I am so excited to finally show y’all how I make a rustic wood sign. It took long enough, right? I have 4 of these signs hanging in the house, and I was so excited to get the chance to use some reclaimed wood for a holiday-themed Trash to Treasure challenge with my blogging tribe and Kimm at Reinvented!
Everyone knows Andrew and I hoard all the salvage and reclaimed things in the garage. All the people (in the world) know I will gladly accept any and all wood… I’m just waiting for the day someone gives me a whole barn. Last week, Andrew came home from work with a dismantled old crusty, dusty, chippy workshop desk in his trunk from a coworker. Y’all, that is like… true love.
I knew a few of these pieces would make a beautiful wood sign, so I picked out a few to see which I was going to make go-jus for this Trash to Treasure challenge.
After I found the piece I liked to make the wood sign from, and cleaned it off, I knew I wanted to do “O Holy Night” in a fancy font, and have it stand on the front porch. I mean, when I officially transition to Christmas porch décor. It’s still fall, y’all. Handmakers gotta make!
This post contains affiliate links. See my full disclosure here.
I design the typography for a wood sign in the most basic of ways… I use Word or Open Office. I pick my fonts, and blow them up to the dimensions I need for whatever size sign I have. All my fonts for non-commercial products are from dafont.com, but I also am in love with these insanely affordable fonts for graphics, printables, invitations, and all the typography things from The Hungry JPEG.
From here, you can either print it out, or trace it from your screen. Typically, I would print it, but at the time I made this, my kids were napping and the printer is upstairs. I stay off the 2nd floor unless it’s absolutely necessary because… crabby children I do not want.
I traced my letters on my screen very lightly with a pencil. Lay them out on the sign how you want them; trim around them and tape if you like. I live on the wild side, and just hold them down.
With a ball point pen (it’s got to be a ball point pen), trace the letters onto the wood, making sure you press hard. If you have hard wood, you’ll need to press really hard. If it’s a softer wood, you won’t need to push too hard to make the indent. This slab of wood was much harder than I thought, and was really beat up, I ended up having to press extra hard.
After you trace all your letters, get that paint pen and start filling it in. I had to use a flashlight to see the indents on the sign, just because there were so many distressed areas.
The paint pens I use were recommended to me from Sarah at 1915 House, and I really have no idea why I never bothered to try these before! They dry pretty quick, the paint comes out continuously and smoothly, and this ultra fine tip is perfect for swooshes and details. I have used the fine tip too, and it’s great. If anything, I’d typically go with a fine and an ultra fine, just to fill in the thicker letters a bit faster.
I decided to not distress the letters after I finished, but you can certainly sand some down if you like. This sign is probably one of my favorites, and I have another few boards that are painted white and are super weathered, so what should I put on ’em?!
So, have you started making anything for Christmas, decorating for Christmas, or are you a typical procrastinator? I am a total procrastinator, despite this being done… don’t let it fool you, I am always late with my Christmas decor! Please feel free to pin the heck out of this post…
You have just changed my life with this post. Why didn’t I think of just tracing from my screen????? I shall now be making all the signs.
XOXO,
Lisa
THIS SIGN THOUGH!!!! Oh my WORD. Love times a thousand!!! I’ve got some old signs downstairs that need an update and you KNOW I’ll be putting Christmas songs on them!!! Thank you for the inspiration, Hun!!!
Love the words that you chose for the sign and the font.
I love the font you used!! That sign is beautiful!! I am going to have to make one for our porch!!
I can’t shoot enough hearts ? out my eyeballs for this. Complete Perfection. Now I won’t be able to sleep because i HAVE to make it right now!
Your sign is awesome! Really want to do this! Thanks for the info.
I love this sign to bits!! Looks perfect on your sweet porch too! Great tip to on tracing the words straight from your computer screen!!
Fabulous and simple tutorial Kim! I will try this method of copying straight from the laptop! Thanks for the tip.
I love this so much. I think I need to start taking peoples wood too. That is awesome. The paint pen is genius too. It is so sweet and looks amazing.
Love it!! So simple and rustic. Thanks for sharing!
OH MY GENIUS! I have so much to say… 😉 First, tracing the letter is pure genius, no wasted ink! I will definitely try the paint pen too. AND this is my favorite Christmas hymn, I had planned to make a similar sign for our mantel, and now I know how! Thanks so much for participating in the Blog Hop!
Thanks Kimm!!!
Kim i am also in awe about tracing from the screen. Brilliant!!! I’m trying the pens too. I have a pallet sitting in my backyard. Definitely making a sign!! Good job girl!
I love this sign, that is my favorite Christmas song ever! I just got some of those paint pens so I need to get a project or two going wit them.
My trash to treasure project is finally done HA, it will be posted on Monday. Better late than never, #amiright ?