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15 April, 2012

DIY Vintage French Number Plaques

046 Here’s something my friend Linda at Nina’s Nest and I have been talking about for a while…those wonderful vintage French enamel number plates! But…they are hard to find and if you do find them, they are expensive!

French numbers love And there’s a reason…in France, you have to get those great blue and white house numbers from the mayor’s office to match your address! Yep! There are a few sites that sell them…none of which appear to be in the US… but they are not cheap. Me, I love the oval white ones with black numbers...probably from a hotel or apartment door. Sooo…I finally decided to make them myself. (Photo from How to Spend It )

oval 27-tile
First task, create the graphic…and here it is! I used the Modern No. 20 font because I love the look of the numbers! It’s not a free download, but it is one of the fonts included with Photoscape. I chose these numbers because they were the frenchiest!
First, print them and glue them to poster paper with rubber cement. It doesn’t wrinkle and the excess can be rubbed off.
Next, cut them out very carefully and punch holes at each end.
Then add several coats of Mod Podge, smoothing out any wrinkles that appear and drying with a hair dryer in between coats.
Finally, finish them off with three coats of Polyurethane to give them an enamel-like shine.

037 Baby Kitty finds it interesting that I am using my cookbooks as props since they don’t get much use otherwise! Hmmm

003 I added the numbers to all of the baskets on my guest bedroom shelf.

002 I think it adds a little interest, especially since the baskets are mostly filled with black and white objects...like my sheet music ornaments and my vintage French script fruit.

003 And here’s a final look! Not too bad for free, huh?

Thanks for stopping by! I hope you enjoyed a little peek at my frenchy numbers! Please visit these wonderful bloggers and their beautiful blogs to see what they are up to and to find a list of this week’s participants!
Stephanie Lynn at Under the Table and Dreaming for the Sunday Showcase Party
Sarah at Thrifty Decor Chick for Before and After Monday (first Monday of the month)
Mary at Boogieboard Cottage for Masterpiece Monday
Susan at Between Naps on the Porch for Metamorphosis Monday

Marty at A Stroll Thru Life for Tabletop Tuesday
Beth at The Stories of A2Z for Tutorials and Tips Tuesday
Linda at Coastal Charm for Nifty Thrifty Tuesday

Anita at Cedar Hill Ranch for Cowgirl Up on Tuesdays
Kim at Savvy Southern Style for Wow Us Wednesdays
Judy at DIY by Design for Swing into Spring

Gina at The Shabby Creek Cottage for Transformation Thursdays
Sherry at No Minimalist Here for the Open House Party on Thursdays
Cindy at My Romantic Home for Show and Tell Friday
Courtney at French Country Cottage for Feathered Nest Friday
Honey at 2805 for Potpourri Friday

Heather and Vanessa at At the Picket Fence for Inspiration Friday
Debra at Common Ground for Vintage Inspiration Friday
Sherry at The Charm of Home for Home Sweet Home Friday
Donna at Funky Junk Interiors for Saturday Nite Special

See you next time! A la prochaine!

56 comments:

  1. Very cute! How organized you are with your cookbooks.

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  2. These are great! Thanks for sharing how you made them.
    Love them on the flower pot!

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  3. I thought they were metal until you said otherwise, Debbie. I'm thinking, "how did she diy metal number tags?". Ha! : ) They look great on your baskets. I found a couple of round number ones on Etsy for a few metal buckets I had found at Goodwill.

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  4. There you go again with your smart ideas. I love them.

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  5. Another winning idea from you, Debbie! They DO look like a metal tag. :-)

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  6. Another really neat idea that you came up with:)

    Blessings,
    Linda

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  7. Oh my goodness Debbie these are fantastic... going on the list of things to do..dresses those baskets right up.. hugs ~lynne~

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  8. These are darling...so Frenchy!

    XO,
    Jane

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  9. You are one clever and thrifty lady, Love them!! xo Kathysue

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  10. I can't believe they're not metal! I'm sharing this idea with my daughters. Great girl's weekend project!

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  11. Another fabulous project, Debbie! How do you do it? Thanks for the how to. laurie

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  12. these are perfect and look exactly like the real thing!!

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  13. These look so great! You always have the best ideas. hugs, Linda

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  14. Thanks for the great idea! I found I could click on your numbers and then print from there. I'm not so techy and the other way I tried didn't give me the full plaque!

    It's a rainy day here in MN so I guess I have something fun to do!!!

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  15. Debbie, what a great idea and I think you've done a terrific job with these. I love, and think this idea is so creative. The numbers look great on your baskets. If you told me you paid $$$ for them I would believe it, that good! Thanks for sharing another great idea.

    ~Emily
    The French Hutch

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  16. You are amazing! I love these, and oh how I wish I could be that organized! Happy Sunday Debbie.

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  17. Fabulous idea. I was thinking you had found some metal plaques. Look great. Thanks for sharing, Ginger

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  18. Debbie, they look FAN-tastic! Honestly, love 'em! You should sell them....they are way more affordable than the $31 ones! Linda

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  19. Debbie,
    I love your challenge to...make it on your own!!! These are marvelous! Thanks for sharing!
    Fondly,
    Pat

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  20. So happy to see I am not the only person owning the same cook books! Mostly for show as well.... Thanks for the tutorial! I need a new way to display my collection of cookbooks!

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  21. I too love those French enameled number plaques. I've bought and sold a few over the years but never thought of trying to make them myself! I love all of your projects!
    Karee

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  22. Hi Debbie! Man, you're good. These look wonderful and do look like metal. I'm so glad Baby Kitty is such a good helper.
    Be a sweetie,
    Shelia ;)

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  23. Great idea, Debbie! I am adding this to my project list.
    Hugs, Sherry

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  24. Love these Debbie. You always come up with the neatest projects. You just amaze me.

    Nann

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  25. Fantastic Job- Thanks for sharing your how to!

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  26. I was just sitting here thinking about what kind of craft I might try today....you just gave it to me. Thanks Debbie, this one is a keeper for sure and so simple.

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  27. Those are just the perfect little detail that brings a display all together. So cool.

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  28. Oh Miss Debbie, their perfectly precious!!! What a grand idea!

    God bless ya and have a glorious week sweetie!!! :o)

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  29. These look fantastic! I love those enamel numbers too. Great idea.

    Have a lovely week!
    Deborah

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  30. LUV this project!!!! Truly looks like the real thing!!!! Thanks for sharing another great project, Debbie!

    xoxo laurie

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  31. What a great project, it has so many applications! It does look like the real thing, thanks for sharing, Laura

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  32. I do so love your Frenchy numbers! Thanks for the how-to.

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  33. I love how your numbers turned out. So affordable!
    Mary Alice

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  34. You are so clever Debbie! Love these number tags- they could be used to doll up so many things!

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  35. Bravo, my dear. I just featured this on the ranch's FB page. You have the best ideas Debbie.

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  36. Love this! Love your blog! laura@imnotatrophywife.com

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  37. Great tutorial on the French numbers. I absolutely love the real enamel numbers. I have a few of them, but you are right, they can get pricey!

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  38. How cute! I love all your wonderful ideas for sure!

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  39. You are so clever Debbie. These are fabulous!

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  40. What an awesome idea. I am such a fan of these, but you are right.....they are so expensive! Thanks for providing such an awesome tutorial!

    blessings,
    karianne

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  41. Love your idea. I am adding this project to my summer to do list.

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  42. Those tags are wonderful. I love the look. Thanks for sharing at DIYbyDesign.

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  43. Wow, that picture had me fooled. I thought for sure you'd be getting out the tin snips to make these. How nice to find out that it is actually doable for the average DIYer. Thanks for the tutorial.

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  44. That is a great idea - I am a numbers addict so I must try this!
    I would love if you stopped by my party to link up - I would love to have you there!
    Stacey of Embracing Change
    http://staceyembracingchange.blogspot.com

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  45. Thank you, thank you. We have traveled all over Europe, and I never understood why we Americans didn't have their cute house numbers on our homes. I can't wait to make some of these for the inside of my home.

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  46. Simple and AWEsome! They look great!
    <3 Christina

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  47. Very cute! I have always loved these too, and I'm with you, I like the white ones the best.
    Thanks for the fantastic tutorial! I need to try and make some. :-)
    xo-Lisa

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  48. Love these. thanks for the tutorial.

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  49. These are great. I love them and the font for the numbers. Thanks.

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  50. Awesome idea!! pinning! Thank you for joining me at Home Sweet Home!
    Sherry

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  51. Oh my word!! Thank you so much for the printable! Printing these right now and will be labeling/numbering everything! Thank you thank you thank you!

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Thanks so much for stopping by and taking the time to comment! I appreciate my wonderful readers!... Debbie