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Personalized Painted Sign {tips on how to freehand}

March 13, 2013 By Erica Deuel 8 Comments

My sister, Olivia, is in town from Arkansas with my little niece, Charleigh.  It’s been so much fun hanging out with them for the past week and a great help distracting from all the house stuff we have been going through.

Olivia, my mom, and I went to dinner and shopping last night w/o kids.  It was so fun!
Olivia, my mom, and I went to dinner and shopping last night w/o kids. It was so fun!

Olivia, just graduated from Liberty College, and I couldn’t be prouder of her.  As part of her graduation present, I made her this little sign.  Today, I want to show you how to make it while giving you some tips that I have learned on how to freehand paint letters.

DIY personalized wood sign

I think this little wood sign makes such a great wedding present (as Sing is Olivia’s last name) or fun personalized present to give at other times like a college graduation, birthday, or Christmas gift.

The fist step is to find a nice piece of wood.  I found this rustic, old piece and knew it was perfect.  I love the beat up charm, but it also is thick and solid.

distressed wood

After you sand the wood, find a pretty font on the computer that you like.  Print it out the correct size you will need and cut the letters out.  This is a cheap way to make your own stencil.

creating a stencil

creating a DIY stencil

Once the letters have been placed and aligned where you want them on your piece of wood, you simply trace them with a pencil.

Tracing Letters

The next step is to paint inside the lines with a small brush.  You can pick any desire color you want to paint.  Remember you don’t have to paint it super thick or even, since you are going to give the lettering a light sanding later.  You want them to be slightly imperfect and rustic to match the beat up wood’s charm.

Painting Letters

Sometimes making a stencil just doesn’t make sense.  If you are wanting a font that is thin, small or more “flow-y”, cutting out a stencil doesn’t make sense.  This is where it would be good to know how to freehand letters.  I don’t have the best hand at this skill, but I have learned some tips that have helped me grow.  I want to share those with you.

Painting free hand Letters

Tips on Freehanding painted letters

4 tips on how to paint freehand lettersI hope these tips will help you as you paint freehand letters as well.  The next step to finishing your sign is to give it a light sanding.  Once you are done sanding, you stain it, let it dry, and display it (or package it up to give away).

distressing sign

staining wood

stained wood sign

display sign

It was such a cheap yet really special item to add to my sister’s graduation present.  She loves it!  Thank you so much for stopping by, and I hope you all are having a great week!

signature

 

 

 

*Linked up at View Along the Way

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Filed Under: Craft Projects, DIY, Tips + Tricks Tagged With: freehand lettering, how to freehand paint letters, painting, sign, stenciling, wedding present, wood

Comments

  1. Sally says

    March 13, 2013 at 9:59 am

    This is a great post! I never would have guessed how you got your letters to look so good! You made this something I actually think I could do 🙂

    Reply
    • ericadeuel says

      March 13, 2013 at 7:25 pm

      I’m so glad Sally! Thank you for the sweet words! You CAN do it!!!

      Reply
  2. Kelly @ View Along the Way says

    March 18, 2013 at 7:07 pm

    Wow, i can’t believe you freehanded that! CRAZY! I love that beautiful natural piece of wood you chose too. Well done bud! 🙂

    Reply
  3. Mandi says

    September 19, 2013 at 9:39 pm

    I just found your blog and am so inspired!! Thank you so much for taking time to share all your wonderful ideas with us! You are incredible!!

    Reply
    • ericadeuel says

      September 23, 2013 at 9:43 pm

      Awww Thank you Mandi! I am so glad you found my blog! I hope I can continue to inspire you, and you will come back! Thank you so much for the sweet, encouraging remarks! XOXO, Erica

      Reply
  4. Debbie says

    June 23, 2014 at 11:44 pm

    Excellent. I must do this tomorrow after I re-paint the background.

    Reply
  5. ANGELA LLOYD says

    September 2, 2015 at 10:53 am

    hi- what font do you use for your project- the word ‘sing’.
    thanks
    angela 🙂

    Reply

Trackbacks

  1. Craft Supplies - Spoonful of Imagination says:
    March 15, 2013 at 7:50 am

    […] great to have on hand. If you don’t want to buy one, you can make one like I showed you on a personalized sign I made for my sister. I think having a nice font with all the letters of the alphabet is a great […]

    Reply

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