Skip to content

Project Details:

SC Mobile Survey Tall - Image 1


  Extreme Invitations - LeftNav - WYSI - Image 1    


 

Pennsylvania German Hex Sign

hex sign 010
  • hex sign 010

By zowi420

2 October 2011

I painted my little 8x8 gambrel goat barn red with white trim...the back of the shed was just dying for a 'hidden' decoration! My dad is Pennsylvania German decent....so I feel a connection there. And the only person who can see this my neighbor on the "dead end road"....and that is only in the winter when there are no leaves on the trees. So, I started by leaving a 3 foot unpainted circle, which I filled in with white. I then looked on the internet and in books for a hex sign I liked. I picked this common "Daddy Hex", because it is colorful, and represents 12 months of good luck, and who couldn't use that? I then added the inner circle (red), the rim (brown) the 8 inner petals (blue, yellow, orange, and red), then the 12 large petals (they are 2 colors each) then finished with the triangle shapes that go all around the edges. I started off by making stencils with posterboard, and using a sharpie marker directly on the barn....then I got tired of that and just started "winging it"....I was worried about how it would look, but I am actually pleased with the results! I put this on my facebook page and nobody believed I'd painted it! And it only took 1 day. I used Folk Art craft paint at 97 cents a bottle...total cost of project was $6. and I have lots of leftover paint. I have painted other outdoor items with this paint and it holds up very well. Even my 76 year old dad thought it was great!

Instructions

STEP 1:

You need a wall with a blank space, you can make this any size you desire. I have some small store bought hex signs that are only about 12 inches in diameter. Mine is three feet across. I wanted it pretty big. Paint the circle white. Then find a hex sign that you like, and make yourself some stencils with an ex acto knife. Gather the paint colors you need and a small paintbrush. My sign is about 12 feet off the ground, so I also used a ladder. Then just get to it! I used a black marker to outline my stencils, then I painted everything in, doing all the red first, then the orange, etc, one color at a time, letting each color dry before starting the next.

Related Resources

Google "Pennsylvania Dutch Hex Signs" or go to your local library for ideas of different hex signs. There are many different kinds: Flowers, birds, horses, words, or just plain designs like mine. Pick one that is special to you!

Comment this Project

Materials List

  • Folk Art Paint in 5 colors
  • Small paintbrush
  • poster board or cereal boxes for stencils
  • scissors or knife for cutting out stencils
  • Black Magic Marker

Themes & Classifications

Heritage, Outdoors,

Submit a Project
ScrapbookingPaper CraftingStampingJewelry & BeadingKids CraftsGeneral CraftsBrowse by: Theme

You are now leaving Spotted Canary to visit a partner site.