No Soliciting Project

I live in a neighborhood where we get alot of solicitors. The doorbell would always ring as we were sitting down to dinner.  Rather than buy a standard "No Soliciting" sign from the store, I decided to make my own vintage style one.

This is a super easy project and the idea could also be used for "Baby Sleeping" or "In the Garden" etc.  I start with a stretched canvas frame that you can pick up at Michaels or your local craft store.

I then spray paint the canvas with black paint.  I paint both sides.

I decoupage some sort of image onto the painted canvas. My favorite place to get these images is this book that I picked up a couple of years ago at our local library outlet.

It is full of a years worth of Parents' magazines, dated 1951, all bound into one volume. It has great illustrations and wonderful ads.  Awesome images!


This is the painted canvas with my images decoupaged on.  I add an old cloth tape measure around the sides of the canvas.  This just dresses it up a bit.


I like to use some tacks or decorator nails to add some fun.  This is the stash I work from.

Random tacks and the tape measure frame.

The back of the canvas is ugly, so I gussy it up with some oilcloth cut to size.


I like that oilcloth is available in so many patterns and adds some interest to the otherwise ugly back.

This is the finished product.  I usually spray the front of it with a varathane to protect the image as well.

It really does work too. I have it hanging on my front door knob.  I can see solicitors walking up towards the door. When they see the sign, they turn around!  No more interrupted dinners...Hallelujah!

 

Comments

[Angela]

Useful AND cute!! That's what we like!

[Jill at buckscountyfolkart.blogspot.com]

Wow! I'm surprised they actually respect it enough to turn around and walk away. Good for you!

[Michelle]

Those are the cutest signs! I love the "don't you dare ring the doorbell!"
Michelle

[Carol @ Old Glory Cottage]

These are so great Laurie! And so many possibilities too. I used to have an ugly sticker on the door saying no soliciting. It really helps if the people coming to your door know what the word "soliciting" means! One time I answered the door without saying a word, just pointed to the sticker, and this person didn't understand what it meant!

[Jill]

Great idea. It helps to have a dog with a big bark behind the door too! I need to come up with a weatherproof idea for a sign that says, "Please close the gate." People leave my front courtyard gate open all the time, instead of leaving it how they found it. Anyway, I'm lovin' that sign you made-- awesome!
Hugs,
Jill

[Linda @ A La Carte]

Those are very cute! What a great idea and they make the point in a nice way!!

[Claudia]

That is such a cool way to ward off solicitors! Much more fun than the standard sign!

xo
Claudia

[gabrielle]

What a wonderful idea! I love the blue birdie!

[Jennifer F]

I posted a boring sign on my door for when the baby is sleeping. it says, "You wake her, you take her."

I need to make a new one in your style. So great!

[Lynn]

So cute and clever - I need one to hang from my mailbox that says Rocky Creek Scotties - I better get crackin'.

[Sandy McClay]

Laurie,
This is a great idea!!!! And fun too! But now I am on the hunt for that book! What a wonderful book!!!!!! :) If you ever see another one would you let me know???? I will but it for sure! :)

[Janet]

Great signs. And you finish off the back, too. You are just too neat. That is a great book and I love the way you have bookmarked your favorites.

[Shara]

I have a handwritten garden marker by my doorbell that says No Soliciting. I've seen quite a few people walk up to the door and then leave after they see it. The neighrborhood kids don't know what "soliciting" means, so I still have to buy Girl Scout cookies. Somehow, I don't seem to mind that! (I think I will make a cuter sign tho...)

[Gina]

Oh I am so loving this idea..just for anything..thanks for the tutorial..and I love the book with all the great photos.:)

[Carrie Murphy]

What a clever way to take care of an annoying problem.Best of all it's done in a "cute" way.Thanks for showing us how!

[barbara]

I'm joining in the chorus of praise. We don't have a lot of sales people, but we have the occasional religious group who just wants to take a few minutes (or hours) to spread The Word. They're probably praying we get rid of Carson, since he greets all strangers by throwing himself at the door, standing on his hind legs to look into their eyes and barking ferociously. Good dog!

[Penny]

That is so clever and useful at the same time. I think it really sets a tone of "no" but with a touch of whimsy. I think it is awesome.

[mo]

So cute! Let me know if it works. We have a rather ugly No Soliciting sign and somehow, maybe the way the sun hits it, the solicitors seem to think it says Please! Come in ! Tell me all about what you have! I even had a guy the other day who told me (through the closed door) ,"I saw your sign but I am not selling anything I just want to tell you about my business!" UGH!

[SueLovesCherries]

I thought solicitors were a thing of the past. We get Jehovah's Witnesses about once a year, but that's it. Great sign ideas!

I can't believe all the jackpot stuff you got over the weekend - better tell hubby to build a second floor onto your workshop!

[Nancy Jane York]

I never would have thought of making such a cute sign to ward off soliciting, leave it to you !! Being this is Alaska and a really spread out subdivision with moose and eagles about we get no solicitors or so I thought. We do get Jehovah Witnesses from time to time, and one Sunday morning as we were about to leave for church in a blizzard of sorts who comes to the door but a man who wants to clean my carpet for FREE. It was a carpet cleaner salesman who stood there without a coat in the high winds trying to talk me into letting him clean my carpet for free. Can you believe that !!!
Take Care
Nan