Handmade I-Joist Art for Your Home
While building our home, I ended up with several I-joist cutoffs, each about 12” x 7”—the perfect size for decorative pieces. Since they stand on their own, I saw an opportunity to turn them into faith-inspired decor for my Etsy shop. With a little creativity, paint, and the help of AI-generated art, I transformed them into beautiful scripture-based home accents.
Creating the First Five: Ephesians 6:14-17 KJV
For the first set, I painted five I-joists in a black and grey color scheme. Then, I used an AI art app called Wonder to create artwork based on the powerful verses Ephesians 6:14-17 (KJV), which speaks about the armor of God. I simply copied and pasted the verses into the app, and it generated a design I loved.
• After tweaking the image to my liking, I added the scripture in a nice font, printed it out, and mod-podged it onto the wood.
• To enhance the look, I found decorative borders on Pinterest, printed them, and sealed them onto the wood with mod podge for extra detail.
These pieces turned out beautifully rustic—perfect for adding an inspiring touch to any home!
The Farmhouse & Tree: Proverbs 24:3-4 KJV
For the next piece, I went in a different direction. Using Wonder AI, I generated an image of a small farmhouse beside a large tree—a peaceful countryside scene.
• After saving and editing the image to match my vision, I added Proverbs 24:3-4 (KJV), which speaks about building a home with wisdom and understanding.
• I printed the artwork, mod-podged it onto the I-joist, and then hand-painted a matching border to frame the piece beautifully.
This one had such a warm, homestead feel, making it a perfect addition to any farmhouse-style space.
The Final Four: John 8:32 with Origami Butterflies
For the last four I-joists, I had a creative breakthrough! I wanted something simple yet deeply symbolic, so I used Google Docs to print out John 8:32 (KJV):
“And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.”
• I cut the verse into a circular shape, mod-podged it onto the I-joist, and then created tiny white origami butterflies.
• Using a hot glue gun, I arranged the butterflies as if they were flying away—a visual representation of freedom in truth.
This set turned out absolutely adorable and has such a unique 3D element that makes it stand out!
Final Thoughts & Etsy Plans
These handmade scripture decor pieces came out even better than I imagined! Each one carries a special meaning, making them perfect for gifts or personal inspiration. I plan to list them in my Etsy shop, so if you’re looking for faith-based, handmade home decor, stay tuned!
Would you display scripture art like this in your home? Let me know in the comments!
Dandychandee 