How to Personalize a Wooden Cut-out Letter of Baby's Name

Cut-out wooden letters, readily found in craft stores, can become a simple yet meaningful decoration for a baby's bedroom. The shape of the letter that begins her name and adorns her wall may even help her recognize that letter as she grows older. Embellishing the simple wooden cut-out isn't difficult or complicated, and with the array of stickers available at most craft and scrapbooking stores, you can customize the letter for any nursery.

Things You'll Need

• Wooden letter cut out, the first initial of baby's name
• Acrylic craft paint to coordinate with the nursery
• Small disposable bowl or plate for the paint
• Paint brushes or value pack of poly brushes
• Embellishment stickers

Instructions

1. Remove any manufacturer's stickers or labels from the letter. Rub off any glue residue that may remain; paint won't adhere properly to dirt or labels.

2. In the small disposable bowl or plate, squirt a little bit of the acrylic craft paint. To create more of a paint-washed look on your letter, add a few drops of water to the paint and stir to thin it.

3. Using the paint brushes, paint the letter on the top and the sides. Allow to dry thoroughly, about 20 to 30 minutes, before painting the back side. You may want to paint the letter with a second coat of paint for a more opaque finish. If you want a more transparent washed look, one coat of paint should be enough.

4. When the paint on both sides of the letter is dried, place the sticker embellishments all over the letter. You can choose to place them in a pattern or in a random manner. Allow some of the stickers to wrap around the edges of the letter for a more three-dimensional look. Don't cover the back of the letter with stickers; they won't be seen, and the letter may not hang on the wall evenly.

Tips & Warnings

• If you desire a more polished looking letter, coat the painted letter with a clear spray varnish before applying the stickers.

• For a more rustic look, sand the corners of the painted letter to "age" it before applying the stickers.

• If you have toddlers around, please make sure to paint out of reach of little hands that will make big messes.