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Decorating and Home, Tutorials

DIY Wood Pallet Arrow

April 10, 2014

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Learn how to create this simple, rustic wood pallet arrow! | LoveGrowsWild.com

Can we just pause for a moment to celebrate this exciting occasion… It’s my first pallet project!! Yes, it’s true… years after the world discovered the rustic, salvaged beauty of old wood pallets and their incredible use for DIY fanatics like myself, I have finally jumped on board and embraced this awesome trend. Better late than never, right?

So today’s project is a small part of a much bigger project I recently shared, my living room gallery wall! If you haven’t checked that post out yet, I highly recommend you go see how it all came together! I am SO smitten with this gorgeous new display in my living room. I’ve been getting so many sweet comments from readers (you guys are the best!), and when I asked what the first piece you wanted to see a tutorial for was, this wood pallet arrow definitely got the most votes! You spoke, I listened, and here we go, folks! A tutorial for creating an awesome, rustic Wood Pallet Arrow!

Learn how to create this simple, rustic wood pallet arrow! | LoveGrowsWild.com

Before we get started, I want to give a big shout-out to the best little sister in the whole world for dragging this pallet along on a 6 hour car trip to visit me for my birthday. Spending time with her PLUS a fun pallet to play with = the best birthday ever. You rock, sis. You totally get me.

Another brief shout-out goes to my husband, who receives a suspicious text from his overzealous wife at 8 am asking if we own a reciprocating saw, and replies with “It’s in the garage next to the back door. Don’t cut your fingers off.” Thank you for sharing your tools with me and caring for the safety of my extremities. I knew you were a keeper.

Supplies:
wood pallet
miter saw
wood glue
clamps
screws
drill
sawtooth hangers

The first thing you’ll need to do is break down your pallet. I tried prying the boards apart as I’ve seen in some tutorials, but mine wouldn’t budge. I learned real quick how to use our reciprocating saw and separated the boards by carefully cutting right through the nails. It made this process go SO much quicker. I only needed 2 boards for this project, so I still have some left over to save for a rainy day. If you don’t have a pallet or easy access to one, you could certainly purchase wood boards from the hardware store as well.

Once I had the pallet boards I needed, I cut them into these 4 pieces with a miter saw: the tip, the body, and the two tail pieces.

Learn how to create this simple, rustic wood pallet arrow! | LoveGrowsWild.com

I’ll do my best to describe the cut dimensions, but feel free to ask if you have any questions. The labeled photos below should help.

For the long body piece, I cut a 5 1/4″ wide pallet board to 24″ long.

For the tip or point of the arrow, I cut a 5 1/4″ wide board to 8 1/2″ long and formed the point with two 40° cuts toward the center.

Learn how to create this simple, rustic wood pallet arrow! | LoveGrowsWild.com

For the tail, I cut a 5 1/4″ board on a 45° angle to 7 1/2″ x 5 3/4″. Then I duplicated that for the other side of the tail.

Learn how to create this simple, rustic wood pallet arrow! | LoveGrowsWild.com

To assemble the arrow, I used wood glue to attach the two tail pieces together and the point of the arrow to one end of the body. I used some handy dandy clamps to hold the pieces together while they dried.

Learn how to create this simple, rustic wood pallet arrow! | LoveGrowsWild.com

You’ll see in the photo above that I first wanted to have the tip of the arrow flush with the body. It didn’t seem very sturdy, so I ended up attaching it over the body piece instead of flush so I could secure it with a few screws from the back. Once the tail pieces were dry, I attached them to the other end of the arrow body with wood glue and clamped those pieces in place to dry. I drilled a few small screws into the tail end also to help hold everything in place. Then I added two sawtooth hangers (because of the arrow’s length) to the back and hung it on my gallery wall! What do you think? Not too bad for my first pallet project, right?

Learn how to create this simple, rustic wood pallet arrow! | LoveGrowsWild.com

You could certainly paint or stain the arrow, but I just love the rugged, natural look with all the gorgeous imperfections of pallet wood. The wood grain, the weathered texture, the stains and dents… it was just too beautiful to cover up.

Learn how to create this simple, rustic wood pallet arrow! | LoveGrowsWild.com

It’s amazing to me how adding this one simple natural element to the gallery wall totally brought it to life. With all the straight, clean lines of the black and white picture frames, an imperfect, aged, beaten-up pallet wood arrow added the perfect balance my gallery wall needed.

Learn how to create this simple, rustic wood pallet arrow! | LoveGrowsWild.com

And although you can’t see it in the picture above, when I put together all the pieces of this gallery wall puzzle, the wood arrow happened to be pointing from the picture of my husband and I on our honeymoon to the “happily ever after” canvas art I created. That was a pretty awesome coincidence, if you ask me. 🙂

So there it is! The next time you spy a pallet somewhere, be sure to snag it so you can make one of these gorgeous wood pallet arrows! Thanks for hanging out with me today!

To see all the project tutorials from our living room gallery wall, click the links below:

Living Room Gallery Wall
Fabric-Covered Frame Mats
DIY Canvas Script Art
Key Specimen Art

 Like what you see? Subscribe to Love Grows Wild so you’ll never miss a post!
Follow along on Pinterest, Google+, Instagram, and Facebook for more fun!

More DIY home decor projects:

Learn how to create a fun, personal, and creative Gallery Wall for LESS THAN $20! Yes, you CAN decorate an entire wall for that cheap! Get all the best tips and tricks from LoveGrowsWild.com

DIY Gallery Wall

Use this easy technique to create gorgeous distressed signs for your home! Step-by-step instructions at LoveGrowsWild.com

Easy Distressed Signs Tutorial

Fabric Covered Roller Shade with Handmade Tassel

Fabric Covered Roller Shades

LET’S KEEP IN TOUCH!

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DIY Decor Woodworking
by Liz Fourez 
35 Comments

About Liz Fourez

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Comments

  1. JaneEllen says: April 11, 2014 at 1:09 am

    I am loving your pallet arrow, awesome. Love the rusticity with other items on wall. Great layout.
    I’ve gotta print that out so hubs can make me one or so. How many ways can you alter look of an arrow? We have lots of pallets that have seasoned over winter in back yard.They get that kinda greyish look? Love ’em that way. Your arrow look so great on the wall. Great job for first time pallet worker.
    I won’t be doing cutting on my arrows, due to less than great eyesight I’ve been banned from using saws. I do a mean sanding tho. After I print out how to on the arrow I’m going to peruse other projects below on this post. Happy Spring

    Reply
    • Liz Fourez says: April 14, 2014 at 11:29 pm

      Thank you, JaneEllen! It sounds like you have quite a stack of pallets in your back yard ready to be played with! You just can’t beat that natural, weathered gray look. I’m so glad you enjoyed the project, and have fun creating!

      Reply
  2. Jocelyn @BruCrew Life says: April 11, 2014 at 8:19 am

    What a fun first pallet project! I love it, and I agree…the rugged natural look is perfect for it! And how did I miss your bday???? πŸ™ We need another coffee date to celebrate for sure!!!

    Reply
    • Liz Fourez says: April 17, 2014 at 11:49 pm

      Birthdays aren’t nearly as fun to celebrate as you get older! But I’ll take a coffee date with my favorite curly-haired friend any day. πŸ™‚ And thanks for the love on my first pallet project! You know I love playing with my tools!

      Reply
  3. Tasha @ Designer Trapped in a Lawyer's Body says: April 11, 2014 at 11:02 am

    Liz, your gallery wall is PERFECTION and the wood arrow is one my favorite pieces. Thanks for the awesome tutorial! Pinning and sharing!

    Reply
    • Liz Fourez says: April 17, 2014 at 11:51 pm

      Thank you, thank you!! I’m so glad you like the tutorial, Tasha! I don’t think you could ever pick a favorite child, but this pallet arrow has to be my favorite thing I’ve made! Thanks for sharing, girl!

      Reply
  4. Dawn says: April 11, 2014 at 7:21 pm

    LOVE this! Such a cool, rustic addition to the gallery wall (all of which looks fabulous!) Pinning to share. πŸ™‚

    Reply
    • Liz Fourez says: April 17, 2014 at 11:52 pm

      Thanks so much for sharing, Dawn!!

      Reply
  5. Amber says: April 11, 2014 at 10:05 pm

    I love so much about all of these pictures! Thanks for sharing the arrow tutorial! I can’t wait to try it!

    I also love the Happily Ever After art! Did you make it, too?

    I’m so glad I stopped by! So many ideas flowing now!
    Amber

    Reply
    • Liz Fourez says: April 17, 2014 at 11:56 pm

      I’m so glad you love it, Amber!! I bet this arrow would look gorgeous in your house too! And yes, I did make the Happily Ever After Sign… tutorial coming in the next few weeks! πŸ™‚

      Reply
  6. Emily @ My Love for Words says: April 11, 2014 at 11:20 pm

    Thank you so much for sharing this! I definitely want to make one for my home. <3 it! πŸ™‚

    Reply
    • Liz Fourez says: April 17, 2014 at 11:57 pm

      You are SO very welcome, Emily! You’ll love this fun project! Thanks for stopping by. πŸ™‚

      Reply
  7. Kristi says: April 11, 2014 at 11:23 pm

    You’re very welcome, sis! Looks good πŸ™‚

    Reply
    • Liz Fourez says: April 17, 2014 at 11:57 pm

      Thanks sissy pants! πŸ™‚ I still have some boards to use up too!

      Reply
  8. Dominique says: April 13, 2014 at 8:13 pm

    Your gallery wall is one of the cutest I’ve ever seen! So in love with it all. I can see why you are smitten.

    Reply
    • Liz Fourez says: April 18, 2014 at 12:02 am

      You are the sweetest, Dominique! Thank you so much!! πŸ™‚

      Reply
  9. Emily says: April 14, 2014 at 5:19 pm

    Love Love Love the arrow! Super Cute!

    We would love for you to come and link up with us at Your Designs This Time, Mondays 8:00amEST.
    http://elizabethjoandesigns.com/2014/04/desings-time-no-5

    Emily @ elizabethjoandesigns.com

    Reply
    • Liz Fourez says: April 18, 2014 at 12:04 am

      Thank you!!

      Reply
  10. Deonna at the Child at Heart blog says: April 15, 2014 at 4:06 pm

    Hey Girl! It’s Deonna from the Child at Heart blog. I was just stopping by to say hello! I saw this a few days ago and loved the arrow and now I can make my own πŸ™‚ Pinning! I am doing a great spring necklace giveaway and would love for you to come by and enter to win πŸ™‚ Have a joyful week!
    http://www.thechildatheartblog.com/2014/04/spring-statement-necklaces-from.html

    Reply
    • Liz Fourez says: April 30, 2014 at 9:46 pm

      Hi Deonna! Thanks so much for the pin! πŸ™‚

      Reply
  11. Amberjane says: April 18, 2014 at 6:18 am

    I love this idea – must nag the hubby to collect me some pallets πŸ™‚ And I love that gallery wall – thanks so much for sharing πŸ™‚

    Reply
    • Liz Fourez says: April 30, 2014 at 10:32 pm

      He’ll get used to the project nagging… mine did! πŸ˜‰ I’m so glad you love my gallery wall!

      Reply
  12. [email protected] says: April 18, 2014 at 7:20 am

    Your gallery wall looks absolutely amazing, Liz! Pinning:-)

    Reply
    • Liz Fourez says: April 30, 2014 at 10:33 pm

      Thanks for the pin, Aniko! I’m thrilled that you like my little pallet project! πŸ™‚

      Reply
  13. Kristi says: April 18, 2014 at 8:02 am

    I think your next project with those extra boards should be a race medal holder… Something like that super cute necklace holder you made me (hint hint) πŸ˜‰

    Reply
    • Liz Fourez says: April 30, 2014 at 10:33 pm

      I love how subtle you are. πŸ˜‰

      Reply
  14. Meagan B. says: June 27, 2014 at 9:49 am

    WOW! Love this arrow – I’ve also done a similar arrow but mine was a tiny bit bigger and made from old fence boards. And your sister is pretty awesome for picking up that pallet – the wood is actually quite beautiful!

    Reply
    • Liz Fourez says: July 2, 2014 at 9:09 pm

      Old fence boards would make a gorgeous arrow, I bet! And yeah, I definitely owe my sister big time. She’s pretty awesome. πŸ™‚ Thanks for stopping by, Meagan!

      Reply
  15. Megan Marie says: August 3, 2014 at 8:51 pm

    I absolutely love this. Another one of your projects I’ll be tackling soon, thanks!! xx
    http://thethingssheseesblog.blogspot.com

    Reply
    • Liz Fourez says: August 4, 2014 at 9:05 pm

      You’re so very welcome, Megan! This arrow project is one of my favorites!

      Reply
  16. Chrystal Clendenin says: November 22, 2014 at 5:47 pm

    I loved the pallet arrow so that I had my hubs whip me one up in a jiffy. Thanks for the instructions! I’ve been wanting one for a while!

    Reply
    • Liz Fourez says: December 1, 2014 at 9:15 pm

      That’s awesome, Chrystal! What a great hubby you have!

      Reply
  17. Kristy says: June 14, 2015 at 7:22 pm

    I love it! What is the color of the wall paint? Thanks!

    Reply
    • Liz Fourez says: June 14, 2015 at 9:26 pm

      Woodlawn Colonial Gray by Valspar… thanks, Kristy! πŸ™‚

      Reply
  18. Alexis says: September 14, 2015 at 11:24 pm

    I LOVE the simplicity and elegance of this arrow! I gave this project a shout out on my Twitter today, @Estimake πŸ™‚

    Reply

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Liz Fourez started Love Grows Wild in 2012 with a passion for interior design and homemaking and a dream to help others create a home they love.  From simple project tutorials, to holiday and entertaining ideas, to her journey renovating a 1940’s farmhouse, Liz demonstrates how to create a beautiful and inviting home with a handmade touch. She turned her signature cozy, neutral style into a best-selling book in 2016 and continues to inspire readers with her captivating photography and easy decorating ideas. Read more about Liz > > > >

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