Tot Tuesday: DIY Boys Construction Name Plaque-Wall Decor

Tot Tuesday is a weekly feature where I highlight a special kids activity, frugal recipe for kids, kids tutorial, etc.

This is a guest post by Faith.

Quick Note from Heather: This is probably the coolest tutorial EVER featured on FFF. Be sure to leave a comment and also to visit Faith’s blog for more cool DIY projects!

This is a cute, inexpensive gift which you can personalize that would make a great addition to any little boy’s room.

Materials Needed:

• 40″ of Satin Ribbon (The whole roll was $2 at Walmart so this was very inexpensive)
• Lighter (if you don’t have a lighter you could use a match as well)
• Hot Glue Gun
• Mod Podge (Any type of glue would work really…I just prefer Mod Podge)
• Wooden Cut Out Letters ($1.50 for a whole bag which contains two of each letter at Walmart)
• Sandpaper
• Toothpick
• Paintbrush/Sponge
• 7″x9″ Rectangle Wooden Plaque ($2.99 at JoAnn Fabrics and let’s not forget to use that 40% off coupon! )
• Construction Truck wooden cut out – prepainted ($0.59 at JoAnn Fabrics)
• Paint (colors: Yellow, Red, Blue, White & Black)
• Clear Gloss Spray Paint (optional)

**Note to save money, if you’re not someone who crafts a lot and don’t have standard crafting supplies (paint brush, hot glue gun, paint, sandpaper, etc…see if a friend you know has these materials and would be willing to let you borrow them for this project so you don’t have to buy your own).

First I started by mixing some of the blue and white paint together to create a light blue. You can play around with mixing different amounts of each colors until you reach the shade you like.

Then with a sponge brush and using wide, even strokes from left to right, right to left, I painted the surface of the rectangular plaque.

Try not to go over the edge. This will save you a few extra coats of paint when you paint the edge of the plaque (I learned this from experience, as you can see!)

Paint the letters red. Make sure to paint the edges of the letters as well.

Then I added in some lighter and darker strokes to give the background more dimension. I achieved this effect by combing the blue and white again only not mixing it the whole way. This allowed my brush to create streaks of lighter and darker shades of blue through the background.

Next, with a toothpick, use the white paint to create some highlights on the letters.

Then paint the edge of the plaque yellow. Paint 3 or 4 layers around the edge allowing the paint to dry in between coats (which doesn’t take long for acrylic).

Then paint black lines around the edge of the plaque on the yellow area.

Once you have painted the black lines, paint the vertical edge of the plaque black.

Then position your letters and the truck in place. Once you’ve decided where you want them to go, paint some Mod Podge on the back of the letters and truck and glue them down on the plaque.

Then paint the entire back of the plaque black to create a more finished look.

With a toothpick, write whatever message you like on the back.

Then add a coat of Gloss Clear spray paint. This is optional. If you don’t have clear spray paint; don’t worry about this step. The clear coat just adds a special “shine” to the project.

Next take the 40″ of ribbon and cut it in half. Burn each edge slightly using a lighter to seal the ends of the ribbon and prevent fraying.

Hot glue one end of each ribbon to the upper left and right corners of the plaque on the backside.

Tie the ribbon in a bow and simply hang the plaque where ever you like on the wall. That’s it! This is a GREAT gift idea and would make a nice addition to any little boy’s room. (I made this as a gift and now my 4 year old son wants me to make him one).

Thanks for reading!

Faith is the author of Artistic31Mama blog. She enjoys posting about anything from her family, parents, crafts, photography, her faith and much more. She is a busy mom of 4 children ages 3months – 5 years old, and has been married 6 1/2 years to a loving, hard-working man. Faith is a professional photographer and has owned a photography business for 3 years, but her favorite job title is “Mom.” She loves yard sales, thrift stores, craigslist, and shopping on the clearance rack. In her “spare time” she likes to sing, read, craft, photograph, go walking, go to the park with her kids, and fishing with her family.

Are you interested in guest posting on Family Friendly Frugality? Please email me heather @ familyfriendlyfrugality.com. I’m looking for anything in the family friendly/frugal niche, but specifically how-to’s, DIY posts and RECIPES! Must be original content not posted elsewhere.