SALVAGED VINTAGE DRESSER DRAWERS REPURPOSED INTO A UNIQUE DIY RUSTIC WOOD SIGN.
It all started with a cute tin sign found at a gift shop during a trip to the Canadian Rockies. While I love the sentiment, I knew I needed to dress it up with a wood frame to make it more livingroom worthy.

That's when I remembered we saved the unused drawers from my parent's 1950s dresser that we turned into a faux apothecary cabinet. One of the drawers had the furniture makers stamp and I incorporated it into the sign because it serves as a sentimental reminder of where the salvaged wood came from.

DIY Rustic Wood Sign With Salvaged Drawers

I had three goals when designing the wood frame. It had to cost nothing to make, be unique, and have some rustic charm. When playing with the salvaged drawer configuration I decided...

Why can't those dovetail joints be exposed as a design element? 

Same with the grooves from the drawer bottoms and backs, they also add some interesting detail to the sign.

I found a vintage cabinet pull in my stash, salvaged from an old wall unit. But it was shiny brass, not the look I was going for. So I set out to change the patina with the same iron rust kit used on the leaves of my French Script Dollar Store Pumpkins.


So what do you think? Are the exposed dovetail joints too quirky? I think they make sense when you see the furniture makers stamp on the upper left corner and realize the sign is made from furniture drawers.


The Grandma tin sign definitely looks much better with a wood frame around it and I think the vintage salvaged wood is fitting.

What you'll need to make it

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Pictured below are the salvaged drawer pieces used to make the sign. The holes and gouges add to the rustic charm.

Salvaged Dresser Drawers With Furniture Makers Stamp

Here's how I made the DIY Rustic Wood Sign

First, the salvaged drawer wood was sanded smooth with a mouse sander. Then the boards were laid out on a work surface and configured so the dovetail joints were exposed on the outside edge. The boards were glued together with wood glue and clamped.


Once the glue cured I used painter's tape to map out where the tin sign would be glued onto the salvaged wood. Instead of stain, I brushed the areas outside the tin with dark wax and removed the excess with a lint-free rag. I did it this way because the glue won't bond over a wax surface.


The tin sign was attached with construction adhesive and nailed to the wood on each corner with small brown nails.


As I mentioned earlier the vintage pull I planned on adding to the sign as a decorative element had a bright brass finish. Wanting a more rustic patina I played with the Metal Effects Rust Kit and watched the magic happen. You can see in the photos below how in just three easy steps it went from shiny brass to an aged rusted iron patina.


Once the pull was completely dry (overnight) the hardware was screwed onto the sign. Last but not least, two D-ring picture hanging hooks were attached to the back and now Granda can hang her new but rustic handmade tin and wood sign in the living room.


If you have any questions about my rustic wood sign please leave them in the comment section below or press the Contact Me button at the top of the blog to drop me an email. I love hearing from you!



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