Dollar Tree Pumpkin Truck Sign DIY
Sometime in August, I scored the very last unpainted wooden Dollar Tree pumpkin truck cutout in the store. At first, I thought I’d use it on a wreath, but it just didn’t seem to work with any of my plans. Then, I got the idea for a pumpkin harvest sign!
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I’m joining my blogger friends today for the September Creative Craft Blog Hop, hosted by Chloe from Celebrate and Decorate and Andrea from Design Morsels. If you’re coming over from Decorate and More with Tip, welcome! And if you haven’t already, be sure to check out all of the unique crafts created by the talented ladies on this hop. The links to their blogs is at the end of this post.
How to Make a Dollar Tree Pumpkin Truck Sign
I had a lot of fun with this project! Best of all, most of the items that I used I already had on hand. It cost me a whopping $2 to make this sign 🙂
Here’s What You’ll Need:
- unpainted 1×8 board – mine measures 28 1/2 inches long
- pumpkin truck wood cutout
- “Harvest” word cutout (mine is from Dollar Tree)
- vaseline and a Q-tip
- white chalk paint (I used Dixie Belle in Fluff)
- assorted colors of craft paint
- assorted sizes of paint brushes
- brown and clear wax (I used Dixie Belle)
- paper, #2 pencil, ballpoint pen, black sharpie and painter’s tape
- strong glue (I used Gorilla Glue)
Step 1.
Dip a Q-tip into a jar of Vaseline and run it around the edges of the board. This will cause a “resist” and the paint won’t adhere in those places. It will give the sign a worn look. This step is optional. I also used this technique on my antique looking stool.
It was a beautiful day, so I decided to work outdoors. As soon as I put my project down on the drop cloth, Mardi came over to “help”.
Step 2.
Paint the board with white chalk paint. I only applied one coat. Let dry at least a half hour.
Step 3.
Paint the truck however you’d like with the craft paint. I chose to paint mine green, my favorite color.
Step 4.
If you applied vaseline, sand the areas where you applied it to expose the wood underneath. Wipe away the dust with a damp cloth.
Step 5.
If you’re an artist and can draw the pumpkins freehand, go for it! I looked at some pumpkin drawings and drew these two (after several attempts) to use as a stencil.
Step 6.
Use a pencil to shade the back of the pumpkin drawings.
Step 7.
Tape the pumpkin stencils to the board in your desired location and trace with a ball point pen. The images will be transferred to the sign.
Step 8.
Paint the pumpkins. When the paint dries, trace the pumpkin outlines with a black sharpie. I also added some grass and brown highlights to the pumpkins.
Step 9.
Paint the word your desired color. I chose black because it really stands out against the white board. My Dollar Tree “Harvest” word is metal, so it took three coats.
Step 9.
Brush the board with a combination of brown and clear wax, then buff with a clean rag. This will give it a slightly aged look and tone down the bright white. It will also seal the paint.
*Note: I thought the dark wax would darken the wood exposed from sanding the board. I didn’t get the result I was hoping for, so I would recommend staining the board with wood stain before painting it white.
Step 10.
Apply glue to the back of the truck and word, then adhere them to the sign in your desired location. Done!
I styled the sign on the shelves in our living room amongst my ironstone collection. I ran out of time to run to the store for real pumpkins, so I used my pumpkin candles, that were part of last year’s Pumpkin Masquerade Tablescape.
Thanks for stopping by today! I hope you liked my Dollar Tree Pumpkin Truck and found some crafting inspiration. For more ideas, don’t forget to visit the links below. Next on the hop is Carol from Bluesky At Home.
All the Best!
Rebecca
Celebrate and Decorate – Dollar Store Skull
Design Morsels – Mummy Door Decoration
Chas’ Crazy Creations – Breast Cancer Awareness Wreath
Birdz of a Feather – Cement Planter DIY
My Thrift Store Addiction – Thrifty Tips for Crafting Seasonal Pillows
B4 and Afters – Crochet Scarf Patterns
Debbees Buzz – Elegant Black Pumpkins
The Painted Apron – Trick Or Treat Creations
My Hubbard Home – Rustic Autumn Craft
Purple Hues and Me – Whimsical Scarecrow
My Family Thyme – Stamped Tea Towels
Our Crafty Mom – Halloween Tiered Tray Ideas
Raggedy Bits – How To Make Wooden Halloween Pumpkins
Home Is Where the Boat Is – Halloween Witch Craft
Decorate & More with Tip – Simple DIY Pumpkin Pillow
Zucchini Sisters – Pumpkin Truck Sign
BlueskyAtHome – DIY Pumpkin Wreath
Your sign turned out so cute! I guess I need to go to the dollar store. I love how your dog helped you out with the painting. Thanks for taking part in the hop.
Thanks Andrea! Yes, Mardi always wants to be a part of whatever I’m doing. Thanks for putting together another great craft hop!
What a cute sign! Perfect to see in Fall!
Thanks Sam! I’m pretty happy with how it came out.
This turned out so cute, Rebecca! I love dollar store projects, too. Pinned & tweeted! Blessings, Cecilia @My Thrift Store Addiction
I can’t get enough DT crafts…so many possibilities! Thanks for the pin and tweet, Cecilia!
Oh SO cute Rebecca and what an adorable sign for fall! I don’t visit my local Dollar Tree often enough! Happy to be hopping with you this week ♥
Thanks Mary! DT is hit or miss for me…the day I found the truck was a great day! It was fun hopping with you, too 🙂
Rebecca, this is so darn cute! I never even saw those little truck cutouts at my Dollar Tree stores! Your little sign is so cute and such fun to create…even with a little help!
Thanks Chloe! The trucks must’ve sold out quickly everywhere. I’m going to look for them extra early next year. The dogs were really enjoying the weather that day. I finally had to put them back inside to stop the photo bombing!
This is so cute Rebecca! Fall is my favorite season, and I love those little trucks… and pumpkins! Wonderful crafting with you and thanks for sharing!
Thanks Chas! Fall is my favorite season, too 🙂
Rebecca, your adorable sign has been itching to head to DT to see if I can score one of the truck cutouts. Sistah B would love one to accompany the harvest grapevine wreath I made her (it features a metal truck also carrying pumpkins). What a great idea and fun project. Thinking if I can get the supplies, it’s something I can make while couch and chair-bound after my surgery.
This would be a great craft to make while you’re recuperating, Debbee! If DT doesn’t have any trucks left, you can order some on Amazon. It would definitely compliment Sistah B’s harvest grapevine wreath!
Rebecca, like Carol, I wish I had seen it at the Dollar Tree. I guess I visited the nearby store too late 🙁
Your sign came great and I really like the green truck. It’s a nice change from the red you usually see, and it goes well with the orange pumpkins.
Thanks Rachelle! I was lucky to find even one truck. We’ll all have to shop DT extra early next year! I liked how the orange pumpkins and green truck looked together, too 🙂
What a clever way to create a sign using items from the dollar store! Looks lovely and perfect to welcome Fall!
Thanks Gail! I do love Dollar Tree crafts 🙂
Super cute Rebecca!! The perfect fall decoration and the sign is great for a shelf! I loved the vaseline tip, I will remember that, thank you!
Thanks Jenna! I was inspired by your pumpkin crate last month and wanted to try my hand at painting pumpkins. The vaseline does work well for that aged look.
Great sign and I love your tip ab out the vaseline resist. So smart!
Thanks Sara! The vaseline does work very well.
Rebecca, your sign is so cute. I wish I had seen it at Dollar Tree. I love the green for the truck. Your painted pumpkins are great. You are a better artist than you think.
Thanks Carol! It took some practice to get the pumpkins just right. I appreciate the compliment, though!