Vintage Nursery Magic ✨ Create a “Welcome to My Crib” Door Hanger & Adventure Sign

There’s something extra meaningful about creating handmade décor for a nursery. In this tutorial, Melissa Miller of Millers Rustic Sawmill shares how she created a coordinating nursery set using layered paint techniques and beautiful stencil designs.

This vintage-inspired set includes a distressed round door hanger and a rich walnut sign — both made using the Our Greatest Adventure Stencil Set (3 Pack).

If you love warm neutrals, subtle distressing, and timeless nursery quotes, this one’s for you.

Table of Contents

• Round “Welcome to My Crib” Door Hanger
• “You Are Our Greatest Adventure” Walnut Sign

Round “Welcome to My Crib” Door Hanger

Step 1: Create the Layered Base

Start by painting your round board with brown paint, including the sides. This will be your base. Let it dry completely.

Apply a coat of cream or white paint over the brown base. Add a second coat if needed for coverage.

Don’t aim for perfection. Visible brush strokes add texture and make distressing even more beautiful.

Step 2: Distress for a Vintage Look

Once fully dry, lightly sand the surface to let some of the brown show through.

No wax or Vaseline needed. This layered paint-and-sand technique creates a natural distressed finish with minimal prep.

Wipe away dust with a clean cloth.

Step 3: Stencil the Design

Position the “Welcome to My Crib” stencil from the stencil pack onto the board and secure it with tape.

Pro Tip: Roll tape underneath larger stencil sections to help support and prevent lift.

Using a stencil brush and a light circular motion, apply olive green paint. Use minimal paint to avoid bleed-through.

Carefully remove the stencil and allow the board to dry.

“You Are Our Greatest Adventure” Walnut Sign

Step 1: Prep the Board

Make sure your board is clean and completely dry before beginning.

Step 2: Apply the Stencil

Place the “You Are Our Greatest Adventure” stencil onto the walnut board.

Using a clean stencil brush, apply white paint in light layers.

Carefully remove the stencil and let dry.

Step 3: Enhance the Wood Grain

Apply a honey wood stain over the board to enhance the natural grain.

Wipe away excess and allow it to dry fully.

This step makes a huge difference — it deepens the tone and gives the sign a rich, finished look.

Create a Coordinating Nursery Set

Together, these two pieces create a warm, vintage-inspired nursery look with earthy greens and rich wood tones.

Whether you’re decorating for your own little one or gifting something handmade, this stencil set makes it easy to create meaningful keepsakes.

Shop the Our Greatest Adventure Stencil Set here →

Watch the Full Video Tutorial