Pallet Wood Peter Rabbit in Time for Spring
- By Joan
- February 18, 2018
- 23 Comments
Valentine’s Day is barely over and I’m thinking Spring and bunnies. This time I’m hand painting Peter Rabbit onto pallet wood.
If you’re not comfortable painting, I have an option for you too.
If you are familiar with the tale of Peter Rabbit, I have to say that I’m sort of on the side of Mr. McGregor. I’ve had my own share of bunnies eating my vegetable garden, though never one in a cute blue jacket.
I didn’t really know how long my pallet wood pieces should be. This is a tall, skinny bunny, so I wanted my pallet wood to be proportional. So why not print out a full size bunny and see just how he would look.
If you follow me, you know I always enlarge my signs and other large pieces in Microsoft Publisher, where I can print out absolutely any size I choose. This publication was set at 20″x 34″and would print out on 12 pieces of paper. I did move him over so that it only took 6 sheets of paper to print.
Print, cut out and tape back together.
Sand down your pallet wood. If your pallet wood has a rough side and a smoother side, use the smoother side.
Now, here is your option if you don’t trust your painting skills… you could use Mod Podge 
White wash your pallet wood.
I’m using my BOSTITCH Stapler
Do any additional sanding that may be needed to the edges and top of your pallet wood to give yourself a smooth painting surface.
I could have drawn my bunny freehand but why bother when I have a full size bunny already printed out. By tracing around his cutout I have a perfect bunny ready to be painted. If you color in the back of your print out with pencil or chalk and trace over the lines with pen, you can also transfer any other details (like the jacket, eyes and mouth)directly to the pallet wood.
My color palette.
For the bunny I’m using Dixie Belle Sand Bar as my base color then overlaying that with my acrylics in white, brown, golden brown and just a few highlights of black.
The jacket is a royal blue mixed with varying amounts of white. A little bit of black outlining finishes off the jacket.
This is what you do when you don’t like your original paint job…you paint over it and start again.
For the fine whiskers, I used a Black Micron Drawing Pen
Display year round in a child’s bedroom or use it for your Easter or spring decor.
Stay inspired and have a great week.
Shared at Metamorphosis Monday,
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You did a fantastic job! I’m really amazed at your ability to paint such a wonderful bunny.
He’s SO cute, I’d love to have him on the wall at my house!
Is there a link where I can print out the bunny?
Where can I print out that cute bunny
You are sooo talented!! Love your bunny!
You are quite the artist. Your finished product is so quiet, peaceful looking, and lovely for spring and our upcoming Easter season. It is a beautiful painting that would look great in a nursery or little boy’s sroom. I just love it!
It is so cute!!! And wonderfully idea to use the pallet wood!
Adorable!
Very cool. So well done, I love it. Pinned
That is so cute. If I tried it I would definitely have to go the Mod Podge route. My painting skills are pretty limited. 🙂
Cindy @ Upcycle Design Lab
An amazing job painting the image on to the wood! I would have cheated and just Mod Podged it on, hand painting such detailed piece would intimidate me. This project turned out wonderfully!
It all works. I’ve done both. 🙂
Your Peter Pallet Rabbit is adorable!!! 27 years ago I found some Peter Rabbit wallpaper cutouts available through a magazine or somewhere and I ordered them from England. Still in my stash of storage things, I glued them all to light-weight cardboard and hung them on my newborn daughter’s first bedroom walls. Your rabbit reminds me of them ~ so glad you painted this sweet rabbit which will become a treasured family heirloom! <3
Happily pinned to my Crafts to Make and DIY Projects boards for you and for other folks looking to create their own,
Barb 🙂
I love this project! Here from Funky Junk and now following 🙂
Love this bunny. I’ve just started painting and my grandkids would love this. Thanks for the info!
Hi. Do you have a link to good quality picture pleaee as I would love to try this!
Omg I cannot believe you free handed this! I’ll be sticking to the mod podge idea but wow what a gorgeous outcome.
I love your Peter Rabbit! It so reminds me of being a little girl and my Dad reading me this story while sitting in his lap. I have not painted in 30+ years and almost scared to attempt it. If I was going to try, this would be the one I would attempt and save it for a grandchild. Thank you so much for sharing and reminding me of a beautiful memory.
You can do it! I would love to know how he turns out.
I’m painting a sign for a baby shower and this is it!!! With some writing…
I’m not a painter, more calligrapher but said I’d give it a try.
Can you tell me the paint colors? Looks like there is a gray? Or are you mixing black w/ white? What kind of brush?
I have experience with watercolors, but always up for something new.
Any tips? Thanks.
There is a picture above of all the colors I used. You can use gray or black and white mixed together. If you have experience with watercolor you should have no problem with this project. I just used inexpensive acrylics and inexpensive paintbrushes. If I couldn’t get the paints to blend I smudged the colors with my finger. If you don’t like how something is turning out, just paint over it. Good luck, I know you can do it.
I would love to have the link to the rabbit picture. I remember him fondly! you did a beautiful job painting him!
I’m glad you like him .Try this image https://twitter.com/QGCanopy/status/1394981201098723336/photo/1