How to Create an Antiqued Sheet Music Sign

Making stuff look old is my jam (when I can’t find something that’s the real deal, that is). A while back, I was scrolling through a few different sites and saw a sign displaying sheet music – while it didn’t look old, it gave me an idea to create one for myself that had the patina (you know, the it’s-been-in-a-box-in-an-abandoned-shed-for-75-years) look I wanted. Not to mention, I hadn’t been to the craft store in a hot minute and I was due (I can feel Derek shaking his head at that one). Today, I’m sharing how to create an antiqued sheet music sign that you can enjoy for years to come (whether you’re a musician or not)!

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Create an Antiqued Sheet Music Sign: Supplies

There are a few renditions of this basic design but I’m going to share my own spin. You’ll be able to grab about everything from a standard craft supply store.

The piece that I made measures 18″ by 24″ so I chose to use a 22″ by 28″ inch poster board to give extra room to work (because we all know I’m a mess). The poster board works well fits into a standard frame backing really well and I used an 18″ by 24″ inch frame from Michaels for the framing. Sheet music files are available on many sites. I used Music Notes to purchase the PDF file. After purchasing the PDF file, I uploaded it to Staples and had the sheet printed on an 18″ by 24″ sheet of blueprint paper. The blueprint paper held up really well and printed great.

How to Create an Antiqued Sheet Music Sign: The Process

Start off by brewing a nice pot of tea and enjoying a pastry. No, really. It’s always a good idea to have a cup of tea and a pastry before starting any project. However, you’ll want to set a bit of the tea aside to use as a tea stain for the sheet music.

Place the sheet music over top of an extra large cookie sheet. Gently soak the sheet music with the tea using a soft paint brush. Once covered, allow the paper to dry overnight. Once fully dry (truly, don’t rush this process!), use a paint brush to spread a layer of Mod Podge over the foam board. Place the sheet music over top of the layer of Mod Podge.

Once you’ve placed the sheet music over the foam board, begin spreading a layer of Mod Podge over the top of the paper. Work out air bubbles with your hands and the paint brush. Work to create folds and lines in the paper (this creates a time worn look). Once you’ve covered the entire paper and are satisfied with the imperfections, allow to dry.

Now, you’re ready for antiquing and framing! The tea staining does add age to the paper and is fine on its own. If you want to further age the piece, apply an antiquing wax as desired. I applied a layer of wax with an old cloth (you can use a brush but I like to use my hands) over the entire piece. Do what feels/looks right to you! The best thing about a project like this is that each piece is truly unique.

The Finished Product

This was one of my favorite projects of the past year, if I’m honest. Music is a true passion of mine – and being able to create a work of time-worn art with the songs that I love is beyond cool. Feeling artsy? You can do this! Really, you can. If you’re not feeling artsy but love the product, I’ve added these to the shop for purchase, here! I’ll be making a handful of the White Christmas signs for the holidays. If you’re looking for a different song, feel free to contact me for a custom order.

A DIY project can be good for the soul in the same way that music is healing for the soul. Do you have a favorite Christmas/holiday song? White Christmas is such a warm fuzzy for me – I grew up watching Bing Crosby and Danny Kay in White Christmas (like, THE best Christmas movie EVER). I could watch it on repeat and never tire of it – that’s how much I adore it.

You better believe that I play it for my little monsters on repeat, too. They *will* appreciate it one day, dang it! THEY WILL!!!! Anyway, thank you for hanging with me through this one. Let me know if you try it out! If you don’t and want me to create a piece just for you, head over to the shop. As always, I appreciate you! Peace, love, & light (after coffee) – until next time!