How to Design Your Own House Number Sign

Small mosaic tiles can be used in a house sign design.

A dramatic and practical house number sign can be custom-designed in a few hours with a few basic office supplies. After the design is completed, it can be executed in small decorative 3/8-inch-square mosaic tiles on a plain piece of wood with mosaic glue and bathroom tile grout. This weatherproof and durable house number sign will make your home stand out from the neighbors. The mosaic house number sign would also make a thoughtful handmade housewarming or holiday gift.

Things You'll Need

• Graph paper with a 1/4-inch grid
• Pencil and eraser
• Block of wood
• Table saw
• Sandpaper

Instructions

1. Position the graph paper on a table in front of you so that one of the long sides of the paper is facing you.

2. Begin forming the first letter of the house number in the left center of the graph paper, composing the number entirely of squares.

3. Skip three grid squares to the right and begin forming the second number in the same manner. Repeat for each number in the house number.

4. Draw a rectangle around the completed house numbers, leaving a margin of six grid squares around the numbers.

5. Count the number of squares to determine the height and width of the finished house number sign, multiplying each square by 1/2 inch.

6. Cut a wooden block to the size arrived at in Step 5 with a table saw and sand the edges with sandpaper. Draw a 1/2-inch grid on the wooden sign base, which will allow for placement of the 3/8-inch-square mosaic tiles with a 1/8-inch space between each tile for grout.

References

• "Big Book of Crafts"; Northern Light Books; 2006
• "The Ultimate Crafts Compendium"; Joanna Lorenz; 1998