Post #385446 by woofmutt on Sun, Jun 8, 2008 7:50 AM

In the Trader Joe's Turning Into Tiki Joe's thread bigbrotiki posted a pile of photos from a couple California Trader Joe's. I though these two signs from the Burbank, California Trader Joe's were good inspiration for Tiki On A Budget projects:

(Both photos by bigbrotiki.)

Tikis like this could be recreated with plywood or medium density fiberboard (MDF). With a basic design drawn on the board and a jig saw it'd be pert near the same as coloring within the lines.

If you don't have a jig saw (or were lousy with coloring books) this sort of design could be made with foam board (the paper sided type). An advantage to foam board is it's light weight and can be hung easily on sheetrock walls. A disadvantage is you'd have to cover all the white foam edges. Many water based paints won't stick to foam so you may have to do a coat of primer first.

If you don't have the paint technique skills to recreate wood grain, age, or shading, solid colors (Tiki Central approved ones, of course) would work on these designs. (If you just think you don't have the skills give it a whirl anyway. You may surprise yourself and end up with one less thing to whine about.)

Contact paper with a wood grain pattern would be a simple low skills option as well.

This basic technique would also work for that fantastic Tiki bar sign you dream about but can't afford and elaborate door or room trim.