The Big 5

Don't you just love spontaneous projects?
I've always had a thing for letters and numbers in decorating. For a long time I've had a special thing for the number 5. 

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Every time I see something like this in a magazine or on Pinterest, it always catches my eye and I think someday I'd really like to try making a large sign or wooden number myself. 

Let's just say it hasn't been at the top of the priority list. 

But then a couple of days ago I saw Donna from Funky Junk pin one of her tutorials about making a giant number. I headed over to her blog and something just clicked! I decided right then I was going to give it a try, only a little smaller scale.  

I really wanted to make the number from plywood, and I wanted to make it really large, but I didn't want to wait around for when a piece of plywood might come my way. I wanted to try it NOW. So I opted to do a practice run, of sorts, in a less intimidating size. I've never cut out an actual shape with the jigsaw (purchased for $3.00 last summer at a yard sale), I've only done straight cuts with it. So using a piece of Masonite board I already had and making the number just over 26" tall seemed a little more manageable, and if I messed it up, no harm done!

I didn't measure ahead of time, I just drew the number the size I wanted with chalk {Donna's method} and cut around it. I'm sorry I didn't photo that part, but you can see the full tutorial over at Funky Junk. 



If you follow me on Facebook, you saw me post my late night "in progress" photo from my kitchen counter. I promised I'd show you "prettier" pictures when I was all done!

I lightly sanded the number, and painted it with black acrylic paint. When it was completely dry, I gave it a more aged and worn look by sanding off some of the black in places, and sanding all around the edges.  

Yes, I do know my 5 isn't perfect. Good thing this was just practice, right? I stuck the number onto a piece of faux brick panel that I use behind our electric fireplace in the winter. I guess I'll be re-thinking that when winter comes! 

Then I realized if I was going to show it to you today, I'd better quickly come up with a little vignette centered around it. 

Recently I showed you our Summer Dining Room, and confessed to what my table really looks like much of the time. Oh boy.

The piano sits right between the dining room and living room areas and there hasn't been anything going on there cute-wise for some time, so I chose this spot for my not-so-giant number 5 vignette. 

I quickly pulled together some of my favorite elements- metal, chippy painted wood, ironstone, old book pages, vintage sheet music, words and letters. {It was dark in the room and I totally had my camera on the wrong setting-boo. Sorry, I just didn't have time to re-take them} 

I have four of these chippy table legs, and two of them are being used as part of one of the two headboards on my bed right now. 

{You can pop over here to see the details on that}

I keep thinking I'm going to turn this sign I made for a friend's wedding reception into something else, but somehow it just keeps showing up in the decor over here! 

I hope you enjoyed seeing my spontaneous DIY medium sized number 5 project today! I feel much more confident about making a really big one when the right piece of wood comes along. 

Head over to Funky Junk Interiors for the REAL giant number tutorial, and a million other inspiring projects, too! 

Have you just spontaneously decided to try out a new kind of project lately? I'd love to hear about it! 

Thanks for coming by today!

Jeanette

Joining these fun parties-
Sundays at Home at Thoughts From Alice
Junkin' Joe at The Cottage Market
Party Junk at Funky Junk Interiors
Feathered Nest Friday at French Country Cottage
Home Sweet Home at The Charm of Home
Treasure Hunt Thursday at From My Front Porch to Yours
Under $100 Party at Beyond the Picket Fence
What's It Wednesday at Ivy and Elephants
Share Your Cup Thursday at Have a Daily Cup of Mrs.Olson
Wow Us Wednesday at Savvy Southern Style
Knick of Time Tuesday
Inspire Me Tuesday at A Stroll Thru Life
Tweak It Tuesday at Cozy Little House
Show and Share at Coastal Charm
The Scoop at StoneGable
Make It Pretty Monday at The Dedicated House
Metamorphosis Monday at Between Naps on the Porch