4 Easy to Make DIY Wood Sign Blanks for Silhouette Projects

Wood signs are all the rage right now! They are such a great way to add personalized decor to any home. And you can customize them easily with your Silhouette Cameo or Portrait.

But don't feel like you always need to buy wood sign blanks.  Silhouette School contributor Kati from Houseful of Handmade is here today to show you 4 easy to make wood sign blanks you can make - even if you're a beginner.

While I am very comfortable building in my workshop, some people might not be. So for the beginner or the expert, I have 4 easy to make wood signs blanks for you. These signs are perfect for adding some decor to your home or for selling in your next craft show.

1. Don't have a miter saw, use a miter box to make accurate cuts with a handsaw.
2. Not sure what wood to buy, check out my Beginner's Guide to Buying Lumber for lots of helpful information.
3. Always use wood glue to make strong joints. I love using this GlueBot for making glue easier to apply (especially when my bottle is almost empty).
4. Use a battery powered nail gun to make quick work of building signs. And it doesn't take up a lot of space unlike a traditional nail gun that needs an air compressor too.
5. Keep a bag of shop rags on hand to easily add your favorite stain, clean up glue, or rub on paint for a worn finish.

DIY Simple Layered Wood Sign

Let's start with the easiest sign. This sign is great because it has some texture, you can easily scale it up to any size, and you can build a bunch of these signs in no time. Perfect for stocking up a craft booth this summer. It's almost too easy to need a tutorial but just in case, I have it for you.

Cut 3 pieces of 1x4 to 18" long.

Cut 2 pieces of 1x2 to 10" long.

Lay out all the 1x4 boards so the side you want on the front of the sign is facing down.

Add wood glue to the back of the 1x2 boards and place them on top of the 1x4 boards about 3" in from the ends and centered top to bottom.

Nail the 1x2 board to the 1x4 boards with 1 1/4" long finishing nails (either with a nail gun or by hand). You can also use screws, but they will be more visible.

Sand and finish your wood sign however you want. I used Varathane Weathered Wood Accelerator on this sign. Then I mocked it up with this Hello Summer SVG by Holly Pixels.

DIY Framed Shiplap Sign

Who doesn't love shiplap? The texture created by layering boards up a wall is quickly becoming a classic so why not create the look in your wood signs too. You can make this sign easily with 1x4 and 1x2 boards.

Cut 3 pieces of 1x4 to 18" long and 2 pieces of 1x2 to 18" long.

Using wood glue and 1 1/4" long finishing nails, attach the 1x2 boards to one side of 2 of the 1x4 boards.

Make sure the side of the 1x2 board is flush with the back of the 1x4 board.

Lay all 3 1x4 boards (including the two with the 1x2s attached) together.

Measure the total width. It should be 12" but since not all boards are the same width, I like to measure before cutting.

Cut two 1x2 boards to the length you measured.

Using wood glue and 1 1/4" long finishing nails, attach the 1x2 boards the ends of the the 1x4 boards. Secure with 2 nails into each 1x4 board and one or two into the ends of the 1x2 frame.

Sand and finish your wood sign however you want. I used a mixture of Minwax Weathered Oak stain and Varathane Aged Wood Accelerator on this sign. Then I mocked it up with this Farm Fresh SVF by Burlap and Barnwood.  You could add a vinyl decal or cut a stencil with your Silhouette and paint the design on!

DIY Framed Plywood Sign

 

Plywood is a great base for any wood sign because it can be cut to any size, is easy to paint, and because it is smooth it takes vinyl very nicely. To easily cut plywood, I love using an inexpensive circular saw and with a guide track like this. Together they give me perfectly straight plywood signs.

Cut a 12" x 24" piece of 3/4" thick plywood.

Cut 2 pieces of 1x2 to 24" long and 2 pieces to 13 1/2" long.

If you want the plywood a different color than the frame, you want to paint/stain before assembly to make it easier.

Using wood glue and 1 1/4" long finishing nails, attach the 1x2 boards to either side of the plywood.

Make sure the side of the 1x2 board is flush with the back of the plywood.

Finish off the frame by attaching the remaining 2 1x2 boards to the ends with wood glue and 1 1/4" long finishing nails.

I painted this sign with Rustoleum Chalked Spray Paint in Linen White on the plywood and Varathane Aged Wood Accelerator on the frame.  Again perfect for adhesive vinyl or a painted stencil.

DIY Diagonal Slat Wood Sign

This sign is the more challenging to assemble, but so much fun (and really still easy to build)! The boards are attached on a diagonal to create a totally unique design. And to give the sign a bit of texture, I used cedar fence posts on the top. Perfect for a farmhouse look and for any outdoor signs you might want to make this summer.

Cut 2 pieces of 1x2 to 15" long and 2 to 13 1/2" long.

Make a 15" x 15" frame by securing the smaller boards between the larger ones with wood glue and 1 1/4" long finishing nails.

Cut 2 1x4 boards to 21 1/2" long, 2 to 14 1/2" long and 2 to 7 1/2" long.

Add wood glue to the top of the entire frame, then lay one of the longer pieces of 1x4 diagonally across the frame so the top side touches the two corners.

Secure with 1 1/4" finishing nails.

Lay the smaller piece next to it, make sure it's completely covering the frame and nail into place.

Repeat until all boards are secure.

Use a jig saw to cut off the excess boards. Line the jigsaw blade up with the frame below and allow it to help guide you.

Sand and finish the sign however you want. I used a combination of Varathane Aged Wood Accelerator and Varathane Weathered Wood Accelerator on my sign. Then I mocked it up with this Beach Please SVG by K. Becca.

And if you want to make these wood signs for your own shop, I have created mock-ups for all of them. You can find them available for personal or business use in my So Fontsy shop. Then don't forget to visit me at Houseful of Handmade for more easy woodworking fun!


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