If you’ve been around our blog for any amount of time, you know that I love geography and have tons of pride for my home state: IOWA!! Represent!
I figured out this amazing way to make new wood look OLD and it basically changed my life.
I’ve used my ‘old wood’ to make these barn board signs and these Bracket-Shaped Plaques
Since 1×4 pine boards are inexpensive and easy to customize using my make your own ‘barn boards’ technique I might as well try making it into the shape of a state!
SourceAfter printing my Iowa shape onto a transparency and projecting the image onto my boards, I traced with a pencil and wasted no time getting down and dirty with my scroll saw! (see all my other scroll saw projects here!)
I cut each board individually. It was so fun to see it come together one board at a time!
Next steps are to paint, sand and stain! I went with red and a touch of black for dimension. For the full step-by-step tutorial on making these boards truly look like old distressed wood, click here!
Finally, Nick cut a 1/4” piece of plywood and glued/stapled it to the back to secure all the boards together. (CHECK.OUT his creepy man-hand!)
After sanding, I decided to paint the outer edge a shimmery gold (Martha Stewart ‘Pearl’) and a little heart on Des Moines (our state capitol!)
All that was left was to seal things off with a little finishing wax, and slap on a comb hook! These look AMAZING on a gallery wall!
I love that the red represents actual barn wood, since Iowa is known for farming and agriculture! It’s difficult do drive ANYWHERE in this state without seeing a gorgeous old barn in all it’s glory!!
~Bethany
PS! Check out these other projects and tutorials I’ve done using my signature ‘Barn Board’ technique!
As always, THANKS for pinning!
you should make a mix of both, a state with a name in it!
You did an amazing job with this! Love it!
well I'm from WA and now in IA – what a perfect set of posts from you and Kim!
Really Beth? Who else would they pick but you? You always send your best when they are needed and obviously that is who they picked! Congrats and I love the bard red you painted on our state! Hit the nail right on the head with that one!!
Wow Beckie! What a HUGE complement! I absolutely love yours too! This is such a fun idea!
It's definitely not as hard as it looks. You should give it a try! You'll get the hang of it really fast!
Yours is by far my favorite of the day. Well done friend!
As a fellow Iowan, I love it! Is it hard to do all of those curves with the saw?
This turned out great! I'm a Midwest gal, too. (On the Iowa-Illinois border.) So I loved your project.
Thanks Kenz! I've heard others using the 'old man' to learn the midwestern states as well. 🙂 I call it the 'boob' of Iowa, but that's just me. HA!
When I see Iowa, I just think of the profile of the man with a big nose… you know what I'm talking about? Like, Minnesota is the hat? And the man is holding a serving a tray? Maybe that's the only way they could teach us Utahns about how to learn the states in the mid-west. Either way, LOVE the projects. The color of stain is so deep and rich. Great choice!
Wow, Beth! That's awesome gorgeous! Love it!
Man I wish I had your power tool skills! That looks amazing.