UPDATE
You can now purchase your very own CUSTOM quote art sign here.
I’m so excited to finally share this project with you guys!
I started dreaming-up this DIY and designing these free printables almost two years ago (yes, you read right, two years ago) after I published this post about my little DIY quote art sign.
Don’t ask me why it’s taken me sooooo long to finally get the project and printables done. Seriously, don’t ask me. I honestly have no decent answer :)
Anyhoo, I got there in the end, right? And I’m loving the way everything turned out.
I was inspired by some of the large farmhouse style book page quote signs I had seen on Pinterest…
Fable & Flame | Unknown
Some Googling around revealed that this style of wall art isn’t exactly cheap. Like around $400 not cheap. Yikes! Surely I could do a bit better than that.
All up this project cost me about $40 though you could easily do it for under $10 if you’re feeling extra thrifty. I’ve included some savvy tips and tricks in the info below.
PRINTING THE ARTWORK
There are heaps of places which offer printing services. If you’re not certain where to start looking, check out your local office supplies store or have a Google around for “print and copy services”. I’ve also seen some super affordable printing services being offered through eBay. You can visit a store in person or use an online upload interface. I personally prefer the ease and convenience of uploading my artwork online then having my print delivered directly to my door. This is maybe because my nearest print store isn’t exactly near-by.
For ease, I’ve designed these printables to fit within standard large poster frames (60cm x 90cm/24″ x 36″) however you may reduce or enlarge the size within reason to suit your particular needs (be aware that excessive re-sizing can result in a poor quality print).
You should be able to find a service which will print a full colour, large poster-sized print on decent paper for around $15 – $40. I used the Officeworks Colour Poster printing service. If you’re interested in making this project even more budget friendly, you could opt for a black and white engineering/plan print on bond paper for as little as $2 (you could then add some colour with a tea-stain, or similar). Alternatively, you could have it printed at premium quality onto a specialty material, such as canvas, for anywhere from $50 – $150. The options are almost endless.
For further printing information refer to my Free Printables series.
FRAMING THE ARTWORK
As mentioned above, to make things super easy for you guys, I’ve designed these printables to fit perfectly within standard large (60cm x 90cm/24″ x 36″) poster frames. If you’re unsure where to find large poster frames, check out your local dollar and discount department stores, do a quick Google search or head into Ikea – they have a few to choose from.
Of course, you can always DIY your own farmhouse style custom frame if you’d prefer (refer to my tutorial here – you simply need to up the scale and choose your desired framing wood), or use a thrifted frame as long as the aspect-ratio is compatible. You could also simply top-and-tail the print itself with some dowels and add a cute twine hanger to make a simple wall chart.
For the purpose of this blog post, I framed my printable in a standard large poster frame I found for $15 at a local discount variety store.
The faux wood frame was a little too perfect for my liking so I decided to attempt a farmhouse style makeover. I distressed it to make it look like reclaimed wood (I simply scratched it up with a serrated knife and banged it with some nails before lightly sanding it – similar to what I did here) then I stained it a warm brown.
I wasn’t sure how the laminate would respond to being distressed and stained though it actually worked really, really well!
For an authentic ‘sign’ look, I also removed the glass and affixed my print directly to the backing board using spray adhesive.
I’m offering eight printables in total; four different quotes in both sepia and chalkboard. As mentioned above, these are high resolution, large-scale images.
I chose these quotes because they’re a little bit unusual and something about them just spoke to me. I especially love the ‘Cherokee Legend’ which is the first one I designed.
Have you heard this one before? It’s so evocative.
Anyhoo, grab your free printables below. There are two separate files; one for the sepia images, and one for the chalkboard images.
I know it can be disheartening when budget restraints push the items you love out of reach, so if you’ve been coveting these lovely farmhouse style signs I hope my free offerings give you a little “squeee” moment and help make your walls beautiful.
UPDATE
As a budget-focused decorator and blogger, conjuring and sharing ways to “get the look for less” is something I relish. This project was no exception.
Originally, it was my belief that these artworks were merely part of the prevailing typography sign trend; mass-designed, mass-produced and mass-distributed. I have since learned the concept for these designs originated with a small business.
As such, although this style of quote art is now everywhere, I will not be offering any further bulk free printables in this exact style.
That said, I do plan to design and share further quote art of my very own (you can browse my other free printables here) and will continue to offer one-off custom book page signs as requested.
As always, if you have trouble or are unsure of anything, feel free to ask.
Oh, and I just wanted to let you know that the photos in this post are of my actual finished sign. I was looking at them and the artwork almost appears to be super-imposed. Believe me, it’s truly ruly real!
Free for personal non-commercial use only.
Click the below image to see and download my latest round of dictionary inspired free printable quote art signs!
OMG!!! I absolutely adore these. Thank you so much Kristine.
Thanks Rosey. You’re so welcome :)
I love anything by Dr Seuss so would love to see another one of his. This is so generous of you. I love your blog.
I also love the Dr Seuss Iconic statements. This is so lovely of you to do this Kristine. Thank you for your art, your sharing and your generosity of style.
Best regards
Lesley Fleming
Aw, too sweet, you’re welcome Lesley and thanks for the kind words.
I’m impressed. You’ve really raised the bar with that.
They look great! My favourite quote is below :
“If you trust in yourself. . .and believe in your dreams. . .and follow your star. . . you’ll still get beaten by people who spent their time working hard and learning things and weren’t so lazy.” – Terry Pratchett
Love that one Lynne :)
Hi! I’m always late for everything..but wanted to share for those that are super thrifty…there is a site called -block posters- (didn’t know the rules on links so opted against..) but you can upload any image and then adjust ti your chosen dimensions and print any size from home. Takes a little fidgeting to get just right bc you’ll have to tape together(or go for the broken look which is great on some images) but will just cost you ink and paper…
Thanks Bobbie Jo. Yes, I’ve seen this one before. A great alternative if you would prefer to print at home.
You have one of my favorite blogs…I save all your stuff! Loved the barn doors in the laundry. And I’m still waiting to print that lovely oversized bird image. Oh and your storage jar labels are still the best out there!
My favorite quote:
If wishes were horses, then beggars would ride.
English Nursery Rhyme
But maybe it’s not long enough…
Sometimes it’s nice to have a short quote and some negative space in the artwork. It’s a great one :)
Thanks for your kind words.
I am 61 and heard this often from my grandmother. Still a favorite.
A party without cake is just a meeting.
– Julia Child
Sometimes the smallest things take up the most room in your heart.
– Winnie the Pooh
LOVE THIS DIY SOOOO MUCH!
– Me
Ha, ha. Love that last one Dawn ;)
Great choices!
Hi Dawn
Not sure if you saw though I have included the Julia Child quote in my latest round of free printable signs. You can find it here.
Thanks for the suggestion.
:)
I’m in love with your oversized book pages!
Everybody needs beauty as well as bread, places to play in and pray in, where nature may heal and give strength to body and soul. — John Muir
Lovely!
OH I love this project! Thanks so much for sharing!
I’ve always loved the Cherokee Legend too. And anything by Dr Seuss or Shel Silverstein.
Also:
Alice: How long is forever?
White Rabbit: Sometimes, just one second.
Lewis Carrol
Sometimes, your only available transportation is a leap of faith. Margaret Shepherd
Thank you so much for this great post! You have the best ideas!!
Great Susan. They’re fab ones!
These look amazing!
“The price of being a sheep is boredom.
The price of being a wolf is loneliness.
Choose one or the other with great care.”
Hugh MacLeod
Thank you so much for the wonderful art!
You’re so welcome Marla :)
Thank you so much for sharing ❤️
These are gorgeous 😍
Love when I see a young lady come up with a fantastic idea…just love it….
So simple and so meaningful…you could of invented the hula hoop…smiles
Ha, ha. You’re way too kind Penny, Thank you lovely lady :)
Ok. Are you wearing a tinfoil hat with antennae? Cause you have read my mind – again! I even have those exact pictures posted to my Pinterest board. Love, love, love this idea, but have been waiting to look into an app to print my saying in a large size. Well… I guess that wait is over. I feel bad that you keep doing all the heavy lifting for me on these things! Truly. The frame distressing is the cherry on top. Thank you for what you do. The quote I want to do is “Whenever you find yourself doubting how far you can go, just remember how far you have come. Remember everything you have faced, all the battles you have won, and all the fears you have overcome.” ~ Unknown
Thanks so much Deb. Glad you like them and I hope they bring you joy!
:)
Oh my gosh. These are amazing!! And you are so kind to share…. I’m thinking about some possible quotes. I love quote art and recently did a huge piece with the lyrics to “Forever Young.” (on the blog)
Hi Marcie
Okay, when you say “recently” do you mean in the last few months? Sorry, I had a good look through your blog and IG account though couldn’t find it! Can you share the post URL? I’d love to see it :)
Kristine
x
Kristine, here is the blog post link http://madebymolliesmom.blogspot.com/2016/10/sometimes-i-wonder-and-bob-dylan.html
It was in October 2016 if the link doesn’t work. It’s a completely different style from your gorgeous quote art but it was fun to do!
Can’t wait to see what quotes are next!
Marcie
Oh, I love it. The different patterns and colour graduation are so clever. Very bold!
Thank you!
I love these pages! My daughter hears this quote from me all of the time, and I’d love to have it in your format:
“I’ve learned that people will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel.” Maya Angelou
Oh, LOVE that one! It’s a front runner for sure :)
You strike again! Thanks for sharing! ;)
LOL! Thanks Cynthia :)
Btw, absolutely LOVE the Cherokee quote!
Ha, ha. Thanks Cynthia :)
These are amazing!!!! I was wondering if there is any way I could buy an unframed copy of the Dr. Suess quote in the sepia? I would gladly pay you and then frame it myself?
Thank you!!
Hi Marilyn
I would be happy to help you out though it would be much more cost-effective (and save on any “travel” damage) if you simply have it printed yourself. Just download the “sepia” file I have offered in my post, save the Dr Seuss quote to a memory stick and take it to your local print center. I’m sure they will gladly help in ensuring it’s printed per your needs.
Let me know if you need any more info or help :)
Kristine
Thanks for getting back to me. I clicked on the link you had in your email for the printing company you used. I noticed their measurements are in in cm did you select the largest size available?
sorry for all the questions!
Hi again Marilyn
Given you’re based in the US you certainly don’t want to use the company I used – I’m in Australia! Don’t worry though, heaps of people don’t realise that.
I would suggest contacting Office Depot, Kinkos or Staples. These are three stores which offer printing services which I commonly see mentioned on US blogs.
Hope this helps.
Kristine
Kristine the printables are amazing but how you made that frame look rustic farmhouse is perfect! You are so clever – its is very inspiring!!
Just a quick question – when you ordered through Officeworks, did you select the A1 size to print on? Thanks
Hi Kelly
I chose B1 though I actually had this one printed in store because I was too impatient to wait for delivery!
If you plan to upload online, maybe just check how they scale/re-size for print (perhaps give them a call). Officeworks have specific paper sizes and recommend (require?) that files are scaled exactly. These printables are designed to fit a certain sized frame and do not exactly correspond with any of the Officeworks paper dimensions. I’m just not certain if the online Officeworks system will retain the image size or enlarge it automatically.
Hope this makes sense :)
You never fail to inspire Kristine. I am a quote-aholic but one of my favourites is;”Life is what happens while you are busy making other plans.” John Lennon made this one famous in his song Beautiful Boy but the origins of the saying are attributed to writer Allen Saunders.
I’d love to see the Mother Teresa quote “do it anyway”
Hi Sandi
Not sure if you saw though I have included the Mother Teresa quote in my latest round of free printable signs. You can find it here.
:)
That’s great– you are the best!!!! Thanks for letting me know.
I’m curious…..do you plan on doing any posters with a Christmas theme?
I’m going to have the Mother Teresa one printed but it would be fun to change it out seasonal too.
Yes, I had been contemplating some seasonal/holiday themes. Will get onto it!
life is tough
my darling,
but so are you.
(Probably centred because it’s a short phrase)??
I’ve also seen it done in all lowercase – it’s charming
I love your blog – you are so talented. And so sweet to open this project up to suggestions.
Oh these are gorgeous!!! Would it be okay to print them for display in my school library? That’s non commercial right?! The Indian one is the inspiration for one of my favourite ever young adult books, ‘Two Wolves’ by Tristan Bancks. I reviewed it here http://childrensbooksdaily.com/review-two-wolves/ Ever since reading this book I’ve adored this quote!
Of course Megan. That would be lovely. My husband is a teacher and he’s going to display the one I made in his school.
Do you happen to know much about the origin of the legend? I had a reader ask me if it’s a “genuine” Cherokee legend. I must admit, I’m really not sure.
what a thoughtful talented kind person you are…..I love your posts and if I see The painted hive …dive straight in. You make my day. Keep up your great work. Ps I love this post and will make them for my girls.
Ha, ha. That’s lovely to know. Thanks and I’m glad you like them :)
Awesome job! Going to print some of these out for sure. I would love quotes that I could put up in my kids’ bedrooms. Ages 7 and 10.
Sure thing Jane. Do you have any faves?
My favorite:
Do what you can,
With what you have,
Where you are.
~Teddy Roosevelt
Thanks for ALL your posts! You are awesome!
Thanks Kathy :)
My favourite quote….” I want to look back on my life andknow I did it justice ”
Long time reader of your blog & this post is up there….along with the labels & advent calendar x
Oh really? Thanks Bec. It’s been pretty popular so far. Glad you like it!
For the printing, try a reprographics shop (i.e., blueprint shop). I own two of them in So Cal, and all day long we print large-format prints. A FedEx Kinko’s in our area charges $6/sheet for what we charge $1.26/sheet.
Thanks for the suggestion Karen. I assume that is for black and white prints only?
Love these printables Kristine! Not only are the words intriguing but the sepia and chalkboard finishes suit them so perfectly. They look fantastic in your space!
I love this so much I can’t put it into words! One of my favorite quotes…………..What we think, we become. Buddha
Ha, ha, thanks Lori. I love that one. Similar sentiment to the Cherokee Legend.
Sorry, I meant ‘Jeanna’ of course! Just replied to Lori’s comment and still had her name on my brain!
These are so pretty!!!
Love!!!
What a wonderful gift you have graced us with. Thank you. Thank you! I teach high school English in Oklahoma and I like to treat/decorate my classroom like I would my home……Somewhere that I WANT to spend 8-10 hours per day. I have such fun stuff in my class. Now, I will add your wonderful book pages. We have quarters here (9 weeks x4) for our school year, so I think I will do a different one per quarter. Thank you so much!
My favorite quote: “Go out into the world and do well. But more importantly, go out into the world and do good.” (Minor Myers)
I love that one Lori. We have four terms of school here too. Changing them each quarter is a great idea. My husband is a teacher too and he is going to display this one in his office.
I love this!! What a wonderful project I will definitely be bookmarking for another day!!
I LOVE this. The cherokee legend really touched me. I plan on making one, maybe even two, of these prints. Thanks for making this available.
My favorite quote is one I read years ago before i married and it resonated with me.
“Let the wife make the husband glad to come home and let the husband make the wife sorry to see him go.” Martin Luther
That Cherokee Legend one is really thought provoking. Thanks for the suggested quote Shara :)
So lovely! And so kind for sharing your creativity! I could hang quotes on every wall in my house and still not have enough. I have been searching everywhere for a clean, classic look for this recent favorite: The Lion Chaser’s Manifesto
Quit living as if the purpose of life is to arrive safely at death.
Run to the roar.
Set God sized goals.
Pursue God given passions.
Go after a dream that is destined to fail without divine interventions.
Stop pointing out problem. Become part of the solution.
Stop repeating the past. Start creating the future.
Face your fears.
Fight for your dreams.
Grab opportunity by the mane and don’t let go!
Live like today is the first day and the last day of your life.
Burn sinful bridges.
Blaze new trails.
Live for the applause of nail-scarred hands.
Don’t let what’s wrong with you keep you from worshipping what is right with God.
Dare to fail.
Dare to be different.
Quit holding out.
Quit holding back.
Quit running away.
Chase the Lion.
–Mark Batterson
Wow, that’s quite a quote!
Thanks for the suggestion :)
Renee, that’s a thoughtful quotation. Thanks for sharing it.
❤️ This will soon be hanging prominently in my house.
Hi Kristine,
I love this project. I am having trouble downloading the links. Has anyone had any issues? When I click on the “sepia” link it opens up after about 5 minutes with endless amounts of random letters/numbers/characters. Any suggestions?
Hmmm, that sounds really strange. It should open in Google Drive with the name of the folder at the top of the page and a list of the included files beneath it. It only takes a few seconds for me. What type of device are you attempting to view it on?
Hi Kristine,
I changed my device. It is working fine now. Thanks for the reply.
Once again love this project. Thanks for sharing!
Oh great. Thanks for letting me know :)
I love the Cheerokee legend print. I can’t wait to try to print it out and frame it. What a beautiful design I have a perfect place to put it. Thank you!
I love that one too!
These are wonderful. Thank you for sharing so generously.
Instantly fell in love with this project. I love this look! Modern, personalized, with a flair of rustic. These would look great in so many different spaces. Thanks for sharing.
Thanks Charlotte :)
The real things haven’t changes. It is still best to be honest and truthful; to make the most of what we have; to be happy with simple pleasures; and to have courage when things go wrong.
Laura Ingalls Wilder
Love this!
So lovely!
Just noticed it should be The real things haven’t changed…oops!
I love these! Here is one related to unplugging, getting outside & exploring:
Outside lies utterly ordinary space open to any casual explorer willing to find the extraordinary. Outside lies unprogrammed awareness that at times becomes directed serendipity. Outside lies magic.”
—John Stilgoe, Outside Lies Magic
Love this. Thank you for sharing!
I would have to find it but there is an amazing quote from “The Hobbit” about home. Also, Mother Theresa’s quote ” if you want to bring happiness to the world, go home and love your family’, would be beautiful!
Yes, if you can find the Hobbit one that would be great – I love JRR Tolkein! The Mother Theresa one is lovely too.
I can’t get this project (& generous offer out of my head). So here’s another one AND it would make a great wedding gift!!!
It is never being too old to hold hands. It is remembering to say “I love you “. It is having a mutual sense of values and common objectives. It is standing together. Doing things for each other in the spirit of giving. It is speaking words of appreciation and showing gratitude and thought ways. It is cultivating flexibility, patience, understanding and a sense of humor. It is having the ability to forgive and forget. It is not marrying the right partner. It is being the right partner.
Correction- showing gratitude in thoughtful ways
If you can’t fly then run, if you can’t run then walk, if you can’t walk then crawl, but whatever you do you have to keep moving forward.
– Martin Luther King Jr
I can’t even tell you how much I love this one. Martin has been a hero of mine since I was a kid AND we share the same birthdate! But more recently I just sustained my second concussion in four years. And this quote is so so POWERFUL and such a needed reminder during this stage of recovery.
(Fingers crossed).
This is a powerful one! Thanks for all of your suggestions Sandi. I’m so glad you’re loving the project!
Ohhh these came out so well! I love what you did with the frame! It looks like it’s been around for years!
I know, right? It literally took one minute to make it look one hundred years old! Such a good fluke!
Love these! Thanks for sharing! One of my most favorite quotes is this one:
“Even after all this time the sun never says to the earth, ‘You owe Me.’ Look what happens with a love like that, It lights the Whole Sky.”
-Hafiz
I always thought this was such great advice to give newlyweds!
Aw, that’s a sweet one.
I love these so much! Thank you for sharing the process.
I loooove this project!
A favorite quote of ours is by Thomas Edison: “Opportunity is missed by most people because it is dressed in overalls and looks like work.”
My hard-working, overall-wearing farmer husband and I love this! :)
Ha, ha. That’s a good’n’ for sure!
These are great. Thank you.
A favorite quote of mine that I would love to see done this way is:
“The world is a book, and those who do not travel read only one page.”
Saint Augustine
Hi! I love this and I want to download, but it’s not working correctly-any ideas?
Hi Jayme
What’s happening exactly? Are you using a mobile device or computer? Let me know and I’ll try my best to help.
Kristine
Hi Kristine! I’m using an iPhone, would it work better from my lap top?
Thanks for such a fast response!
Yep, try your laptop. Some phones won’t have enough space to open the files (they’re pretty big) or the right application to view them (they are PDF’s).
Let me know if you still have trouble.
Kristine
That seemed to do the trick! Thank you so much :)