I love signs. My favorite store to shop for signs is Hobby Lobby. They have lots of options. Make sure you know what you’re looking for before you go or you’ll be overwhelmed. LOL.
I have been wanting to do a DIY sign for a while now. However, I am hesitant to do it because I am still learning how to do calligraphy. After browsing on Pinterest for DIY wood signs, I found this easy tutorial using pencil lead.
Let’s get started.
For this project you will need:
- blank wood frame or canvas
- printed design
- paint
- paintbrush or roller
- Minwax stain
- Sharpie
- pencil
- masking tape
Instructions:
- Stain the frame (optional).
If you are using canvas you may skip this step. I used Minwax provincial stain for the frame. - Paint the blank wood white.
I used a leftover latex paint, but acrylic will do too. Let it dry overnight. If it doesn’t cure the paint may peel as you trace the design. - Shade the backside of your printable.
You are coloring with the edge of the lead, not the tip. The aim is to put enough lead behind the printable pattern/words so that when you trace it the lead will imprint on wood.
- Affix the printable printside up on your wood with tape.
Use masking tape so it won’t damage the paint when you unfasten it. The side with lead shading should be directly against the wood.
- Trace your printable.
Apply enough pressure to transfer the lead to the wood but not so hard as to indent the paint. - Unfasten the printable.
The design should have transferred to the painted wood. Start by unfastening just the bottom corners and peeking at the result. This will allow you to reattach the corners if you need to trace something you missed or that didn’t transfer well. - Trace the imprint with permanent marker.
Take care not to press too hard when tracing as this can sometimes cause Latex paint to shift.
That’s it. Easy, right?
Let me know how your project works out.
Jennabel
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