I have always loved the transformative power of paint and it doesn’t get much more transformative than turning a paper mache letter into a convincing reclaimed wood monogram. I discovered this technique last year by a happy accident… my plan had been to paint a paper mache letter white as a part of a Christmas decoration when I realized that the paper mache that was peeking out after the first coat of paint looked like wood hiding underneath. From there I decided to add more dimension by painting in some dark brown paint to create even more of a wood appearance. We had many guests inquire where we found our reclaimed wood DIY letter decor!
I’d love for you to follow along to see how easy it is to create your own rustic DIY letter decor monogram!
Wood Look DIY Letter Decor Supplies:
- Darice 8” Paper Mache Letter
- Americana Décor Chalky Finish Paint in Rustic and Whisper
- Darice 1″ Foam Brush
Begin by drawing stripes of brown chalky paint in varying lengths and widths on the letter’s surfaces with the edge of the foam brush. There is no precision here, just go at it! Continue to paint stripes with varying paintbrush pressure until there is no remaining paint on the brush. The color variations created by the different amounts of paint on the brush create even more dimension.
Once the brown paint has dried, complete the same process with the white chalky paint, alternating between using the edge and the flat surfaces of the foam brush. After 1 coat, if you desire more of a white-washed reclaimed wood-look (like mine), allow the paint to dry before repeating the process again. Since the letter is made out of paper, if it gets too wet it will bubble and crack. You could also just stop here if you like more of a natural rustic wood look for your monogram.
And it’s that easy; no painting skills required with this project! We have our reclaimed wood-look monogram displayed on our entry table and it adds the perfect touch of rustic-glam to our entryway.
Where would you want to display your wood look DIY letter Decor?
For an alternative paint technique to accent your DIY letter decor with, check out our DIY ABC letter post that demonstrates a marbled paint technique.
About Lydia
Lydia is the creator of Lydi Out Loud, a lifestyle blog where she shares her passions in crafting, DIY, cooking and entertaining. She is a wife, fur baby mama and lover of paint, glue guns, vinyl and peanut butter. Lydia has been featured in Somerset Home magazine, GoodHousekeeping.com, CountryLiving.com and Buzz Feed.
Very pretty! I have a hard time finding our family initial ‘H’ pre-made in stores so DIY-ing my own is a fun solution. Visiting from Talk of the Town.