How to Make Small Gift Signs From Wood

Homemade signs from wood help to personalize a home or garden.

Small signs can be created to place in a garden or family kitchen. Signs can either announce the name of the family who lives there, or can feature a funny joke or inspirational quote to show off the owner’s personality. Creating a personalized sign to give as a gift is a thoughtful idea and not as difficult as it seems.

Things You'll Need

• 1/2-inch thick piece of wood
• Sander
• Fine-grit sandpaper
• Pencil
• Stencils
• Acrylic craft paint
• Clear wood varnish
• Nail/Staple gun with staples
• Post/Twine/Thread

Instructions

1. Find a flat piece of wood that is around 1/2 inch thick. Its length and width will vary based on its purpose, so pick the size that fits your needs. Choose a smaller piece of wood for indoor sign displays. Choose a larger piece if the sign will be hung outdoors or needs to be seen from a distance. The type of wood you use comes down to personal preference, but pine wood will hold up to the elements and is inexpensive.

2. Use a sander with fine-grit sandpaper to smooth the piece of wood if it is coarse. Sand the wood until it is level and even. If the wood is too coarse, the paint will not adhere evenly. If you do not have access to a sander, purchase the smoothest piece of wood you can find. Use your hands to vigorously rub the wood with fine-grit sand paper to smooth it further.

3. 

   Purchase stencils if neatness is a concern.

   Use a pencil to outline on the wood what you plan to draw and write. Keep your marks light if you are going to paint in a light color to minimize the risk of pencil lines showing through. Draw designs on your sign, such as flowers in the corners, to personalize the sign.

4. 

   Acrylic paints come in every imaginable color for your designs.

   Use acrylic craft paint to paint the design you outlined.

5. Let the acrylic paint dry. Avoid touching the painted area to ensure you won’t smear or smudge the paint. Drying times will vary between paints, so check the packaging on your paint to get an accurate estimate. If your paint packaging does not specify, 24 hours should be more than enough time for it to dry and will keep you on the safe side.

6. Finish the wooden sign by polishing over the painted area with a clear wood varnish to protect the sign and make the design last longer.

7. Nail the sign into a small wooden post if it’s being posted outside, or use wood staples to secure a strong piece of thread or twine to the back of the sign so it can be displayed on a wall.

References

• Crafters Love Crafts: Wooden Signs