how to make a wooden sign {a tutorial}

Hand-lettering your own wooden signs is easy, takes few materials, and you can create something totally custom and one-of-a-kind.

I’m updating and resharing a very popular post from a few years back today…if you’ve ever wanted to know how to create your own wooden signs, you’re in the right place! Enjoy!

Yes, lots of techniques are out there…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).

I’d love to hear any tips you all have for how to make a wood signs!

This is, so far, the easiest method I’ve found…what works for you?