Fall vignette (plus how to make decorative block letters)

It got seriously crafty up in here earlier this week. The DIY mojo struck and I decided to create a new fall vignette for the top of the TV console. The idea I had in my head involved some decorative block letters.

I started with this dusty 2×6 board I found in the garage:

By the way, perhaps you’ve noticed that 2×6 boards don’t actually measure 2″ by 6″. That is because the nominal measurements for lumber are taken before the boards have been planed smooth on all four sides. Planed – or surfaced – lumber typically ends up about a half inch shorter all around.

I cut four equal-sized squares (about 5″ wide by 5 1/2″ high) out of my 2×6, then smoothed the rough edges with an orbital sander.

After that, I painted all four blocks with Annie Sloan Chalk Paint® in Barcelona Orange.

I wanted to give the blocks an aged look, so I watered down some acrylic paint and used it as a glaze on top of the orange. Annie Sloan has a dark wax that will create a similar effect, but I just used what I had on hand.

I applied the glaze with a sponge, then wiped off the excess.

After my blocks were prepped, I added some gold vinyl adhesive letters I printed out from my Silhouette electronic cutting machine. This is the final result:

I shopped the house for the rest of the decorations used in the vignette.

Now I’ve officially caught the fall decorating fever. Next up? Kitchen, mantel and porch!

I’m linking this up to Fireflies and Jellybeans, Love of Family & Home, Craft Dictator, Live Creatively Inspired, The Lettered Cottage, My Repurposed Life, Centsational Girl, Mad in Crafts and Kathe with an E.