I've been finding all these fun Christmas signs on pintrist and so I asked my artistic husband to make one for me. "The best way to spread Christmas cheer is singing loud for all to hear," that was my request! So much fun and always makes me smile. He agreed and said he wanted to make it to hang over our mantle. OH! I think what hangs over your mantle is a statement about your family and who you are. So, perhaps the fun quote from Elf wouldn't really fit the vision. I knew it had to be about Jesus if it were going to hang over our mantle.
O come let us adore him, Christ the Lord
That would be perfect. My sweet husband made a run to the hardware store, bought some wood and paint, and got to work. He made up a sample on the computer and got to work. Can you believe he free handed those different fonts? He's amazing! When he was finished, I was slightly disappointed. Sadly, I couldn't hide my disappointment and he was discouraged and frustrated. Something just didn't look right. The spacing was off, it just lacked the "wow" I was hoping for. I felt horribly for not being grateful for his efforts, but the sign just didn't look right. A few hours later I noticed that he took the sign down and had the paints out again. He said, "I'm not re-doing the whole sign. I'm going to change one word." I was doubtful that it would make a difference, but I decided to let it go.
Later on, as I walked through the family room, I looked up and saw the sign over the mantle. He repainted LORD and everything changed. "Oh my gosh, it's amazing. The
Lord is incredible!
The Lord changed everything. The
Lord totally makes everything look right." Then we both laughed as he said, "Yes Raeanne, the Lord does change everything!" What a beautiful Christmas reminder. If you look closely, after he distressed it, you can see "Lord" as he first painted it - it was the same size and font as "The." It was small and insignificant. When we keep the Lord small, life just doesn't look right. It's out of balance and the spacing is all wrong. But when the Lord is made big and dominates our lives, everything looks better! It's amazing!
The Lord really does change everything!
I still find this sign absolutley incredible, but that describes your husband too. You three make a dynamic creative team.
ReplyDeleteSob. I want to be there!!!! I want to have a craft day with you. Gretch is leaving?!! That's too horribly sad for words.
ReplyDeleteWhat part, though? It might be easy driving distance for us. Then you can come and....VISIT!
Love it... if I didn't live so far away, I'd have him make me one too! So very cool!
ReplyDeleteAmazing!
ReplyDeleteI love it! Your husband is very talented! You are right the Lord can change everything!!
ReplyDeleteYour story about the sign brought tears to my eyes! God has such a beautiful way of speaking to us in the everyday things... like making a sign to praise Him! LOL! What joy!
ReplyDelete(And now... I want to make a sign like this even more! Thanks for sharing it with us.)
I love your sign and I also love the name of your blog "Not My Own" Jesus is why I am here!!
ReplyDeleteI would REALLY REALLY like one of these signs. Would your husband consider selling on ETSY?
ReplyDeleteThanks,
Pam
This is so beautiful!!!
ReplyDeleteI.LOVE.IT! I found your sign via Pinterest and plan on copy catting it...if you don't mind! I'm a new follower!
ReplyDeleteMy sister-in-law and I stumbled upon your sign on pinterest. We spent today making them! We wish you'd included some directions! ;) We had my father-in-law break down a pallet and create 34x16inch signs supported by three pieces of wood in the back. We lightly sanded them and then did a very thin white wash over it. I used my Silhouette SD (www.silhouetteamerica.com) to cut the stencils.If you don't have a silhouette, these stencils wouldnt be that hard to print out and cut with an exacto knife. Just make sure you use a sturdier paper for the stencil. We used four different fonts for the "O" and the "Lord" we used Edwardian Script ITC, for the "come" and "adore" we used Apple Chancery, for "HIM" we used Century Schoolbook and for the "let" "us" "chirst" and "the" we used Lucida Blackletter. Adjust the stencil sizes as you go. We used country red Americana brand acrylic paint.We taped them down using painters tape and a sponge brush with very little paint on it. Our boards turned out only slightly different than this one. Thanks for the great idea!!
ReplyDeleteYour sign is beautiful! We pulled out the Christmas decorations yesterday and the dark brick of our fireplace needs some "pop". My husband fell in love with your sign and said he wanted to make me one :) I love your story about "the Lord changes everything" So true and a great reminder for the season. Christmas blessings on you and your family!
ReplyDeleteMy husband and I stayed up last night and finished it :) I printed letters out on the computer and then used pencil to transfer them to the wood. The big O was the hardest since I couldn't print one out. We used a dark red magic marker my husband picked up at the grocery store. Probably not the best size for our first project like this :) It is beautiful and a wonderful reminder to keep Christ first this season! Thank you for the inspiration and merry Christmas!
ReplyDeleteWe are making a similar one like this in the wee hours tonight. So excited to see it finished
ReplyDeleteGreat idea
Beautiful! A friend asked me to paint this sign, she had found this picture on Pintrest somewhere. I finally tracked you down! I hope you don't mind if I copy the basics of the sign, as it's exactly what Christmas is all about ! Thank you in advance, Heidi Woodruff
ReplyDelete