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Jaime Costiglio

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DIY Handpainted Sign

January 22, 2016

There’s something about making things by hand that feels so real.  This DIY handpainted sign project adds that touch of humanity to our family room space and I’ll show you how I made it without a fancy vinyl cutting machine.
laura ingalls quote

A DIY tutorial to make a handpainted sign without using a vinyl cutting machine. Paint your favorite quote or saying by hand with just a printer.

A few weeks back I posted this wall art I had made on Instagram and many folks had asked if I would share a tutorial.  Below are the steps to make this handpainted sign.  It is comprised of planked wood with handpainted lettering.  If you can color in the lines then I promise you can make this sign.
I choose this quote because:
  • 1. I recently saw it in the March 2015 issue of Country Living magazine
  • 2. I’m a long time Little House on the Prairie fan
  • 3. We needed some wall art in that spot after the tree shelf from Christmas came down.
Country Living magazine March 2015
Growing up I wanted to be Laura Ingalls, life on the prairie was so basic and simple and I loved everything about her rustic family lifestyle.  That might explain a little bit of why I choose to buy a 1740 saltbox farmhouse, living out my inner Laura every day (except with indoor plumbing ;)).
laura ingalls quote wall art
At any rate back to the sign.  You can make it any size to fit your space.  I joined a couple scrap 1×6 and 1×8 boards to get the width I wanted and cut them all to the same length.
The first step is to find a quote or inspirational saying that you love. Then determine the size you need and go from there.
diy framed wall art

Handpainted Sign How-to:

Below are the step by step instructions to make a planked wood handpainted sign.
planked boards attach with pocket holes

Sign Backer

Step 1:

Attach planks using wood glue and pocket holes.  My sign measures 29″w x 32″h (without the frame).  If you don’t have a pocket hole jig you could attach two horizontal boards across all the vertical planks and screw the boards to the planks.

word document print out using for sign making

Step 2:  

Set up a word document with your quote in the font you like.  There are hundreds of free fonts online.  I used Laser Metal font from here at 350 point.  I recommend setting your margins to .10 on all sides of the word document to get the most use out of your space and print in outline to save ink.  You can see the document will print on multiple pages and you have to line up the words by taping the pages together.

Step 3:

Using a ballpoint pen trace the outline of each letter with heavy pressure.  This will leave an indent in the wood where you will paint.  I suggest working one row at a time.
handpainted script lettering

Painting Letters

Step 4:

Using a small paint brush and white high gloss acrylic paint slowly paint on and inside the indent left behind by the pen.
stain over paint

Step 5:

Once the lettering is dry then apply Minwax early american stain.  The gloss finish on the lettering will not accept the stain.  Go back over the sign and wipe off excess stain and clean up lettering.
framed planked sign

Step 6:

Attach 1×2 frame.  (I suggest painting the frame pieces before attaching unlike I did here.)  Keep a 1/2″ inset at front and use wood glue and 1 1/4″ finish nails.
For something lightweight like this I use 2 screws into the upper third at each side on the back then attach a wire in between the screws.  Super easy and fast for hanging.
family room wall art
Hope you enjoyed this handpainted sign tutorial.  I’ve made many, many signs and have lots of different versions floating around this blog.  Click here for many more.
diy handpainted sign tutorial

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Filed Under: DIY, FAMILY ROOM, HOME DECOR, HOME DECOR, PAINT, SALTBOX PROJECT25 Comments

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Cassie @ Primitive & Proper says

    January 22, 2016 at 2:08 PM

    this turned out SO good! love love love! i am wanting to create large lyric art in my living room, but it scares me!

    Reply
  2. Cristina Garay says

    January 22, 2016 at 7:56 PM

    Love it! The font is perfect! 😉

    Reply
  3. Mindi Carwin says

    January 23, 2016 at 12:16 AM

    Love love it! Cool font!

    Reply
    • Mallory says

      April 14, 2019 at 8:21 PM

      Where .can I get that font.? You made a masterpiece!

      Reply
      • Jaime says

        April 17, 2019 at 11:05 AM

        Thanks Mallory. The font sourced is linked above but I will leave it here as well: https://www.dafont.com/lasermetal.font

        Reply
        • Karen says

          June 19, 2019 at 9:58 AM

          What is the best type of paper to use for this project? Thanks

          Reply
          • Jaime says

            June 19, 2019 at 8:21 PM

            Hi Karen, I just use regular copy paper in my printer.

  4. Kim @ NewlyWoodwards says

    January 24, 2016 at 5:59 PM

    I love this so much, Jaime. It looks incredible! I also love the way you did the frame – really nice way to finish it. I feel like this is what some of my signs know.

    Reply
  5. [email protected] says

    January 24, 2016 at 9:57 PM

    Looks Good!
    something else you could add for less-artistic people:) is if you rub the back paper of the computer printed paper with chalk or pencil or even charcoal, then trace with the ball point pen it will leave a transfer of the script.

    Reply
  6. Karen Sue says

    January 25, 2016 at 9:13 PM

    Don't be afraid!! For the most part, you can sand it off and try again, if you think it's messed up. This looks great! My daughter found some scrap wood in the garage last spring and made a couple of pieces to hang on the wall of the house she bought last summer. turned out really cute

    Reply
  7. Annie Abbey says

    January 26, 2016 at 12:02 PM

    Such a great quote and a wonderful tutorial! Thanks so much for sharing!
    xx Annie
    http://www.somethingswellblog.com/

    Reply
  8. Jana Kirkland says

    February 1, 2016 at 8:11 PM

    I love it! By the way, where did you get your end table and coffee table? that is exactly what I am looking for!

    Reply
  9. Donna Copley says

    October 15, 2018 at 12:13 PM

    What type of paper did you use when you printed out your saying ?

    Reply
    • Jaime says

      October 16, 2018 at 5:59 AM

      Hi Donna, I use regular printer paper – 20 lb. copy paper. Nothing fancy.

      Reply
  10. Edie says

    October 22, 2018 at 5:49 PM

    I want to try this for signs for our church bazaar – only 2 weeks away and I have so many more ideas than time! – but have a question: Your tutorial has you painting the quote before applying the Minwax stain. Does the stain not mess up the lettering?

    Reply
    • Jaime says

      October 23, 2018 at 6:08 AM

      Hi Edie, Yes I prefer to paint before stain. If you use an acrylic or gloss paint the stain won’t adhere to the paint. It does get in the little grooves of the paint and I like how it adds a bit of character to the bright paint but you could definitely stain first and then paint. Good luck with the bazaar!

      Reply
  11. Joy says

    January 15, 2019 at 2:58 PM

    By putting the stain on last, won’t it color the white painted wording?

    Reply
    • Jaime says

      January 16, 2019 at 6:05 AM

      Hi Joy, I used white high gloss acrylic paint here. The stain won’t stick to gloss paint. You could put the stain on first and paint over it but that requires more coats.

      Reply
  12. Jen Beck Seymour says

    July 19, 2019 at 10:13 AM

    Thank you SO much for this tutorial!! I just painted my own “let’s eat” sign, and your font and word and outline tips were EXACTLY what I needed! My sign turned out GREAT, looks so professional. I can’t thank you enough!! — Jen

    Reply
    • Jaime says

      July 21, 2019 at 10:43 AM

      Hi Jen, Great news, I love hearing from readers who’ve made their own projects. Happy to share my steps and techniques along the way. 🙂

      Reply
  13. Anita says

    October 8, 2019 at 7:30 AM

    Hi Jamie! Thanks so much for your detailed instructions! I make a lot of signs but I always have trouble with the white lettering “seeping in” and not looking so white anymore ☹️ But that might be because I do it after I stain the wood! I’m anxious to try this method I usually use a “paint pen”… do you think this method would still work with that?
    Thanks!
    -Anita!

    Reply
    • Jaime says

      October 8, 2019 at 7:33 AM

      Hi Anita, I highly recommend using enamel paint which dries hard like nail polish. Then I do the staining after the paint is dry and the enamel won’t take the stain so the white remains crisp. You could definitely use a paint pen as long as it’s oil based and completely dry before applying the stain. Good luck!

      Reply
      • Anita says

        October 9, 2019 at 6:59 AM

        Jamie, thanks so much for the response!! I’m really looking forward to trying it. If I remember, I’ll let you know how it goes with the paint pen (they are oil based)

        Reply
  14. Dorinda says

    November 25, 2019 at 3:16 PM

    Hi, your sign looks amazing, can you recommend a good white paint?, I have tried several and they all seem to need several coats, with every coat there is room for error. Thank you

    Reply
    • Jaime says

      November 26, 2019 at 6:06 AM

      Hi Dorinda, the best (and most opaque with one coat) gloss white I use is DecoArt Americana Gloss enamels.

      Reply

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