Felt letter boards are an extension of who we are. They capture our day-to-day moments, impactful milestones, are the voice to our inner thoughts, and so much more. If the boards can be so customizable...why can't the frames?
Thanks to paint, they can be!
Disclaimer: I am so sorry to have to start with this, but we just have to cover our toes. We are sharing this as an idea, and to provide guidance. We cannot guarantee that your results will be exactly like ours.
First I can't take the credit for this. Our friend, Annie, did all the painting. She is the owner of Reimagined Inspirations. (Check her out on Instagram.) Annie recently painted the furniture in our daughter's room and it is AMAZING! I hope to share some of her room with you in a future post.
Annie loves to use Chalk Paint; however, poly acrylic paint will also do the trick.
Before
First Step: Tape off the felt as close and tight to the wood as possible using blue painter's tape. We found the exterior blue painter's tape to work very well, but was unnecessarily sticky/strong. Tip: Before placing the tape on the felt, blot the tape on a pant leg first a few times. You want it sticky enough to stay -- NOT sticky enough to pull up your pretty felt fibers :)
Another recommendation is blue painter's tape in Original Multi-Surface or something similar. Remember the pant trick to keep it safe.
Step 2: Start painting with your desired color. Use a small paintbrush like the one pictured. It is roughly 3/4 inch wide.
Annie used Annie Sloan's Paris Grey. It needed 2 coats, waiting 20 - 30 minutes in-between coats to dry fully.
Step 3 (Optional): Once the second coat is dry, wax the frame with a clear wax. Put just a bit on a rag, wipe it on the frame, and buff off any leftover residue. (Tip: A little goes a long way. You can always go back and add more wax).
Using a wax will seal and protect the frame. It also emphasizes depth of the paint color.
Step 4: Gently remove tape - remember the felt is delicate.
Step 5: Using a Q-Tip (or your fingertip) add accents on your frame with a metallic color. This can give it both dimension and an aged appearance. If you would like a distressed look, use sandpaper gently on the edges.
Step 6: Let metallic accents fully dry before enjoying your felt letter board!
After
The light pink felt letter board will go perfect in my daughter's room! I am so excited.
Annie Sloan's Chalk Paint in Graphite Paired with our Rusty Red
Annie Sloan's Chalk Paint in Pure White Paired with our Hot Pink
Annie Sloan's Chalk Paint in Old White Paired with our Gray (Available Soon)
Please let us know if we can provide any other tips here. I look forward to seeing painted frames in the future...but of course the oak frame is as classic as they come!
Pam
I love seeing the creativity of graduates with their letter board. Get that perfect Instagram shot to reveal a University you will be attending in the fall or boasting a 2019 graduation.
