Distressed Peace Sign

As I look at the title of this post, I can’t help but giggle a little…A distressed Peace Sign? Isn’t that kind of an oxymoron?

But what is Christmas without peace on earth and goodwill towards men?

At this time of year, most of us do feel distressed when we should be feeling peace…

I recommend taking a few steps back and breathing deeply and enjoying the moment.

So what if your house is in disarray because of all the decorations that have to be placed and you can’t even walk without tripping on something?…

So what if you have cookie batter stuck to the ass of your best jeans that you just washed and air-dried so they wouldn’t shrink and give you a muffin-top from eating all that cookie batter?…

So what if your elf on the damn shelf isn’t as clever as your friends’ posts on  Facebook where the elf is hosting a party for all the kids’ little stuffed animals, complete with mini tea sets and crumpets?…

So what if you haven’t gotten your Christmas cards out yet? or haven’t even taken that picture yet of your extraordinary children that will eventually end up on your Christmas card?…

So What?

Christmas will still be here on December 25th, so stop and take a deep breath and remember what Christmas is REALLY about.

For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.  Of the increase of his government and peace there will be no end. He will reign on David’s throne and over his kingdom, establishing and upholding it with justice and righteousness from that time on and forever. The zeal of the LORD Almighty will accomplish this.  Isaiah 9:6-7

Easy, Breezy Tutorial

Supplies Needed

Canvas Board  (Mine is 30Lx15W from Hobby Lobby art section)

Modge Podge

Newspaper

Foam Brush

Paint of your choice

Stencils

Sandpaper

Your first step is to paint a thin layer of Modge Podge over the entire surface using your foam brush.

Now place a layer of newspaper on the Modge Podge and brush another thin layer of Modge Podge over this. It will and should be a little wrinkled.

Allow a sufficient time for this to dry–you may even want to wait overnight…

When it’s dry, prime it with white primer. If you want to paint the base black, you probably don’t even need to prime it. Just make sure the newspaper doesn’t show through.

I painted my base color blue and then waited some more for that to dry.

Once the blue paint dried, I used my Cameo Silhouette to cut out my letters. I used clear contact paper in the hopes of being frugal but it wasn’t as easy as cutting out with vinyl. You could also hand-letter it or use stencils from a craft store.

I used my Annie Sloan Chalk Paint in Emperor’s Silk to paint my letters. {Love this paint}

Peel away your vinyl while the paint is still a little wet and then sit around, do some laundry, get the cookie dough off your ass while this dries…

Once it’s dried sufficiently, like super-dry, the most fun part comes along….use a fine grit sandpaper to lightly sand your sign in parts that you think would be distressed, like the edges and lightly over the top.

AND YOUR FINISHED!

But, if you’re like me, you’re really NOT! It needed a little something, something; so back to the Cameo Silhouette for a snowflake design!

Maybe now it’s finished!

Put it where all who enter can see it. For me, that’s the kitchen!

And, of course, add a little JOY to it!

Without Peace, we cannot have any Joy!

So Peace,{I mean Please}, Enjoy the Season!

Now I need to add some Love…

Stay tuned…

Peace, Joy and Love…

Kathy

Check out these Links!

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