How To Make Wood Plaques

Get all the details on how to build stain and pigment a wood sign beneath.

Like many of you, I dearest the look of a worn forest sign. My home and decor are not rustic, more modern to be verbal, merely a impact of rough wood here and in that location adds then much character.

However, I cannot bring myself to notice, deconstruct, and build a sign from an sometime pallet. Then I made my ain out of squeamish new clean lumber.

This post may contain chapter links, view my full disclosure policy here.

HOW TO build and stencil a wood sign. Full video tutorial.

Watch the full video serial on how to build and stencil forest signs on YouTube.

Earlier I begin I should tell y'all what I have against pallet forest. Information technology's free and easy to come up by, but information technology'southward also muddied and could contain mold, termites or who knows what else. I am not comfortable bringing that blazon of wood into my home. And then for just a few dollars I make my own wood signs, here's how I do it.

Start with these Materials:

one×4 piece of pine, total length of 96 inches
Woods strip, around 1×ii inches
Miter saw
Drill and $.25
Screws, ane 1/4 inch
Clamps
Grayness stain and brush or cloth – this is my go to grayness stain and it is beautiful. Get yours here!
Cricut or Silhouette
Vinyl
White paint and brush

This sign measures 16×24, and then cut the 1×4 into 24-inch inch lengths using a miter saw. You lot can utilise these tips and techniques to make a sign of any size. The larger the sign, the more than support you will demand on the back.

To assemble the 1×4 boards into a pallet sign, cut the wood strip into 12-inch lengths to screw into the back. These strips can exist found in the lumber aisle at a hardware store, they are rough and inexpensive and perfect for back supports of a wood sign.

Line up the ane×4 boards in the manner you desire the sign to look. I like a staggered look on the edges, so my boards are not fifty-fifty every bit y'all can see in the photo above.

Once they are all in place, clench the 4 pine boards together then identify the 2 wood strips on the back and drill holes through the strips into each of the 4 boards. Place screws in each board then remove the clamp.

Now that the sign is built, that was really easy correct? It's time to stain the wood and set it for stenciling.

This is my get-to gray stain for just nearly every sign I make. Information technology's low-cal and you lot tin can use just about any color of paint over information technology.

Use a sponge brush or clean rag to apply a very calorie-free glaze of stain to the wood. I like to be able to come across the wood grain and take a rustic uneven finish to my sign. When done applying the stain, take a newspaper towel and remove any excess stain from the sign by wiping from one stop to the other.

Watching my staining technique in the wood sign video series.

Allow the stain dry according to the stain package directions. For this grayness stain, I let it dry out overnight. This step is central in ensuring the stencil and paint you put on elevation will stick and hold upward well.

Now that the stain is dry it'due south time to stencil a forest sign.

3 Ways to Stencil a Wood Sign

I used my Silhouette to create a stencil that reads "Gather here with grateful hearts". You tin create a script font stencil from whatsoever font on your calculator. One time you master this technique yous'll be making signs left and right!

Yous tin can as well use a Cricut to create a stencil. Cricut Design Space has many premade options you can size accordingly and cut for your project.

When the font was ready I widened my design space to xvi×24 to lay everything out on the reckoner, and so moved the words around to cut on a 12-inch broad piece of vinyl.

I prefer Oracle 631 vinyl to create stencils because it is repositionable, you tin can besides utilize contact paper. Be sure to watch the to a higher place video for 2 other stenciling methods, including how to make a reusable stencil at home.

Now that the stencil is cut from vinyl information technology'due south fourth dimension to transfer information technology to the sign. I cannot stress plenty how important it is to ensure the stain is dry earlier applying the stencil! Skipping this step volition lead to paint bleeding and chipping down the road.

Transfer the stencil to the sign using contact paper or transfer tape. Shine down to remove whatsoever gaps or bubbles, then pull back the contact newspaper or transfer tape to reveal the stencil.

At present it's time to paint this wood sign!

Gather sign. How to build stain and paint a wood sign.

Load up a minor amount of paint using a stencil brush or sponge castor then wipe off most of the excess. Very fiddling paint is required to stencil a forest sign.

Using an upwardly and down move, apply paint to the stencil. A calorie-free first coat is ideal. Once the start glaze is applied, repeat the process with just a modest amount of paint and apply a second coat. Practise this until you take your desired corporeality of coverage.

When the painting is complete, remove the stencil right away and let the paint to dry. Pull back slowly and utilise a small option or tweezer to pull upward any vinyl pieces left behind. Crisp clean lines every fourth dimension when stenciling with a Silhouette and vinyl.

That is how to make a wood sign! A process that once you become used to you will want to do over and over again. Make wood signs for your ain dwelling house, or give them as gifts. You can even teach others how to make wood signs!

If you love making wood signs, lookout this video to learn how to turn this fun hobby into a modest business.

In my opinion, you lot do not need to seal a wood sign at this point. If yous follow these steps and keep the sign indoors, it volition hold up well for many years to come. If you choose to keep a sign outside then it does need to be sealed. Sealing a wood sign can besides give it a certain wait that you are after. Whatever your motive, acquire exactly how to seal a wood sign here.

Other types of wood signs

There are many ways to make a woods sign.

Learn how to make a simple framed forest sign using a piece of plywood and one×4 boards.
Create a framed canvas and plough information technology into a bold piece of fine art.
Make a large outdoor welcome sign for your front end porch
How to make a wood sign without a stencil

Materials

1x4 pino boards - 96 inches total
Wood Strip - 24 inches total
1 1/iv" screws

Tools

Miter Saw
Sand paper
Clamps
Drill

Instructions

Cut 4 pieces of 1x4 pino into 24 inch pieces.
Cutting two pieces of wood strip, 12 inches each.
Sand down whatsoever crude edges.
Lay the 4 1x4 pine boards into the shape of a sign, stagger the edges if you prefer.
Lay the 2 wood strips on acme of the boards.
With everything in place, clamp the wood together to secure it.
Drill holes through the strip into each board, iv holes per strip.
Spiral the stips to the boards.