DIY Rustic Highland Cow Welcome Sign & Rustic “Howdy” Fall Porch Sign
There’s just something about Highland cows that makes me smile! When I saw this layered stencil, I knew it would make the perfect farmhouse welcome sign. Instead of using the flowers that come with the stencil, I decided to pair the Highland cow with beautiful sunflower transfers for a unique look that still has plenty of country charm.
Supplies Used
- Craft Dealz 16″ shiplap pallet round
- Essential Stencil Highland Cow & Flowers layered stencil
- Essential Stencil Sunflower Transfers
- Minwax Weathered Oak Water-Based Stain
- DecoArt Burlap Acrylic Paint
- DecoArt Buttermilk Acrylic Paint
- DecoArt Traditional Burnt Umber
- Dome stencil brushes
- Chip brush
- Sanding block
- Painter’s tape
- X-Acto knife
- Essential Stencil transfer tool
To start the project, I created an aged shiplap background using a weathered oak stain, followed by a little dry brushing with Burlap and Buttermilk paint. I love using this technique because it gives new wood that wonderful old barnwood appearance without a lot of extra work. After everything was dry, I lightly sanded the surface and made sure it was clean before adding any transfers.
The Highland cow is a three-layer stencil, but don’t let that intimidate you! I always encourage people to take it one layer at a time. Once you understand how the layers line up, it’s really a simple process. I used several shades of brown and cream to build depth and dimension, and I made the eye just a little darker to give her even more personality.
Instead of stenciling the flowers that are included in the design, I finished my sign with sunflower transfers. I love how they soften the project and add a warm farmhouse feel. Since I was working on a shiplap surface, I used my craft knife to carefully score the transfer over each groove so it would settle down into the wood naturally and look like it had always been there.
The finishing touch was adding a small sunflower beside her ear, giving our sweet Highland cow just a little extra personality. During the live, everyone helped decide on her name, and “Daisy” quickly became the favorite! It’s little touches like that that make handmade projects so much fun.
I hope this project inspires you to try layered stencils if you’ve been hesitant. They’re much easier than they look, and once you complete your first one, you’ll be amazed at how quickly they come together. Thanks so much for crafting with me, and I hope this sweet Highland cow brings a smile to your day!
DIY Howdy Fall Porch Sign | Rustic Western Farmhouse Decor with Stencils & Transfers
One of my favorite things about creating is finding new ways to combine products and make them my own. For this project, I used the new Howdy stencil from the Western Farmhouse Collection, but instead of keeping it strictly western, I added beautiful autumn floral transfers to give it a cozy fall feel. I love how easy it is to mix different collections together to create something completely unique.
Supplies Used
- Craft Dealz 16″ Shiplap Pallet Board
- Essential Stencil “Howdy” Stencil
- Essential Stencil Western Farmhouse Collection
- Essential Stencil Autumn Flowers Transfers
- Minwax Weathered Oak Water-Based Stain
- Minwax Dark Walnut Water-Based Stain
- DecoArt Burlap Acrylic Paint
- DecoArt Heritage Brick
- DecoArt Deep Ocher
- DecoArt Almondine
- Essential Stencil Dome Brushes
- Essential Stencil Flat Stencil Brushes
- Painter’s Tape
- Transfer Burnishing Tool
Since I only had about thirty minutes during the launch party, I did a little prep work ahead of time. I stained the top and bottom of my board with Weathered Oak and the center section with Dark Walnut to create some contrast before I ever started stenciling. Once I found the center of the board, everything lined up beautifully using the stencil as my guide.
For the lettering, I chose Burlap acrylic paint because it blends so nicely with the stained wood. Then I used a combination of Heritage Brick, Deep Ocher, and Almondine for the decorative pattern. I wanted soft, muted colors that would work perfectly with the autumn florals I planned to add later. The finished colors remind me of a warm fall sunset, which is exactly the look I was hoping for.
After the stencil work was finished, I added gorgeous autumn flower transfers along the bottom of the sign. This is where the project really came to life. I love combining stencils and transfers because it creates so much depth and allows you to customize every project. The same stencil could easily become farmhouse, rustic, western, or even something completely different just by changing the colors and embellishments.
One thing I always encourage is to think beyond the original design. Don’t feel like you have to use every stencil exactly as it was intended. Mix collections together, change the colors, add transfers, or use only certain elements. That’s where your own creativity really begins to shine.
I hope this project gives you a few ideas for your own seasonal decorating. Whether you’re creating something for your porch, your home, or to give as a gift, remember that the possibilities are truly endless when you start mixing and matching your favorite stencil designs.
