DIY Rustic Wood Signs

I'd like to think that I know a little something about making wood signs. You know, those cute ones you see all over Hobby Lobby. This is because during my junior and senior year of high school I sold wood signs to make some money for college. So here are my tips and tricks for making your own, even if you aren't that artsy.

First of all, I'd like to say that for a job like this, it's good to have a sliding miter saw for the base wood and a table saw for the frame to saw (rip) 1"x 4" in half (although you can buy them precut for a little more money). My miter saw can cut wood up to 12" wide - any bigger, I either use a hand saw or a table saw.

If woodworking is not your thing, don't worry, you can buy pre-made signs at places like Walmart or Joann's.

If you are planning on making a sign from beginning to end, I would recommend using 1"x 12" pine boards for the base if it's a smaller sign, and if it's a bigger sign, either using plywood or adjoining multiple boards together.

I recommend using a nail gun to attach the frame to the base board; it's quick, easy, and won't leave huge holes to fill in. But the old nail and hammer will also do the trick.

Next comes my favorite part, the design! Pinterest is a great place to get ideas but the problem comes with figuring out how to get it on the sign. If free handing is your thing, go for it, but I'll give a couple alternative options for those less inclined to do that.

1) Draw it out on paper or print out a design and use carbon paper to transfer it onto your sign. After that, I'd recommend using Painter's Paint Markers for your lettering. I've also used Sharpie's Oil-based Paint Markers , but I find that they dry out quicker.

2) Design your sign on Canva, a free website with great fonts and graphics, and then use a projector to project your design onto your sign. When I have a lot of sign orders to fill, this was the easiest and fastest option for me!

Last but not least comes the wall hangers! Once you get those screwed in, you're ready to hang up your first masterpiece! Happy building!