Creating a hand painted sign can be a great way to add character to almost any space. From words to initials and …. well…. the sky is really the limit. With just a little paint and know how, you can turn scrap wood into a piece of art with very little work.
HOW TO MAKE A SIGN
First things first, I always use an outline. I do it by tracing the outside edges of the letters through carbon paper onto the wood. As you can see, mine is NEVER perfect – I straighten it all up with the paint.
For fine fonts like this one above – I used a Liner #1 so that I can get into the corners.
I dip my brush into my paint straight up and straight back out. In my mind it keeps the bristles in the right place (‘course it might just be me…)
M’kay… lemme see if I can explain without going in circles. If there is a sharp angle, like the top one (with the blue arrows), I swipe my brush from the corner in, then from the corner up, and from the corner across. Then I use my brush like a magic marker and swoop around the loop.
On the bottom part, I go from the corners in on each side, connect the corners with another swipe, then swoop around the edges. The swiping in from the corners helps to keep them crisp.
I use straight strokes to do the straight lines, one beside the next to fill it in and barely overlap the carbon paper lines.
Don’t be afraid to turn the sign to whatever angle you need to get those swoops in the right direction. I always think it’s easier to stroke towards me, almost like writing.
No matter if I’m doing big, chunky fonts or thin precise ones, these tricks always help me keep the corners clean and lines crisp. I hope some of these ideas helps you, too 🙂
Want more tips? Be sure to see the other posts in this series:
Pick the perfect brush with tips in the Sign Painting 101: Brushes
Choose the perfect paint with tips in the Sign Painting 101: Picking Paint
Aimee - ItsOverflowing.com says
January 19, 2012 at 2:10 amThanks LOTS for hosting!!! Your PARTY is so GREAT! Thanks for making room for ALL of us!!! XO, Aimee
Crystal says
January 19, 2012 at 2:12 amThanks for hosting and for the tutorial. I hope you’re having a great week!
Crystal
apumpkinandaprincess.blogspot.com
Andrea at Opulent Cottage says
January 19, 2012 at 2:23 amYou make it look so easy 🙂 thanks for hosting Gina! I’m excited for Valentine Week!
Cheers, Andrea
Kammy's Korner says
January 19, 2012 at 2:53 amahhh, you’d think I was am amatuer or something, haha, but I screwed up number 65 if you could delete it so I can repost it? Not only did I name it wrong, but there’s no thumbnail (not sure why) and I’m SUPER DUPER excited about my CRAFT ROOM REVEAL and now I’m super duper bummed that I didn’t link it right! Thanks!! And thanks for hosting and putting up with dweebs like me – haha!!
Jaime says
January 19, 2012 at 2:56 amThanks Gina for hosting as always and your painting tip is very similar to a lettering post I did here:
http://thatsmyletter.blogspot.com/2011/08/p-is-for-personalize.html
I don’t use carbon paper, simply let the pressure of the pen leave an indent in the wood. Just thought I’d share, for some reason that post went rampant on Pinterest and now it has over 400,000 hits? Crazy how that happened.
Connie @ Salvage Savvy says
January 19, 2012 at 3:02 amThanks so much, Gina- I absolutely loved [and needed] this tutorial!! And as always, thanks for hosting a great party 🙂
Heaven's Walk says
January 19, 2012 at 3:10 amThanks for all the great tips, Gina! They will certainly help me create a more professional looking sign in the future! And thanks for hosting such a fun party! 🙂
xoxo laurie
Abbie says
January 19, 2012 at 4:01 amThanks so much for hosting and for fabulous sign painting tips, Gina!
Linked up a bunch of projects and am looking foward to browsing the creativity!
Awesome party! : )
Scribbler says
January 19, 2012 at 4:25 amThanks for hosting! What a cute sign — maybe one day I will try that.
Rosemary@villabarnes says
January 19, 2012 at 4:28 amThanks for hosting. Always a pleasure to drop by.
countrymommacooks.com says
January 19, 2012 at 4:55 amThank you for hosting I get a ton of traffic from your party:) I’d like to invite you to my Link & Greet on saturday @CountryMommaCooks…have a great day!
Riitta Sinikka says
January 19, 2012 at 8:33 amHi! So lovely things! I wish you a very happy day! Greetings Riitta Sinikka.
andrea says
January 19, 2012 at 11:47 amGina, thank you for hosting and the easy to follow sign tutorial. I’ll be back later tonight after work to check out the party! andrea@townandprairie
Rebekah Greiman says
January 19, 2012 at 1:04 pmHappy Thursday morning to you! I linked up tutorial on Pickling Jalapeno Peppers. It’s pretty easy and the rewards are perfect when it comes time for nachos or chili! Thanks for hosting the party once again. Have a great week!
Rebekah-www.potholesandpantyhose.com
Erin of Salvaged Whimsy says
January 19, 2012 at 1:20 pmThanks for hosting…and thanks for the wonderful tutorial…I’ve PINNED it :). Take care and have a great weekend.
Linda says
January 19, 2012 at 1:56 pmThanks for hosting. I LOVE VISITING ALL THE TALENTED BLOGGERS AND THE IDEAS.
Bethany @ A Fish Who Likes Flowers says
January 19, 2012 at 2:02 pmGina, Thanks for hosting! Hope you’re having a wonderful week!
Amy says
January 19, 2012 at 2:42 pmI love your parties… I could spend hours looking all the projects and ideas out there!
Amy @ homehappyhome
Curtains in My Tree says
January 19, 2012 at 3:12 pmI like it over here also and always look around at others projects
lucking me I got some painting done this week
Christina May Andrews says
January 19, 2012 at 3:12 pmThank you for the GREAT tutorial!
Julie says
January 19, 2012 at 3:35 pmBeautiful, simple sign. What a great, budget-friendly decorating idea that is a little different! And the how-to is great!
Thanks for hosting!!
frugal-interior-design says
January 19, 2012 at 3:48 pmThanks for the letter painting tips and for hosting!
Sharon, aka Bootersmom03 says
January 19, 2012 at 3:55 pmThanks for hosting! Love the great painting tips!
Something Nice and Pretty says
January 19, 2012 at 4:41 pmThanks so much for hosting, always love your party!
Eileen says
January 19, 2012 at 5:42 pmThanks for the painting tips and for another great party!
Pam says
January 19, 2012 at 7:59 pmThanks for hosting the party! I have a wooden board in my garage that I have been meaning to make into a sign since September. You’re motivating me to just get started on it!
cathhasablog@gmail.com says
January 19, 2012 at 8:44 pmThanks for being our host! I am a new follower of your blog! I would love it if you came and checked out my blog and followed me too! 🙂 Cath at Home is Where my Heart is
http://cathhasablog.blogspot.com/
Ami w/AliLilly says
January 19, 2012 at 9:13 pmAwesome! Thanks so much, Gina, for the painting tips. I always have issues with that. Thanks for hosting. Can’t wait for the party next week. 🙂
Beth says
January 19, 2012 at 9:54 pmFound your blog today and decided to link up something. Your link party is almost inspiration over-load, but I love it!
Jen @ Creating with the J's says
January 20, 2012 at 12:20 amThanks for the sign painting tips and for hosting!!!!
Kara at Petals to Picots says
January 20, 2012 at 12:47 amThank you for hosting! Feel free to stop by my site and link up in my I Love Fridays link party 🙂
Kerry Rossow says
January 20, 2012 at 1:27 amHoly gravy- the talent at this par-taay is awesome!
Thank you so much for hosting!
Kerry at HouseTalkN
Courtney ~ French Country Cottage says
January 20, 2012 at 2:22 amThanks for hosting Gina!
nanasewn says
January 21, 2012 at 12:49 am# 15 seems to be a dead link
FLO says
January 21, 2012 at 8:44 amI just discovered your blog Gina and it’s fun 😉
Thank you for sharing!
Katherines Corner says
January 21, 2012 at 2:40 pmWow you have over 500 linkers on this great linky that is awesome and so is this letter painting tutorial! Smooches and hugs and wishes for a beautiful weekend xo
Debbie says
June 23, 2014 at 11:42 pmThanks for the lesson. I will try that tomorrow.