintage game–you need to think outside the box and train yourself to imagine new uses and purposes for old “junk.”
It truly is as the old saying goes: One man’s junk is another man’s treasure.
The vent, with its perfect melding of aged wood, painted metal, and rust, made an excellent canvas for this sign. For hints on how to stencil and the best products to use, click here.
I was a little concerned that the uneven surface might cause a problem, but it didn’t.
It is easily read and the vents were not too difficult to stencil over. I do have one more vent in stock, but I have a different, vintage-y plan for it.
I hope you’ll stick around to discover what that is!
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Creative upcycle. “Bob’s your uncle and it was done” made me giggle, never heard that before.
Ha ha! I think it’s a British saying, which I might have picked up when we lived there for a couple of years. Glad it brought a smile to your face ๐
Love, love , love this! I’m working on my own farmhouse sign this week but I think I like yours better! Now I’ll be on the lookout for one of those vents…….xo Kathleen | Our Hopeful Home
Thanks Kathleen!! You’re so encouraging ๐ Looking forward to seeing your farmhouse sign–I bet it’ll be terrific. Here’s hoping you find some fabulous vents–
Very unique and something many of us would not even have thought of.
I guess that’s why they pay me the big bucks (LOL–not!). Thanks, as always, Rose, for dropping by to chat ๐
This one is amazing, great job, Diana! My niece would love this for her she-shed/chicken coop. Grins, Sandi
Ooh thanks for the high praise, Sandi! So sweet of you to say ๐
That turned out great Diana! I really love the look of it.
Thanks so much, Tuula! I hope you’re having a great week ๐
What great windows and they do make wonderful stenciled signs. I am interested in what you do with the other one! I just pulled two long deck planks from my son-in-laws burn pile because of the chippy white paint on them. I really want to stencil something over that so I will be searching for the perfect stencil.
I’ll have the other upcycle coming up soon, AnnMarie ๐ I love the sound of those deck planks–you’re going to have fun with them. Joy at A Vintage Green did a post on April 6th about bloggers who make their own stencils–check it out ๐
Love it, Diana!
Thanks, Cecilia!
Love this project Diana!
Absolutely inspired, Diana! And the vignette you put together with it is very appealing to my eye. Somehow the wood tones of the bread boards next to the metal of the sign are such a nice contrast to each other. And the little bird–sweet. You done good!
Diana, that is soo cute! Love it with the stencil too. Did it already have the wooden border around it? I’m assuming it did. Would love to happen upon something like that!
What a cool idea! I’llnever looked at vent in quite the same way again.
Very creative repurpose! ๐ I’m definitely going to try this!
I’d like to invite you to share this at the brand-new Farmhouse Friday link party which kicks off this Friday at 6:00 am PST! I am giving away a $50 Amazon gift certificate to celebrate, and I will also share your linkup on DIY Farmhouse Style Facebook group where I admin, which at this writing has over 130k members! ๐
Hope to see you on Friday!
Michelle
The Painted Hinge
http://www.thepaintedhinge.com
This entire vignette has me in swoon mode! I’m so in LOVE with the sage green against wood too. Beautiful sign!
I’ve featured you in this weekend’s DIY Salvaged Junk Projects 375. Thanks for linking up! ๐
Thank you, Donna–such high praise from the queen of signs herself ๐ Thanks so much for the kind words and the feature–much appreciated!
Very cool sign! I wouldn’t have thought of using an old vent for a sign but it works. Thank you for sharing your farmhouse sign at the Snickerdoodle Create~Bake~Make link party!
What a wonderful and unique sign. Love it.
What a great idea for a recycle. I like the uniqueness of the sign. Pinned
Simply awesome! So true the words ‘one man’s trash is another man’s treasure’. I agree with Donna that the sage green paint goes well with the wood. And you said it wasn’t hard to stencil on the vent. I’ve often wondered about that. Have you ever stenciled on a shutter? I would like to try. Thanks so much for sharing a wonderful project!
I love it! I have a lot of signs I’ve made around my house, and it’s one of my favorite ways to decorate. This adds a unique touch to it!