A Fabulous Wooden Sign Knock-Off

Originally posted 2015-08-14 08:00:39.

DIY Wood Sign Knock-Off

When I first saw this sign, I was in love! My family and I love the great outdoors, and for some reason this sign spoke to me! I decided to copy the design and share my DIY wood sign knock-off with you! It is really easy  to make, and is quite inexpensive. I used my vinyl and paper cutter to create the lettering but if you are one of those awesome types that can freehand painted lettering… well, I’m jealous!

Supplies:

• 1×6 board, approximately 12″ long *
• Sandpaper – 80, 150, 220 grits
• 2 contrasting colors of paint (paint samples are great for this!)
• Mod Podge and a sponge brush (<– affiliate link!)
• Vinyl and paper cutter with vinyl OR
• Stencil plastic and craft knife

*Home improvement centers like Home Depot will cut boards down for you but will not cut them shorter than 12″for safety reasons.

Start by thoroughly sanding the board. Start with the 80 grit sandpaper, moving to the 150 grit sandpaper, and finishing with the 220 grit sandpaper. Use a damp cloth or a microfiber cloth to wipe off the sanding dust.

I painted the board with two coats of a white paint (Silky White by Behr) and let it dry overnight.

Next, I used my vinyl and paper cutter to cut the lettering out of vinyl, and applied the vinyl to the board. I’ve included the cut file (for a Silhouette Cameo) and also a PDF so that it can be printed and traced onto stencil plastic, in case you want to make a sign just like this!

I applied a coat of Mod Podge with a sponge brush. This helps seal the edges of the vinyl so the paint doesn’t seep through. Once the Mod Podge was dry, I lightly sanded over it with the 220 sandpaper to rough it up a bit.

I applied two coats of paint over the entire board using another paint sample (in Equestrian Green by Behr) and let it dry overnight.

Once the paint was dry, I removed the lettering. I used a piece of the sandpaper to sort of weather the sign. This is a completely optional step! I added a soda can tab to the back with a washer and a screw for hanging.

I actually made two of the signs. I distressed one a little more than the other… I’m not quite sure how I feel about it yet!

How easy was that? If you have any trouble with the file or the PDF, please let me know – this is my first time sharing a file like this! Where would you hang your DIY wood sign knock-off? Leave your ideas below!