Gallery Wall Letters
Welcome to August’s DIY Challenge! This month our challenge was to make something out of dowel rods. That’s right, you read that right. Dowel rods! After much thought I knew that I wanted to add to my gallery wall letters. There are a few spaces that still need a little letter here and there. 
Thanks to Terrie from Decorate and More with Tip for being our fearless leader! I just love her monthly challenges. Also, if you are coming here from Michelle, Blessings by Me, I am so glad that you are here. Now, let’s get down to business! 
Our media room is really a bonus room above our garage. When we moved in last year, a lot of the old house’s decor landed here. So there is a lot of color. I decided to just go with it. This throw is one of my all time favorites and it matches all of the color in the room I used it as my inspiration for my letter. 
I found this letter at Hobby Lobby, as well as the small dowel rods. The plan was to cover the entire letter with different colors of dowels. 
Step 1:
I measured and marked each dowel that I was placing on the letter. 
Step 2:
Once I had each dowel marked, I cut them using my mini miter saw. I just love this thing for cutting small pieces of wood! It may just be my favorite tool! 
Step 3:
After cutting the dowels, I gave them a light sanding on the ends to knock off any rough edges. 
Step 4:
After each of my dowels were cut it was time to paint them. For this next step, I highly recommend wearing gloves! I was going for a distressed, worn look to match the other letters on my gallery wall. With that in mind, I watered down the paint slightly. After giving each dowel a coat of paint, I then wiped them off with a paper towel. 
Step 5:
Paint the letter black. My dowels are going to cover most of the letter, however there were a few spots here and there that would show. The black just gave it a more cohesive look and did not compete with the other colors. 
Step 6:
Glue the dowels to the letter. I worked in 1 to 2 inch sections. Put on a little glue, place the dowel rod. I continued doing this until all of my dowels were in place. Make sure that you have plenty of glue to ensure that the dowels adhere well. 
So how did my dowel rod letter turn out? I love it! 
It fits right in with the rest of my gallery wall letters. And matches my inspiration pillow and throw perfectly! Plus who doesn’t love an easy, budget friendly project that adds so much to a space? Now it’s time to visit Terrie from Decorate and More With Tip ( you are not going to believe what she made!) and all of my other DIY Challenge friends.
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What a fun and colorful addition to your gallery wall, Tammy! I would have never thought to paint the dowels and add them to the letter. It adds such dimension and texture! Love it!
I love the letter gallery wall. I am sure all the letters mean a certain thing. Was wondering what the RX means. I know in Latin means recipe just wonder if someone is a pharmacist. Love the way you used your dowel rods. Your colorful room is so cute. My eyes went right over to the gumball machine. I am a candyholic. ha!
My husband was and Air Traffic Controller until a year ago. Just like pilots they are asked to choose a call sign. A lot of times they use their initials. However, his were already in use so he chose RX – just what the doctor ordered! Can you tell he has a dry sense of humor? Those letters hung in his office until we moved, then became part of the gallery! That gumboil machine is hit with almost everyone – that and the coke machine. Both handed down from relatives.
Wow– what a creative idea! It looks great— I guess a person could use dowel rods like this to cover all kinds of different surfaces. I love projects that give me additional ideas!
Liberty I got the idea from “Tramp Art” where they used to roll paper tightly like dowels and cover things. Trust me – the dowels are a lot easier!
How clever and adorable is that? Love it!
Thank you Jodi!
I love your wall and this is a great letter with the multi colors and the textures! Pinned!
Thanks Chloe, I do love it when a project come together like a visualized it. That doesn’t always happen for sure! lol
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