Pottery Barn Knockoff: DIY Giant Flash Card Art

I was SO excited to be asked to be apart of the #creativebuzz challenge, it’s a great group of bloggers!! This months theme is numbers so I decided to go for a back to school theme since school is starting soon. I LOVED the idea of making giant flash cards for my boys room.

I remember a couple years ago Pottery Barn had giant flash cards and I really wanted to make my own version. As you know I love a new project!!

Getting Started

To get this project started I had to make a quick trip to Lowes for some supplies. I really wanted my flash cards to be on large pieces of wood. I found the perfect size wood at Lowes (4foot x12inches) and had 2 pieces cut in half. Then headed over to the paint section for my blue paint.

I already had my vinyl and chalk paint on hand. Time to get started!!

Pottery Barn Knockoff: DIY Giant Flash Card Art

Step 1 – Add First Coat

I did two coats of my dark blue and let each coat dry an HOUR before adding the next.

Step 2 – Cut Your Vinyl

Then I cut my numbers using my Silhouette machine on vinyl. I love using the vinyl for projects like this, makes it’s so much easier.

I had some help from my super talented friend Melissa at Silhouette School. I needed a little help measuring the numbers this large and her tutorial Cutting Larger Than the Mat really helped me out!

I should have used color vinyl so you could see the numbers better.

Step 3 – Transfer Your Vinyl

I pulled out my “handy dandy” transfer paper. After I pulled off the extra vinyl around my numbers I stuck the transfer paper on top and smoothed it down with a credit card.

Then when I pulled my transfer paper up, it was ready to be placed on my wood.

Step 4 – Add Your Vinyl

I carefully laid my numbers on top on my wood and smoothed it down again with a credit card. Then I pulled my transfer paper up and voila a perfect stencil for this project!!

See how easy that was!

Step 5 – Add Final Coat of Paint

Since I already had extra chalk paint on hand from my side table makeover I did. I decided to use that as my main color. I’m really glad I did, it worked out great! I painted a coat around all my letters first and let dry half an hour.

Then I covered with two more coats of paint and let both coats dry half an hour.

Step 6 – Remove Vinyl

Now my favorite part, taking off the vinyl!!

I used my weeding tool to help remove my vinyl. The vinyl came up great especially with the chalk paint.

Step 7 – Wax and Distress

I used some finishing wax and covered all the boards before I distressed the flash cards.

Next it was time to distress!! I used an 80 grade sandpaper and just distressed the edges for this projects. I wanted them to look a little vintage-y.

I just wiped the wax all over my boards with an old washcloth.

Step 8 – Finishing Touches

Finally I finished the project off by adding some picture hangers on the back. I was super excited to hang them in the boys room!!

I think this project turned out great!!I can’t wait to work on more projects and finally finish the boys room. This project would look great for any play room or learning room decor!

I’m just thrilled with out my flash cards!! Here’s a look at what Pottery Barns version compared to my version looks like. Theirs looks great of course but mine are A LOT cheaper!!