Pottery barn typewriter art knock off

I am so excited that I finished this project this week. I have been in the process of making it for a few weeks now, mostly because I needed some help from the hubby and he doesn't work on the same schedule that I do! I love this typewriter key wall art from Pottery Barn, and thought for sure I could make something like it for a fraction of the cost.

This is my version. I think it's pretty darn close!

I started by searching on-line and knew there would have been someone who managed to recreate this. I stumbled upon Nikki at dream.design.create and found her post here . Nikki even offered to send me the pdf file for the letters, which I think look a whole lot like the PB original. So that's where I started. Wasn't that sweet?! Nikki's blog is great, go check it out if you haven't already. I love their bingo art re-make and can't wait to try that too!

I had my husband print the letters/numbers off on 8 1/2x11 cardstock in a cream color. I couldn't figure out how to print cardstock on our home computer, so I am thankful that my husband could do it at work. Then I hand cut each letter out.

My husband picked up this board at Home Depot for me. It's 24x24. I thought for sure that I could use some scrap lumber for this project, but my husband insisted on getting a higher quality plywood. It cost around $5 for the board. Then he drew the lines on and used a saw to cut them out. Not sure how, I told him what I wanted and how I wanted it, and he did it! I love it when husbands do what they are told!







I then took brown oil paint mixed with odorless mineral spirits and painted the board. I wanted it a bit darker than the original, and focused on the edges to make a more antiqued look. I must say, this is the step that intimidated me the most. I don't use decorative painting techniques very often...o.k. ever, so it made me nervous. I used an old rag dipped in the mineral spirits to rub the paint down a bit and give it my desired look. In the picture below, you can see it getting started.



Don't forget to get a smaller brush and get inside the creases. I also wasn't sure if I wanted to frame the board or not, so I painted the outside edges too.


My husband then took the dry board and nailed black carpet tacks to each corner. He made the hole first with a regular nail and then was able to just push the tacks in. He's a genius isn't he?!

Can you believe that I haven't ever used mod podge before? This is my first jar and I fell in love! It's so easy to use.

I just took the letters and numbers, placed them centered on each square and brushed them down.




And here it is drying. What do you think, should I frame it or leave it frameless?









update: you can download the font for the letters here. 

76 comments

Gillian said...

Absolutely outstanding!!! Genius. I NEVER tackle huge projects like that... BRAVO!!!

Natalie Meester said...

am loving this! Thanks for the great ideas I will be making one of these soon.

Natalie

Laura said...

This turned out great!! Thanks for linking up to Saturday is Crafty Day @ along for the ride! Hope to see you back next week!

Kathie said...

it's beautiful! I think framing it will make it look even more like the original inspiration piece. Nice job!

Leenda said...

It's awesome! I so wish I had a handy hubby who could cut something like that out for me! lol

Unknown said...

Nice! Love the color you got out of that wood and stain.

Tracy said...

wow I love it when you doing a number one to match

Unknown said...

oh, and frame it out.....a nice thin black frame might be nice

Amanda Griffith said...

This is awesome! So clever :)

Jennifer said...

That's wonderful! I like it without a frame . . .

Unknown said...

Your version is wonderful! No joke, it's so neat. Good for you!!

Nancy

Unknown said...

Looks AWESOME!! Love it when the hubbies do all the hard work for us...ummm...I mean, show an interest in our projects. hehehe
Really came out nice!

Stephanie Lynn @Under the Table and Dreaming said...

Thsi looks amazing! Every detail is perfect! Thanks for linking to the Sunday Showcase! Hope you have a great week! ~ Stephanie Lynn

FrouFrouBritches said...

That looks GREAT!

Megan Gunyan said...

Frameless! So cute! Great job...!

Angie Holden said...

Gorgeous!! It doesn't even need a frame!!

Kaysi said...

Wow that looks awesome!!

Yolanda said...

Why frame it? It's perfect! Thanks for sharing and making it look easy enough for me to try it. I know just where to put it - yahoo!

girl meets carpenter said...

LOVE this!! I'll be heading over to Nikki's blog now too! You did a great job!

Michelle said...

That came out great much better than PB!
I need to try one someday!
XoXO
Michelle

Unknown said...

I absolutely love this. I have to make one. I hope I can get some help from the hubby. You did a great job.
Brooke

Roeshel said...

It's beautiful! You did a great job and thanks so much for the helpful tutorial! Love it and it's definitely better than the PB one!

Thanks for sharing your creativity in the DIY Project Parade! :)

Roeshel

Nikki said...

Fantabulous!!!!!!!!!!!! LOVE it!!!!!

I found you at trash to treasure, but I'd love you to link this up at my new link party tomorrow! :)
www.nikkisniftyknacks.blogspot.com

Marianne said...

It looks great! And I wouldn't frame it, I like this look!

raggygirlvintage said...

Looks fantastic, very professional!
Tracey

Lisa B. said...

I think it looks wonderful. Great job.

Unknown said...

This is so cool - looks great!

Katie P said...

Very cool! I love how it's so unique but based off another idea!

~Katie P
http://foodwineandmodpodge.blogspot.com/

pammyjo said...

OMGosh ... love love love your project. Very creative and fun. You rock!

Sumo @ Sumo's Sweet Stuff said...

I love this! I'll be featuring it on my blog on Saturday! Thanks for linking up!

http://sumossweetstuff.blogspot.com

House Queen said...

Girl...you did awesome!!! Hey...I am a new follower ! so glad to find you! And...I am sharing ideas I love on my blog today...check in a little later to see where I am linking to this! Hope you have a most fab day!!!

Sandy said...

Looks better than PBs!

Carolyn @ My Backyard Eden said...

Love this! It turned out better than the original!

Thanks for sharing at My Backyard Eden!

Melanie said...

AHH!! I'm so excited! I totally had this on a list of things I wanted to try! I'm so glad you figured it out! Yay!

Pauline Wiles said...

Great job and your husband is a treasure, for sure. I'd suggest you leave it unframed, I think.

Pam - @diy Design Fanatic said...

Awesome project!

The Stylish House said...

Rachel,
I found you via the power of paint party and when I saw your thumbnail scooted right over. You did a fantastic job! I'm impressed and like your version better then PB.
Cathy

Miss Mustard Seed said...

Your board turned out great! What a great knock off.

Becky@Beyond The Picket Fence said...

I love this, what a great copycat. I like the darker, richer colors of yours better! Thanks so much for linking up to my Under $100 party.

Fawnda@Fireflies and Jellybeans said...

BEAUTIFUL! What a great project! I love it! :)

Ocean said...

I absolutely LOVE it!!! Looks great!

coastal cavegirl said...

I LOVE this!!! I'm a sucker for a good knock off! I'm stopping by from New Friend Friday at The Girl Creative...love your blog and I'm now following!

Funky Junk Interiors said...

I LOVE this! It's much more amazing than your inspiration piece. Yours has a really cool 3D element to it.

I sure want to know how your hubby scored the wood like that! Can you ask?!? :)

Thanks for linking this up to SNS!
FJ Donna

chris said...

What a fun project. Way to finish!

Coleen's Corner said...

I agree with Donna... yours is MUCH better than the inspiration. Wow!

Sueann said...

This is gorgeous! You and your hubby did a fabulous job!!! Thanks for the inspiration!
Hugs
SueAnn

Tonya said...

In LOVE!! I really like the darker color and the added detail like the carpet tacks and the fact that you cut the wood not just painted a line. I definitly think no frame but that's jus me it's a wonderful piece. I have it in my inspiration book to make one day. Thanks for a great tutorial on it and the awesome pictures! I have stumbled across your blog a few times now and it's great, I'm so following you!

Anita @ GoingALittleCoastal said...

I really like this! You and hubby did a great job! I think it looks great without the frame. Either way it's fabulous!

Jax @ AlyandAsh said...

Ok this looks incredible and I honestly side by side I would purchase your version vs. the PB version! I love it!

I'm hosting a link party for Mod Podge Projects this weekend! I'd love for you to come link up!

http://alyashcreations.blogspot.com/2010/05/crafty-crafty-ladies-night-link-party.html

Kendra@Creative Ambitions said...

This is a great piece! You did a terrific job on it! Love it!

KimMalk said...

What a fun project - it turned out so nicely.

Scottfamily said...

Absolutely Fabulous! I just love old typewriters so this grabbed my attention right away. What a sweet and supportive husband you have! I can't believe how great it turned out and that you hadn't used mod podge before. You are one talanted lady who is not afraid to take a chance. This was my first visit and I can't wait to see what you do next.

Lori said...

WOW!!! This is wonderful..

Thanks for joining Get Your Craft on Thursday. Please join me next week for another great party!

Unknown said...

I like your better than PB..the wood tone is yummy! Leave it as is.

Kolein said...

I like your version better!!!! It's amazing!!

First time here from Funky Junk's SNS!!!

I vote: No frame.

~Kolein

Angela said...

Just stumbled across your blog and lovin' it:) I think this is great!I think it looks wonderful just the way it is, good vintage vibe. Have a great day

Unknown said...

Thank you all for the sweet comments!

To answer your question about how the grooves were made, my hubby says he used a skill saw with a very shallow blade setting. He says he clamped a board down so that he could make a staight line. Hope that helps!

L~ said...

I love seeing all the diff. interpretations of the original PB pc! I love yours! :)

Ck out mine too! :)
http://prim4him.blogspot.com/2010/04/i-bought-pb-type-keys-wall-art.html

L~

Fawnda@Fireflies and Jellybeans said...

I just wanted to let you know that I featured your here:

http://firefliesandjellybeans.blogspot.com/2010/05/sunday-spotlight-soys-favorites.html

mylittlegems said...

AMAZING first modge podge project! This is actually on my list of stuff to make- ever since I saw it in PB. But I have vinyl lettering...however- I may try to get those letters- love it love it love it! Thanks for sharing!

Allison @ House of Hepworths said...

Wow, I LOVE it! I'd love for you to share it at my link party this Thursday!!!

Stacey said...

I love your tutorial on this. I have been planning to make this since last Fall when I first saw it in a PB catalog. Yours turned out fab...mine is still on my to do list. Thanks for sharing at 'Look at me, I'm SO Crafty!' at Fun to Craft.

Niki said...

I think yours looks even better than the Pottery Barn version!!!

A.J. said...

I like yours better too! What a cool project.

Ann @ makethebestofthings said...

Absolutely outstanding! The extra work your husband put incising the lines puts it over the top and it looks great! I have to try this but I am running out of wall space/display area. Perhaps I could do several smaller signs using each line of letters? Love this, I am impressed!

Unknown said...

Very, very cool!! What a great job! I love your version. I think it's better than the PB one. I wouldn't frame it. I like just like it is now. And yup, hubby's who do what you tell them, ROCK! :)

Laura at Ms. Smartie Pants said...

I love this! How amazing, it looks better than the pottery barn one if you ask me! Totally cool!!!

Unknown said...

Love this and LOVE your blog! Would you be willing to share the pdf/jpeg of the letters? I am dying to try and convince the hubby help me recreate your masterpiece.

Erin said...

I am in love with this and plan on doing it myself. May I link to you when I finish my own creation?

SewPaperPaint said...

Your hubby deserves extra dessert today! Great job!!!

michaela hoenigman said...

How did he "print" the letters off? Is there a download somewhere? I have been attempted to make this another more complicated way and had to just throw it all away! PLEASE HELP!
ahmh61398@gmail.com

Jen V. said...

That is so cool and way better than Pottery Barn's version!!

~alicia said...

I think this turned out terrific and looks better than the PB version for sure!

~alicia
proof-of-love.blogspot.com

Proper Prim said...

Rachel, just wanted to let you know I linked this project on my blog.

Thanks so much for posting this it was a great help. I made a few variations on mine and added the tutorial for cutting the grooves.

Thanks again.

Hugs, Deb

jen said...

this looks fantastic!

www.fauxtreschic.blogspot.com

Our Pinteresting Family said...

I found your site and gorgeous project through Pinterest. It's absolutely amazing and looks better than the original. :) Megan

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