I love ways to stretch decor into multiple seasons, don’t you? With my simple tutorial, you will learn how to make wooden signs with stencils. But, best of all, you’ll get two signs with very different looks in one!
Sprucing up your front porch is a great way to add curb appeal. But, I rarely seem to have a lot of spare time. So, if I can find a way to have my outdoor decor stretch with the seasons it’s a win-win. I found this old board at a local flea market for a little more than a dollar.
I knew I’d find some use for it, so I grabbed it. When I got an opportunity, I decided to make wood signs to last through the Christmas holiday on one side and a more generic sign on the other.
How to make Wooden signs with stencils:
Wood Sign #1:
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After I wiped the board really well and allowed it to dry, I stained the “Joy” side with Minwax Special Walnut wood stain. I followed the directions on the can, using two coats, with sufficient dry time between coats.
Where To Get the Stencils…and how to transfer them onto the board:
No need to buy any stencils! I printed each letter of “JOY” separately on 8 1/2 x 11″ paper. Pick a font you love! Ensure the size of the letter is proportionate to the board.
On the back side of each printed letter, shade around the edges of the letter with chalk. Then, tape it to the board where you want the letter to be. Use a pencil to trace around the letter with a fair amount of pressure.
This allowed the chalk to transfer to my board, leaving an outline of the letter.
I was then able to paint inside the letter tracing with white chalk paint I had left over from a different project. I did not seal this, but I still might put a coat of polycrylic on the board.
It seems to be holding up fairly well, though, so I will likely just leave it like this!
Wood Sign #2
On the other side of the board, I painted the base layer in a gray chalk paint I had left over from a different project.
After allowing that to dry, I printed out the letters for “Welcome” and traced them onto the board, using the method I described above. I painted inside these tracings with white paint as well.
Overall, this was a very easy and inexpensive project. Since I already had the paint and stain from previous projects, it cost me just over a buck!
Now you know how to make wooden signs with stencils!
I’d love to hear from you. Make a quick comment below and tell me your thoughts. I’m a big fan of stencil projects. If you love them too, take a look at these:
