Hello friends! Today I wanted to share with you a quick and easy, no-cost DIY solution for your outdoor holiday decor.

When our family decorates for Christmas, it takes days … DAYS, people … for me to get just the inside of our home decorated. I’m typically pooped out after that with no motivation to do much in the way of outdoor decor.

My dear husband put out some strands of light and two light show thingies this year, which makes the place look pretty festive. But I also wanted to add something special to the front porch.

Are you familiar with those large (5 feet+) holiday signs you can just lean against the side of your house? Well last week I decided to make one for myself … at no cost.

Step 1: Choose a scrap board and cut it to size.

I found this scrap piece of plywood inside our garden shed. It was already the perfect size for my project. I think it measures about 5 feet by 14 inches or so.

I cleaned it with bleach spray to kill a patch of mold/mildew at the bottom (these stains will bleed through paint).

Then it was ready for a quick coat of Rust-Oleum® Chalked Paint.*

Step 2: Apply one to two coats of paint.

I chose Rust-Oleum® Chalked Paint in Linen White.

This stuff covers really well, with no need for primer to be applied. I applied two coats to the entire front side of the wood. I added the second coat about an hour after the first coat. This paint dries very quickly to a matte, chalk-like finish.

Step 3: Sand the piece after the paint dries.

I used an inexpensive orbital sander to “rough up” the paint finish and edges a bit. This gave the sign a rustic, aged appearance.

Step 4: Pencil on letters.

I simply hand drew my letters for the sign on with a pencil, using a paint stir stick to keep the lines straight and working off an inspiration image from Pinterest. I chose the word “Noel,” but “Joy” would work just as well for a similar project.

Step 5: Fill in the letters with paint, leaving the “O” space blank.

I like the metallic stencil creme line from Royal Design Studio for small craft projects like this. I used a beautiful red metallic paint, which gives a nice shimmer to the piece.

Step 6: Staple garland to the wood in an “O” shape.

I added a few sprigs of faux berries to my evergreen garland strand to complete the missing “O” in my sign. Done! 

I created this piece in one afternoon using leftover wood, paint and holiday garland I had on hand at the house. I love finding ways to decorate using what I already have, don’t you?

What do you think of the final result? Have you DIYed any holiday decor this year? I’d love for you to share the details of your project in a comment.

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