This is one of those craft projects that can be super easy and fun or incredibly annoying and make you question your sanity. I had a little of both. Seems easy enough right? You just paint a couple of signs and slap them on a pole...no.
Supplies:
Wooden signs (Michaels)
Spray Paint (I used Almond from Valspar, Lowes)
Spray Paint Handle (a doohicky you get from the hardware store to put on the top of the can to control the flow of paint and not get your fingers all icky)
Craft Paint (I used Folkart Acrylic in Basil Green, Michaels)
Paint Pens (Sharpie or Hobby Lobby Brand work well)
Transfer Paper (Michaels/Hobby Lobby or any store that carries office supplies should have it)
Pencil
Brush
Computer with associated software
Personal Photo
Here are the steps I used that didn't lead to repainting them...again:
Spray paint the signs in light coats and let fully dry.
Design the sign in Word or Photoshop first (I can provide a step-by-step on this). If you can't find good pictures you like, consider a picture font to create flourishes. A good place to start looking: MyFonts or Fontspace. These are also good places to find fun new text fonts for your signs.
You can hold the sign up to the light to see the edges under the paper to line it up properly.
With a piece of graphite transfer paper between the sign and the paper, trace the sign's details.
Using a brush, paint the background parts first (in my case the green).
Using a permanent paint pen, paint the letters.
Touch up as necessary and add a clear coat if you wish.
Add wooden embellishments if you want. You can buy finials and appliques from the craft or hardware store. I got mine at Lowes.
Here are the lessons I learned:
Use spray paint! Latex paint never seems to fully dry and they will stick together. Boo. Take 2.
Make sure you know which side of the transfer paper actually transfers to the sign or you will excitedly rip off the template to find...NOTHING. Take 2.1.
Be very careful with paint pens. I found that frequently pushing up and down on a paper towel to prime the tip and then working in small stokes seemed to work well. If you get too excited and push down, they will leave a giant blob of ink all over your sign that dries pretty much immediately. Take 3.
Wonky placement on the sign can be counteracted visually by putting the pieces of the sign in a staggered array instead of all in a row.
Make sure your sign points the right way BEFORE painting it. =)
Personal Photo
I attached the signs on the pole with hot glue. The post is a 1"x2"x6' piece of wood from Lowes. For the remaining three signs, I will probably hang them with ribbon or using a removable double-sided tape. The extra photo booth sign was because I got completely done painting it only to realize it pointed the wrong way. The bathroom sign is still up for debate because I think it was cute to make the universal bathroom symbol into a little bride and groom but my fiance says to him it means "Bride and groom this way" or "Flying nun and James Bond over here". *Sigh*
ROFL. You are too cute! I am now going to make mine after threatening one of the BM to stand on the corner with a billboard on her stating " wedding this way " ! Dafont is another good site to
Download free fonts.
LOVE your sign! I am a do-it-yourself failure! But have been dying to make a sign for my wedding! Your step by step process seems fairly simple... As I am technology challegened, would you mind sending me a step by step on how you designed your signs? What fonts did you use?
I Like the Direction This is Going...
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Click on pictures to enlarge. If you have any questions or want to see closeup photos, let me know via Weddingbee message. =)
posted by Season 1 year agoYou are so crafty! Saving this one also! =D
posted by lovebugfouts 1 year agoThank you for sharing! I have been wanting to do this and with your help I will be able to!
posted by leannamari3 1 year agoROFL. You are too cute! I am now going to make mine after threatening one of the BM to stand on the corner with a billboard on her stating " wedding this way " ! Dafont is another good site to
posted by Christine4RN 1 year agoDownload free fonts.
I think the bathroom sign should still work. People will get it. These are very nice! Great job!
posted by ScottishMrs 1 year agoGreat job!
posted by SimplySab 1 year agoVery cute!
posted by Pinklibra 1 year agoYou obviously put so much love into that!!!! Love it!
posted by amethystmeg 1 year agoLOVE your sign! I am a do-it-yourself failure! But have been dying to make a sign for my wedding! Your step by step process seems fairly simple... As I am technology challegened, would you mind sending me a step by step on how you designed your signs? What fonts did you use?
posted by HollyJ 1 year agoI honestly cannot find the files I used to make these now. I wiped my harddrive and it doesn't seem to be on the backups. =/
posted by Season 11 months agoIf you are able to locate a copy of your files....could you please share? You did a wonderful job! Thank you.
watsonsh@aol.com
posted by BickfordWatsonsh 11 months ago