diy abstract license plate art

If you know me, you'll know I'm not much of an artist. I'm too much of a perfectionist and never like how anything comes out. That's why I love diys that are easy to do and that cannot be messed up even if you try. Today I wanted to share with you my diy abstract license plate art project. I was inspired by For The Home's license plate art which she shared a couple of months ago and I thought I would create my own version with things I already had. It's super simple, fun and the spackling is very forgiving even for a perfectionist like me. Here is a step by step guide so you can make your own!

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supplies

• license plate • paint of choice

• canvas or old wall art • paintbrush

• spackling or joint compound • super glue

• spatula for spreading

step 1 - spackling

First, you'll want to cover your canvas or wall art in spackling. This is the funnest part and what gives it the abstract, textured look. Spread the spackling however you like. You can do swirls, lines or any other pattern. I went for a more natural look so I just tried to create different textures and make it look messy. I only had spackling on hand but you can also use joint compound instead which is a bit easier to spread and dries more quickly. If you use a spackling or joint compound like mine which goes on pink and dries white, it'll be very easy to tell once it is dry.

step 2 - license plate

While your spackling dries, paint the license plate. If your license plate is very dirty, make sure you give it a good wipe down before you begin painting. I went for a more earthy, neutral color, but you can choose any color or pattern you like. Depending on the color of the license plate, you may have to do several coats. I did two coats first and then did a third coat once the license plate was on the canvas.

step 3 - glue on your license plate

Once your spackling and license plate are dry, you can glue them together. I used super glue. If your license plate does not lie completely flat, you can use a hammer to lightly tap the edges down before glueing it. Add super glue around the edges and glue it down. I used some bottles of paint to hold the license plate down while it dried. It's not a super strong hold but since it won't be moving around much I don't think its a problem.

step 4 - paint the spackling

Now, you can paint the spackling. If your license plate and spackling are going to be different colors/patterns, you can also do this step before glueing the license plate. Since mine were going to be the same color, I didn't mind accidentally painting over the license plate while I painted the spackling.

Then, just wait for the paint to dry and you're done! I love the texture the spackling gives the painting and I love the neutral colors I chose. It's a subtle piece that commemorates all our time living in Florida, our adventure here to Nashville, and hopefully our future in Japan. You can watch the video below to see this art project in action and to hear a little more about what this piece of art means to me. And as always, if you have any questions, feel free to shoot me a DM on instagram and tag me if you make your own license plate art!

WATCH THE WHOLE PROCESS BELOW