Permission to Paint: Rustic Wood Pallets

Knots, nail holes, and rough spots often add character to a piece.

Have you ever looked at a plain piece of wood and wondered if it could become something beautiful? This month, I want to give you permission to paint on something other than canvas--a simple 10" x 10" wood pallet.

Recently, I painted a rustic American flag on one, and I absolutely love how it turned out! The wood had natural imperfections, and instead of trying to hide them, I let them become part of the design.

One of the things I like most about painting on wood is that it doesn't have to be perfect. In fact, the knots, grooves, and rough spots often can add character and charm. I chose not to sand my pallet because I wanted that rustic, weathered look. If you prefer a smoother surface, you can certainly sand it first, but don't feel that you have to.

Here are the materials I used:

Wood pallet (any size, mine was 10 x 10")

Red, white, and blue acrylic paint

Wooden stars of various sizes (I got mine from Amazon)

Natural, red, and blue raffia (I had leftovers from a previous project)

Patriotic ribbon (More leftovers)

Glue gun

Masking tape

Ruler

Pencil

One inch flat paint brush

My Process:

First, paint the white wooden stars you want to use a solid white. I used a large one for the center, and five or six smaller ones of various sizes. While these are drying:

Using a ruler and a pencil, lightly draw the blue field for your stars, sizing it to fit your pallet. Do the same for the stripes. I ended up with six stripes. Remember, this is not an exact replica of our flag, it's a rustic interpretation.

Next, tape around the blue field, protecting the stripes area.

Then paint this area blue. For a rustic affect, use a dry brush technique, allowing the wood to show through in some areas. Let this dry completely before removing the tape.

Next, tape off the red stripes, covering areas that will be the white stripes. Paint the red areas using the same dry brush technique. I also mixed in a little darker red here and there for depth. Let this dry completely before removing the tape.

Remove the tape, and then tape off the areas that will be white. Paint the white stripes, using the same dry brush technique. I added a tiny bit of light gray here and there to the white stripes to add depth. After drying remove all tape.

Now position the wood stars on the blue field in a pleasing design and glue them on. (I placed a large one in the center, and several smaller ones of various sizes around it).

For embellishment, cut a piece of patriotic ribbon about 6 inches long and butterfly the ends. Gather the ribbon in the middle and tie with a piece of raffia. Glue this is the middle of the largest star. Finally, take a few pieces of raffia (all the colors together), make a simple bow and glue on top of the ribbon. You are done!

I love projects like this, because they remind me that beauty isn't always found in perfection. Sometimes it's found in the unique qualities that make something different. I often think about how God created each of us differently. Just as every piece of wood has its own grain pattern and character, every person has unique gifts and abilities. God doesn't ask us to be identical. He delights in variety and creativity.

If you've never painted on wood before, I encourage you to give it a try. A small pallet is inexpensive, easy to work with, and makes a wonderful seasonal decoration or gift. You could paint a flag, a barn, flowers, a welcome sign, or even a favorite Bible verse. Leave the imperfections and embrace the rustic look. Try something new. You may be surprised by what a simple piece of wood can become.

From my pallet to yours,

Happy painting!

Vicky