How to Make a Sign

Yes, it’s a lame title but I’m doing a how-to so when I get dementia I’ll have a guide. Or you can make your own sign!

First, find a board. In this case, I’m using the sanded rough-sawn fencing left over from my headboard project.  I cut the board in approximately one foot long pieces.

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Next, I use three different stains . . . a cherry red, walnut and warm gold, otherwise known as Golden Pecan. I add some very dark brown accents (random dots and dashes) with a high gloss enamel and small art brush which shows through the paint steps better than the walnut stain.

Now, it’s time for the color. I apply it like a wash with a sponge brush first dipped in paint then water. Once it’s coated, I wipe it gently with a soft rag (old tee-shirt). Then using the tip of the sponge, streaks of more solid color are added.

Now it’s time for a pretty standard whitewash followed by some dry brushing with the white paint. I just tip the bucket to expose the less diluted paint at the bottom and tap the top of the brush for the dry brush step.

Okay, that was so fun that I dry brush some more of the primary color . . . in this case, sea green.

And then dry brush some of the dark brown,

The board is almost ready for lettering. Just wipe on a final coat of the Pecan stain over the entire board to blend all the colors and “age” the wood.

Hurray . . . the board is ready once it dries. Time to jump on the computer to make a template. I use Word since I’m most familiar with its formatting capabilities. I find a font I like and then start working on the size and spacing until I have a working model of the saying to print.

No Picture for This Step

This is the first step that is hard in anyway. Very slowly, cut out the lettering with an Exacto knife.  I use painters tape to secure the more fragile cutouts while working on the rest.

The next step in less intense. I use a medium Sharpie to trace the lettering onto the board.

Take a break. Just joking, but the lettering takes alot of patience.  Almost any mistakes up to this point can be easily fixed. The lettering is unforgiving and tedious, but it is the thing that really makes the sign “pop.” I used my smallest art brush for this sign due to the much smaller lettering on the second line.

Last but not least . . . A couple of accents add the finishing touch.  This sign is getting small beach rocks. The accent can be anything. I use shells, sand dollars, starfish, etc. Anything can work . . . I happen to like the touch of nature.

Tada! There it is. This was the hardest one yet. I will stick to few words in larger point sizes from now on.  This sign was a special, special project though and worth the extra effort. This will be packed up and mailed on Monday.

Happy Birthday P!