RUSTIC LETTER SIGN

Words can be powerful and inspiring. Whether they are words from a loved one, a quote from someone famous, or just a favorite saying, decorating your space with words that can be seen every day is the perfect way to personalize your home. This project lets you choose whichever words you want—from something as small as spelling out a child’s name to as large as the lyrics of a song—and is truly only limited by your imagination. I chose to add letters to a stained piece of plywood, but you could easily paint the wood or cover it in fabric. Or instead of wood, you could choose to use a white or a burlap canvas.

MATERIALS

• Rubber gloves
• Stain cloth
• Wood stain
• 14" × 18" piece of plywood
• Ruler
• Galvanized letters, 2" tall
• Pencil or chalk (optional)
• Square
• Heavy-duty craft glue appropriate for metal and wood

1. Put your rubber gloves on to protect your hands, dip your stain cloth into the stain, and stain your plywood. Be sure to wipe in the direction of the wood grain. Once applied, wipe off any extra stain within a few minutes of applying. Follow the package directions on your stain to allow for proper drying time before moving on to the next step.

   

2. Use your ruler to line up your letters and determine your layout on the plywood. It is best to line up the left side of your words first. If you desire, you could make a pencil or chalk mark for reference.

   

3. Line up your bottom word with the square, using the placement of the first letter determined in step 2 as your guide.

   

4. Glue each letter to the plywood.

   

5. Move up the plywood, using your square to keep your letters straight, until you have completed all of your words. Let the glue dry according to package instructions and then you are ready to enjoy your sign.

   

TIPS & RECOMMENDATIONS

This project would work great as a gift. Imagine a wedding present with the new family’s last name or a baby gift with a quote from a favorite storybook.