how to hand letter signs like a pro (with a sharpie!)

I love to hand letter wood signs.

They’re rustic, customizable, and very on-trend. How to hand-letter signs is one of the most common questions I get…I’m so happy to share my own lettering technique with you today!

Yes, lots of techniques are out there for learning how to hand letter wood signs…painting over letter stickers is a popular one, especially when creating subway art. Letter stencils are another easy method.

Neither was what I was after, though. I wanted something that would give me large letters, and I also didn’t like the line “breaks” that you see in letter stencils.

(I shared a very similiar technique when I first started my blog on my Wooden Welcome Sign Tutorial, but I wanted to reshare it here!)

Materials Needed:
computer and printer
pencil
wood
paint marker
craft paint

Step One: Find a font that you want to recreate, and, using your word processing software, type out and print out exactly what you want the sign to say. Also, make your letters the exact size you want them to be in the finished product.

Step Two: Cut out each individual letter (leave a border of white around each letter), and place each letter exactly where you want it on your wood. Take your pencil (I used a mechanical pencil with no lead showing), and outline each of your letters.

The marks will be visible, but only barely!

Step Three: (This, by the way, is where real artists probably want to stop reading-if they haven’t already!) Outline your letters using a paint pen.

Step Four: Using a small paintbrush and craft paint. Fill in your letters (I needed two coats).

What other Sharpies art ideas do you love?

I’d love to hear any tips you all have for hand lettering signs! This is, so far, the easiest method I’ve found…what works for you?