I admit it: I’m obsessed with books. From library card catalog coffee tables to card catalog cabinet pulls, books are everywhere in our house — even if the living room shelf only shows a few. I grew up with a librarian for a mom, so it’s in my blood. I’ll also confess another influence: I was a band kid in high school. So when I can weave music into our décor, I’m thrilled — and a little nostalgic.
When the idea struck to bring one of my favorite songs into Olivia’s room, I couldn’t resist. I first heard LeeAnn Womack’s “I Hope You Dance” when I was 12, backstage at a Nutcracker show, and my friends and I would play it on repeat between numbers. Years later, after Olivia arrived, the lyrics took on a whole new meaning. They’re the kind of words you want your child to grow up hearing and remembering.
I found an oversized sheet music sign at RH Baby and Child that inspired me, but it wasn’t quite right: it was out of my price range, it was horizontal instead of vertical, and the song I wanted wasn’t available. The solution? DIY, of course. My husband is amazing at turning my ideas into reality, so we set out to make our own oversized sheet music sign.
Materials we used:
*affiliates
- 24×36″ 3/4″ particle board (cut to size)
- 1×2×8″ pine furring strips
- Brad nails and wood nails
- Nail gun or hammer
- Circular saw or jigsaw
- Black tea (I use Luzianne)
- DIY wood stain (tea, apple cider vinegar, and steel wool) or a store-bought stain
- 24×36″ engineer print from a copy shop for the sheet music
- A sheet music digital file for the song you want
- Matte Mod Podge
- Large craft or paint brushes and paper towels
We started with a piece of particle board cut to 24×36 inches to match the engineer print I ordered. Because we already had scrap particle board in the garage, we didn’t need to buy that piece, which kept the cost down.
My husband measured and cut lengths of 1×2 strips to attach across the back to reinforce the board and prevent bowing. He also cut strips for the sides and frame pieces. A nail gun would have sped the job up, but he used a hammer and brad nails and secured the strips around the edges and across the back for stability.
Once the basic frame was secured, I focused on the finish. I aged the frame pieces with my favorite homemade stain made from tea, apple cider vinegar, and steel wool. It’s simple to make and gives wood a softly weathered look without strong chemical smells. I also stained the edges of the particle board where the paper might show, to make the overall sign look cohesive.
About the sheet music: I purchased a legal digital copy of the sheet music for the song I wanted — a one-time download for personal use. I had that file printed as a 24×36″ engineer print at a copy shop. Engineer prints are an inexpensive way to get large-scale prints; the giant 24×36″ print cost just a few dollars where I had it made. A quick note on copyright: buying a single file to make a print for personal use is fine, but selling prints of copyrighted sheet music without permission could lead to legal trouble, so keep that in mind.
To give the paper an antique look, I brewed a cup of strong black tea and brushed it over sections of the engineer print, blotting with paper towels to keep the tone soft and even. After the paper dried overnight, I adhered it to the particle board using Mod Podge, smoothing out air bubbles as I worked from the top down. When the paper was secure, I sealed the surface with another coat of Mod Podge and let it dry completely.
The finished sign has lovely aged imperfections — the tea-stained paper and the subtle texture of the particle board combine to create a vintage feel. If you prefer a smooth finish, use plywood instead of particle board for a cleaner look. We made a second sign to complete the lyrics and plan to hang both together near Olivia’s mirror and DIY ballet barre.
Cost-wise, this project was very affordable. With materials we had on hand and the inexpensive engineer print, the sign cost under $20 — closer to $13 given the scrap particle board we reused. I’m already planning more oversized signs to hang around the house.
Maybe next time I’ll convert a favorite book page into wall art to satisfy my bookworm side. For now, my band nerd heart is content. Olivia may not notice the meaning behind the song yet, but one day she might.
Have you framed song lyrics or book pages in your home recently? What book page would you print to hang on your wall? Bonus question for fellow band nerds: what instrument did you play? I’ll start — Lauren: alto saxophone, plus colorguard flags and sabres. I miss the people; the uniforms, not so much.
Update: See the full bedroom makeover reveal here!
Follow:
Facebook | Pinterest | Instagram | Twitter | Google+ | Bloglovin | Hometalk