Easy NOEL Wall Art

I've always admired Pottery Barn's metal 'Noel' sign, but it's a bit out of my price range ($149, ouch) and it's apparently unavailable now. Sadness. I've seen lots of creative blog types make their own version, so when I stumbled across 12" MDF letters at Michaels in a similar style, I had to grab them and get my seasonal DIY on.

The original sign is about 3' square, and so my version isn't quite as large but it's still nice and big.

 (Pottery Barn)

I admit, it was a bit touch and go figuring out how to connect the letters - the MDF was too thin for wood joiners, and because my letters E and L don't touch I had to make sure everything else was really strong. I finally had the best luck with pieces of 1/4" scrap and Gorilla Glue, weighed down with heavy buckets of rocks. I also made sure to add bits of scrap all around to help stabilize the letters and keep them from wobbling/weakening the joints.

I finished it up with some Rustoleum's hammered metal spray paint..

Then I simply hung my new Noel art where it could be admired! I might spray it again the spring when it's warmer, since temperature really seems to affect the hammered effect and I'd like bigger 'dimples' on the letters. (but we already know I'm a tad neurotic and get caught up in details...)

Each of the letters was $3.99, but I used a 25% off coupon so I got all four for $12, and I already had the spray paint. Twelve dollars is much more justifiable in my little world than $150!