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At The Picket Fence with Vanessa Hunt

Where Ideas for your Home Meet Inspiration for your Heart

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November 19, 2012

How To Make an Antique Enamel Sign from Knick of Time Interiors

 

We are so thrilled to have Angie from Knick of Time Interiors with us today! She is one of our fabulous sponsors and we know you will love learning how to make your own Antique Enamel Sign.

 

My name is Angie and I blog at Knick of Time, and own an Etsy shop by the same name. Like so many of you, I love old, tattered, well-loved “stuff” so I talk about old stuff on my blog…a LOT. Today I came to share At the Picket Fence, something that looks old, but isn’t, and you can make it yourself – for under $1.

 

Remember when there were lots of blogs offering giveaways for the old style enamel signs by Ramsign?

Did you win one?

Drat…me either!

I even hosted a giveaway for Ramsign, but never did win any that I entered. If you search eBay and Etsy, there are also some antique enamel signs available. Can you afford them?

Drat…me either!

Long story short, I want an “antique enamel” sign, and have had it in my head to figure out a way to make one myself. It took me awhile to figure it out,  but I finally came up with my version and I must say, I kinda love it!

 

 

I knew I wasn’t going to be able to truly create an enamel sign, but I wanted it to look like enamel. Recently, I remembered I had a bottle of glass glaze that I purchased several years ago when making necklaces with Scrabble tiles.
I figured the glass glaze would give the strong, shiny surface, similar to enamel, so I went to Picmonkey to start designing my signs.
I chose this as my base image and removed the creepy skull graphic originally on it.

 

Then I started coming up with word variations for my sign.
I’ve included several for you at the bottom of the post to choose from.

 

I printed out the “Eggs” one first, because I loved the way the lettering looked.  If you plan to try this project, you can save my base image to your computer,then go to Picmonkey to add your own lettering, or use one of several I’ve already created. You’ll also need scissors, a hole punch, and glass glaze.  I printed my image on cardstock so it would be stiff, then carefully cut it out. Don’t forget to punch a hole on each side if you plan to hang or mount it.
I purchased my glass glaze through an Etsy shop.
 Sun And Moon Glaze - For Glass Tile Pendants, Scrabble Tiles, Scrapbooking, Domino Jewelry, Bottle Caps etc.
(click on photo to go to shop)

 

Start squeezing on the glass glaze on your “sign”, without stopping and starting a lot – that creates air bubbles.Go easy on the glaze – a lighter coat than what you see here is better. Let dry in an undisturbed spot for about 24 hours.

 

 

So far, so good, right? Seriously, at this point in the project, I’ll admit I was loving how it looked and was patting myself on the back, seeing my dream of having an “antique enamel” sign come true.

 

 

 There are several reasons why I work on projects such as this in the middle of the night. One of those reasons is a 12 year old boy. I didn’t want to disturb it, so I left it sitting on the kitchen table to dry.

You can see where this is going, right? My son wakes me up later in the morning with, “Mom, we have a little problem.”

Short story – he bumped it, messed up the glaze and my genius of a project, now looked less than stellar.

2nd time’s a charm, right?
This time I printed out a No. 1 image and I printed it smaller, because I didn’t have a lot of glass glaze left in my bottle after using so much on the first one. This time I took it to my bedroom to dry. I kept checking on it all day and just wanted to wrap my arms around myself for a big hug…I was thrilled with the results I was seeing.

 

 

 These aren’t waterproof because the back side is still card stock paper, but I really wanted to use mine to embellish things inside the house.

 

 

The little white “flecks” you see that aren’t nearly that visible in real life.The camera picks them up as white spots. This is why you don’t want to stop and start a lot once you start squeezing the bottle. If you do get bubbles, use a sharp needle to pop them, but wait until you have covered the whole thing with glaze first.  My bubbles were really tiny, so I skipped popping them, but next time I would do it.

 

 

 What I love about my version is that it ends up being like flexible plastic, so I can mold them around rounded objects, like this spool of thread.

 

 

Here are some variations for you.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

If you prefer to add your own words, or change the font style, just go to Picmonkey and use my base image up above, then add your own text. I hope you enjoyed this project. It’s very inexpensive and easy to do…as long as you protect it from 12 year old boys!
Please drop in and visit me at Knick of Time as well.
Knick of Time
I host a weekly, vintage theme link party called “Knick of Time Tuesday”. Every Wednesday, I also feature antique graphics on my blog that are free for you to use.

Throughout the week, I post lots of projects that make use of old stuff, and share our home remodeling journey as well.

 

If you have a passion for timeworn goods, come visit my shop – Knick of Time.

 

Enjoy a 15% discount using the code PICKETFENCE.
I really appreciate Heather and Vanessa allowing me to come share with you At the Picket Fence.
It’s been a true pleasure!
Blessings,
Angie

Thank you Angie for joining us today and sharing your amazing “enamel sign” project! We’re off to make some for ourselves. grin! Please take a moment to visit Angie on her lovely blog and at her shop chock full of so many fabulous vintage items…and as always thank YOU for visiting us At The Picket Fence!

15 Comments Filed Under: Crafts, DIY, Good Ideas, Guest Posts, Sponsors, Tutorials Tagged With: cheap crafts, enamel sign, tutorials

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Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Carlene@Organized Clutter says

    November 19, 2012 at 4:10 AM

    Great idea Angie.

    Reply
  2. Debbie says

    November 19, 2012 at 4:25 AM

    Angie, that’s such a clever idea! I’ve had a jar of epoxy sitting around forever. Do you think that would work? I’ve never used either one (glass glaze or epoxy). Very very cute! I’m off to visit your blog!

    Debbie

    Reply
  3. Angelina says

    November 19, 2012 at 8:50 AM

    Oh, I love everything about this project and the possibilities are really endless. Thank you so much for sharing it with us, as well as the labels for printing. I can’t wait to give this a try.
    Have a Blessed Day!
    Angelina

    Reply
  4. Martina says

    November 19, 2012 at 9:09 AM

    What a great idea!! Love the signs! Heading on over to visit her Etsy shop!

    Reply
  5. Leslie Stewart says

    November 19, 2012 at 10:17 AM

    Such a great idea! Thanks so much for sharing! The labels are great!

    Reply
  6. Becca says

    November 19, 2012 at 10:27 AM

    What an awesome idea, Angie! Thanks so much for sharing your creativity!

    Reply
  7. karen says

    November 19, 2012 at 5:32 PM

    Angie this is genius! I love it. Thank you so much for sharing such a really cool project!

    Reply
  8. Shirley@Housepitality Designs says

    November 19, 2012 at 8:44 PM

    Fantastic, fantastic signs!…Such a wonderful creation that is so much more versatile than the metal signs…love how you can bend it around an object!…Truly creative Angie!!

    Reply
  9. Doreen@HymnsandVerses says

    November 19, 2012 at 8:52 PM

    Wow – that is amazing! I actually DID win a Ramsign giveaway and love my real enamel sign, but can’t wait to try this out! Great way to get the look for WAY less! Thanks for sharing!

    Blessings,

    Doreen

    Reply
  10. Anna says

    November 19, 2012 at 10:59 PM

    I love this idea! I’ve been wanting to change our address plate for a long time now, so I’ll have to use this idea and come up with a waterproof version. 🙂

    Anna
    askannamoseley.com

    Reply
  11. Suzanne says

    November 20, 2012 at 8:18 AM

    Thank you soooo much for this tutorial! I love it, and am already planning to make several.

    Reply
  12. Jenny says

    November 20, 2012 at 11:02 AM

    This is awesome! Thank you so much for letting us use your designs too! I can’t wait to make some!

    Reply
  13. JP says

    November 20, 2012 at 3:41 PM

    Great feature…thank you for sharing..gonna go pin it!

    Reply
  14. bj says

    November 23, 2012 at 4:39 AM

    How awesome is THIS !! wOW, I can’t wait to try it. You sure did a good job….and thanks so much for sharing your great images with us.

    and, I DID win a Ramsign….it’s on it’s way to me as we speak….:)
    xo bj

    Reply
  15. pijeer says

    April 11, 2013 at 12:22 AM

    I collect enamel signs all my life, I prefer the old and valuable inscriptions many years old, but sometimes can not resist and order some new enameled sign, mostly from https://www.smalt.com/, but there are auctions where such inscriptions sell.

    Reply

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I’m never.going.back to stressful, time-consumin I’m never.going.back to stressful, time-consuming seasonal decorating. When I think back on the years where I would feel all of the pressure to come up with something fresh and creative I’m seriously embarrassed. Truly. Because it was such a waste. A waste of my time, my energy, my resources. Something clicked with me a few years ago. I was just done. I needed to simplify. I needed to not spend an obscene amount of time looking at fireplace mantels on Pinterest and trying to figure out how to make mine look amazing. I needed to put it all in the proper place in my heart and my mind. Which meant, it had to go waaaaayyyy down on the priority list. So far down it almost wasn’t on it. And I needed to confess to the Lord that I had allowed it to become an idol. 

Yes, I want to have a home that I enjoy. Yes, I love pretty things. But something really amazing happened when I finally released it all. When I decided to not give into the pressure and panic I would feel when I would scroll through my Instagram feed. When I just laid it all down and said…enough. There was this incredible irony in it. Because, the less time I took to decorate my home for each season, the more I found myself loving the results. I think that all along I had just been getting in my own way. It’s really taken a lot of time and prayer for me to finally be at a place where even though I still struggle with insecurities and I still have doubts from time to time, I’m becoming increasingly more confident in who God created me to be. And, just like my home, I’m finding that as I relax into myself, letting go of the comparisons and the pressure, the more I can actually lean into the calling He has placed on my life. 🍂

Leave a comment if you can relate! 

#wearethehomemakers #homemaking
“As the alluring song of September begins to whi “As the alluring song of September begins to whisper in my ear, my passionate spirit yearns for the splendor of its promise.” (Peggy Toney Horton)

Happy September dear friends! While I’m not quite ready to let go of summer and I plan to make the most out of the lingering, warm days, I’ll admit to starting to think about my fall decor this year. And one way to get inspired is to take a look back at previous years. Here’s just a glimpse at some of the ways I’ve welcomed Autumn to my home! 🍂

#september #falldecorating #falldecor #falldecoratingideas #wearethehomemakers
Labor Day weekend might mean that we’re turning Labor Day weekend might mean that we’re turning the corner and getting closer to fall but I’m not quite ready to let summer go. So I’ll just be over here continuing to whip up some super simple summer meals for my family that frankly can be enjoyed in any season. These shrimp rolls I made the other night were definitely a hit and would be great for any of your upcoming holiday weekend gatherings!

Shrimp Rolls 🍤

Ingredients
1-2 lbs of shrimp that is peeled, deveined and tail off (If using frozen make sure it’s thawed completely)
1/3 cup mayonnaise 
1/2 of a lemon
2 Tbsps chopped scallions
1 Tbsp chopped dill
1 Tbsp chopped Italian parsley
1 Tsp of Old Bay seasoning (more if you like!)
pinch of sea salt and pinch of black pepper
Hoagie Rolls
Softened butter

Directions: Gently pat the shrimp with a paper towel to remove any excess moisture. Roughly chop the shrimp and place in a bowl. Add mayonnaise, squeeze half of lemon and stir to combine before adding in the scallions, dill and parsley. Stir to combine and then add the additional seasonings. Spread butter on hoagie rolls and toast in the oven until lightly browned. Pile on the shrimp mixture and enjoy! 

#shrimproll #foodie #weeknightdinner #easydinner #seafoodlover
Today has been a very Monday-ish kind of Monday. W Today has been a very Monday-ish kind of Monday. We woke up to the sound of chainsaws and rushed downstairs to find that our backyard neighbors were having two of the huge trees that line our shared fence removed. These trees have been here longer than the neighborhood and no, they weren't dead or causing damage to roofs, foundations, etc. They were beautiful and gave us wonderful privacy. We had no notice of this happening so this came as quite a shock. Because we were given no notice, we didn't have the chance to cover our outdoor furniture or plants and everything is now coated in a thick layer of sawdust including the fresh bark we recently put in the garden beds. And now our lovely privacy is gone, replaced by a direct view of an above ground pool and RV. I know, I know, it's totally a first world, privileged kind of problem to have. But, now we have to spend thousands of dollars on plants to try and recapture some semblance of privacy. Now we have days worth of clean up to do after we had JUST done a massive freshening up of our backyard. My overarching feeling has just been weariness at the way our world is today.

I think about how often we try to do right by people, to be respectful and courteous. To be thoughtful and considerate. And it’s not reciprocated. How its starting to seem more and more like people have just given up on those seemingly small niceties. And my soul just feels heavy. Because I feel like so much of what used to be common courtesy is not so common anymore. Drivers on the roads are angrier and more reckless than ever before. Red lights being run are an everyday occurrence around town. On our recent family vacation, I heard more people using the F word out in public than ever before even while around children. Where are manners? Where is kindness? I'm finding myself being surprised when someone is thoughtful because it seems like a rarity. And that's just all on a micro, local level. Don't even get me started on the insanity in our world/culture. After I returned from grocery shopping (which can also be soul crushing), I found myself desperate for a reminder of the truth. 

*Part 2 continued in the comments.*
How often is it in our lives that we don’t fully How often is it in our lives that we don’t fully grasp our strengths or our weaknesses until we are put to the test? Little did I know how much I would love my role as a wife, mother and homemaker until I became one. And that in my endeavor to do those roles to the best of my ability, it would bring to the forefront gifts and talents and blessings that I use outside of these walls.

As I water others, I’m watered too because it brings such joy to care for those around me. But it can also make me see more clearly the areas in which I’m lacking and be a very humbling reminder of how much I still need to grow and learn.

Proverbs 11:25 says, “Whoever brings blessing will be enriched and one who waters will himself be watered.”

Have you done any ‘watering’ of others this week? How has it blessed and ‘watered’ you in return?
“Mom, this is one of my favorite meals that you “Mom, this is one of my favorite meals that you make.” Statements like this from my kids fill me with so much joy and such a sense of assurance that my role as the maker of this home is one that makes an impact on them in both big and small ways. It’s not just sheet pan shrimp boil. 

It’s nourishment
It’s time together around the table
It’s laughing as we try to get the butter sauce out of the pan
It’s a memory
It’s an imprint on their lives 

The ordinary act of making a meal becomes EXTRAordinary. And I try to keep that in mind as I do this task day in and day out, year after year. 

***

Ingredients: 
1 pound baby red or yellow potatoes
Green beans or corn (4 ears cut in half) whichever you prefer
1/2 cup unsalted butter, melted
4 cloves garlic, minced
1 tablespoon Old Bay seasoning
1/2 tsp coarse sea salt and pinch of black pepper 
1 pound medium shrimp, peeled and deveined
1 (12.8-ounce) package smoked andouille sausage, thinly sliced
Crusty bread for dipping 

Directions:
Preheat oven to 400 degrees F. Lightly oil a baking sheet or coat with nonstick spray. In a large pot of boiling salted water, cook potatoes until just tender, about 10 minutes. Put potatoes, shrimp, sausage and green beans or corn on baking sheet. Pour butter over top. Sprinkle with old bay seasoning and salt and pepper. Mix well to combine. Bake for about 12 minutes or until shrimp is pink. 

#shrimpboil #sheetpandinner #sheetpanmeals #homemaking
Temperatures in the 100’s call for fresh and lig Temperatures in the 100’s call for fresh and light cocktails! My husband is my own built in bartender and he put this together the other night. 

2 jiggers of gin (you could also use vodka) 
*you should do a jig when using a jigger 😉*
Crushed ice 
Grapefruit tonic 
Squirt of lime 
Sprig of mint 

Easy and so refreshing!! ☀️

#cocktails #summercocktails
There is something magical about the late summer e There is something magical about the late summer evenings. Maybe it’s because we have a greater sense of the fact that these long days are slowly shortening and we want to savor them as much as we can. I know I intend to do just that. 

I hope you’re having a wonderful August so far dear friends!
Variations of this recipe are on repeat at our hou Variations of this recipe are on repeat at our house all summer long. We’re big on the ‘build your own’ method of making dinner especially on very hot days. Simplicity for the win! 
#recipes #easydinner #easydinnerideas #homemaking
In music, rhythm is a regular repetition or a grou In music, rhythm is a regular repetition or a grouping of beats. No matter what else a piece of music has in terms of its pitch or tone, the rhythm never changes. Its the stabilizing force and brings order to a composition that would be completely chaotic without it.

The same can be said of rhythms in our lives and in our homes. When everything else feels out of control, rhythms and patterns provide us with stability and something that we can rely upon to give us a sense of security in a very insecure world. But, too often, we associate the rhythmic things we do in our lives as merely tasks to be gotten through rather than gifts which provide much-needed balance.

Whether it’s making the coffee every night before we go to bed or doing my devotional in the morning before the rest of the house wakes up or watering my garden, these simple tasks provide a rhythm to my day that is truly grounding. 

What’s something that you do that you would classify as a rhythm or pattern in your week?
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