Crafting Wedding Signs: A Guide To Handmade Elegance

Handmade wedding signs are a great way to personalise your special day and can help tie the overall look of your wedding together. They can also provide useful information to your guests, such as where to sit or where to leave gifts and cards. Making your own wedding signs can be a fun and creative project, and there are many different ways to do it, depending on your skill level and the materials you have available. You can use anything from paint and stickers to vinyl lettering and digital templates. If you're short on time or inspiration, you can also find ready-made signs or templates online.

Using a stencil or making your own

Using a stencil is a great way to make a handmade wedding sign, and you can even make your own stencil at home.

Using a Stencil

First, paint your sign the colour you want your letters to be. If you're using wood, you might want to sand and stain the wood first. Then, arrange your stencils and stick them firmly to the wood. Use adhesive stencils, or apply an adhesive to non-adhesive stencils. Using a small amount of paint and gentle pressure, gently dab the paint through the stencil. As soon as you've painted all the stencilled areas, quickly remove the stencils and wash them with warm soapy water.

Making Your Own Stencil

You can make your own stencil using stencil paper and a craft knife, or a Cricut cutting machine. Design your stencil on your computer, or by hand, and cut it out. You can also use vinyl to make a stencil. Cut out your design from a sheet of vinyl, then apply it to your sign using transfer tape.

Tips for Stencilling

• If you're using wood, it's a good idea to sand and stain the wood first.
• Make sure your stencil is firmly adhered to the surface. If it's not, the paint may bleed under the stencil.
• Don't use too much paint or apply too much pressure when painting through the stencil, as this can cause bleeding.
• If you're using vinyl stencils, apply a coat of Mod Podge before painting to prevent bleeding.
• If you're using a Cricut machine, use permanent vinyl rather than removable vinyl, as it sticks better.
• If you're using transfer tape, try sticking it to your clothes first to make it less tacky and easier to lift.

Painting your own chalkboard

Step 1: Gather Your Materials

You will need chalkboard paint, painting boards or any other surface you want to turn into a sign (such as wood, glass, metal or plastic), and chalk or chalk pens for writing on your chalkboard. If you're painting on wood, you'll also need medium and fine-grit sandpaper. For application, you can use a roller or a paintbrush, but a roller is recommended for a smoother finish.

Step 2: Prepare Your Surface

If you're using wood, give it a good sanding with medium and then fine-grit sandpaper. This step is not necessary if you're using glass, metal or plastic. Sanding will help create a smooth surface for your chalkboard paint to adhere to.

Step 3: Apply the Chalkboard Paint

Using a roller, apply the chalkboard paint to your surface. You'll need to apply multiple coats, typically between 2-5 coats, allowing each coat to dry in between. The more coats you apply, the better the coverage will be. Remember to store your roller in a plastic bag between coats to prevent it from drying out.

Step 4: Sand and Prime

Once you've applied all the coats of paint, gently sand each coat after the second coat. This step helps remove any burs and impurities, giving you a smooth and even chalkboard surface. After your final coat has dried for at least 72 hours, it's time to prime your chalkboard. Rub chalk all over the surface and then wipe it away with a rag. This step will ensure your chalkboard can be used for a long time and can be easily erased.

Step 5: Design and Write

Now comes the fun part – designing your sign! You can use a chalk pencil, chalk ink markers, or regular chalk to write on your chalkboard. If you want to ensure your design is neat and accurate, you can create your wording or design on a computer and print it out. Place your printed design on the chalkboard and trace over it, transferring the design onto the chalkboard. You can also use stencils or stickers to help guide your design.

Step 6: Finish and Display

Once you've written or drawn your design, you're almost done! If you want a more authentic chalkboard appearance, use the side of a piece of chalk to shade in the entire sign, then blend it with a dry paper towel. Your handmade chalkboard wedding sign is now ready to be displayed!

Using a printed design transfer

First, design and print your desired sign onto regular paper. Then, flip the paper over and colour the backside with a pencil or chalk. Turn your design back over and centre it on your chosen material for the sign. If you're using transfer paper, place it matte side down underneath your printed design.

Using a pencil, firmly trace your printed design. This transfers the chalk or graphite onto the material. You can then trace over the design using a variety of writing tools such as a Chalk Ink Marker, paint, paint pen, gold leaf pen or Sharpie.

This technique can be used on any surface, but it's recommended to use chalk on dark surfaces and a pencil or transfer paper on light surfaces.

Painting over stickers

Step 1: Choose Your Stickers

Select fun-shaped stickers or letter and number stickers for your design. You can also cut custom shapes using a Cricut machine. Ensure the stickers are made from materials like PS or PP, which have excellent resistance to sunlight and temperature.

Step 2: Paint Your Sign

Paint your sign the colour you want your letters or design to be. For example, if you're using white letter stickers, paint your sign white. You can use spray paint or regular paint for this step.

Step 3: Arrange and Press the Stickers

Once the paint is dry, arrange your stickers on the sign, firmly pressing them onto the surface. If you're using letter stickers, you can form a saying or a quote.

Step 4: Paint Over the Stickers

Using spray paint or regular paint, paint over the stickers. You can choose a different colour for this step to create a contrast. Apply light and even coats to avoid drips.

Step 5: Remove the Stickers

After the paint has dried, carefully remove the stickers by lifting a corner with a sharp object and then peeling off the rest. Be patient during this step, especially if you're working with small stickers.

Step 6: Apply a Clear Coat (Optional)

To smooth out any rough edges and add a protective layer, you can apply a clear coat over your design. This step is optional but can enhance the final look of your handmade wedding sign.

With these steps, you can create beautiful and personalised wedding signs. This technique is versatile, allowing you to experiment with different colours, sticker shapes, and designs to match your wedding theme.

Decoupage

Step 1: Paint Your Sign

You can choose to paint your sign a colour that matches your wedding theme or leave it plain. If you decide to paint it, make sure the paint is suitable for the material you are using, such as wood, glass, metal or plastic.

Step 2: Gather Your Materials

You can use a variety of materials for decoupage, such as stickers, paper, paper ribbon, glitter, and other decorative items. If you want to include text on your sign, you can use letter stickers or cut out letters from paper.

Step 3: Arrange Your Design

Before you start gluing, lay out your design to get an idea of how you want your sign to look. This will help you ensure that all the elements work well together and that your message is clear.

Step 4: Apply Decoupage Glue

Once you're happy with your design, it's time to start applying the decoupage glue. Use a good quality glue like Martha Stewart Crafts or Mod Podge, and apply 1-3 coats, allowing at least an hour of dry time between each coat.

Step 5: Finishing Touches

After the glue has dried, you may want to add some final touches to your sign. You can use a Chalk Ink Marker, paint, paint pen, gold leaf pen, or even a Sharpie to outline your design or add extra details.

With these steps, you can create beautiful and personalised wedding signs that will wow your guests. Decoupage is a fun and creative way to add a handmade touch to your special day.

Frequently asked questions