inspireling.com

It’s been far too long since my last post. I’ve been so busy, I don’t think I’ve landed in weeks. Over the past month, I started my own business. Things are going very well, I’m keeping busy! Plus I’m spearheading the facelift for my family’s store in Port Stanley. I can’t wait to show before and afters but we’re not there yet.

This past weekend’s major project was Outdoor Signage. My budget was tiny. From a sign company I’d get something no bigger then a bristol board so I decided to make a sign myself.

The 11′ x 20″ sign, on the floor, drying.

You, too, can make your own sign for under $150! 

Supplies:
- piece of plywood (get the store to cut it to the width/length you want)
- unfinished letters cut from 1/4″ plywood (I got mine custom made at A Gift to Remember, in St. Jacobs)
- 1 litre of Solid Wood Stain, Walnut Colour (meant for decks, etc.)
- 1 litre of White Exterior Paint (I found some up in our paint cupboard). You don’t need near this much but it’s the smallest container you can buy.
- 2 cans of Bronze Interior Exterior Lacquer Spray Paint
- 1 can of Clear Satin Tremclad Spray Paint  (I found some up in our paint cupboard)
- weatherproof wood glue
- drop cloth
- sand paper
- paper
- pencil
- ruler (you also may find a t-square handy)
- paint brushes

Steps:
1.) Get your dad to paint both sides of the plywood with the Solid Wood Stain. Let dry.
2.) Hand sand your plywood letters to a smooth finish.
3.) Spray plywood letters with 4 coats of paint (if I had to do this over I’d prime the letters first)
4.) Determine size of smaller text, type up on computer (I used Illustrator but you could just as easily use Word), and then print it out on as many pages as needed.
5.) Tape sheets of paper together, connecting all your letters/words together. *Make sure you watch your spacing!
6.) Determine the placement of your text on the sign. Slide carbon paper behind the paper and trace your letters with a ball point pen. (If you don’t have carbon paper you can take a pencil and scribble all over the back, flip back over, and then trace out the letters with a ball point pen… this is how I did it).
7.) Now that you’ve got your letters on the board, grab your paint brushes and exterior paint and get to it! (I thought I would be smart and put green painters tape on all my straight edges… bad idea. The paint bleeds under the tape!). Let dry.
8.) If you have additional details (like the flourish), repeat steps 4-7.
9.) Take your now painted plywood letters (you could do this before you paint them, it doesn’t matter), figure out where you want them on your sign. Trace them out. 
10.) Paint a 1/2″ border to the outside(!) of your trace lines. Let dry.
11.) Now it’s time to adhere the painted plywood letters to your board. Follow the directions on the glue bottle (don’t worry about using clamps).
12.) Let dry for 72 hours
13.) Spray a light coat of the Clear Satin Spray Paint, let dry. Spray with additional light coats as needed. Let dry.
14.) You’re done!… and probably saved yourself a leg and a wing!

If you think you can do it, Inspireling believes you can, too!