We’re constantly on the lookout for new art and items to personalise our home. Whilst it’s great to find something special on a trip away or come across something amazing on Etsy, we sometimes just fancy a bit of a DIY project.
This is what you’ll need:
- MDF offcut (we used quite thick MDF as it gives the cut-out word more stability and allows you to stand it up easily without it wobbling too much)
- Template, scissors and pencil
- Saw (we used a jigsaw, but a band saw would make the job much easier)
- Drill & drill bit
- Sandpaper
- Paint and paintbrush
This is how we made it:
#1 Start by printing and cutting out your template word. Then trace around it onto your piece of MDF.
#2 If like ours, your design has central parts, you’ll have to drill holes into them so that you can get your saw into the middle bits.
#3 We found it best to start by cutting out the middle bits before then cutting around the outside. It’s much easier because you have more to hold onto while moving the saw and cutting.
#4 Try and cut your design as neatly as possible, it’ll save you a lot of time sanding later on. It is inevitable that you’ll be left with some jagged edges and rough areas, but that’s nothing that a sand can’t solve. We used MDF because it’s fairly soft and easy to sand. If like us you weren’t the neatest person in cutting out, it’ll make the sanding part much easier and quicker.
#5 When you’ve sanded your design, make sure it’s dust free before painting. Because we used MDF, we decided to give the design a quick coat of primer before applying the paint finish.
#6 When the primer has dried, give it your sign a light sand to remove any lumps and bumps you may have missed and then you can paint it in a colour of your choice. (We just used a leftover tester pot of Habitat Banana paint)
It’s not perfect, but once it’s on the wall or on a shelf you won’t notice the few imperfections.
All in all, it probably took about 1,5 hours to make and cost nothing as we only used leftover supplies.
Do you have any word art in your home? Have you ever attempted some DIY wooden script art?
Love this! I saw a wooden “ja” online somewhere that would make a great wedding gift. Thias really makes me want to try it myself. Thanks for the inspiration!
It was really easy to do. Our biggest tip would be to take your time. Love the idea of this as a wedding gift! It’s so much more special receiving a personal gift.
Cx
PS. We did these Wishing Candles at a wedding in Germany once, maybe that’s an idea, too.
I LOVE word art! I’m always paranoid that I have too much. How much is enough? And when is it too much? Gah!
There’s no such thing as too much wooden art, Amanda! ;)
Cx
I never attempted a wooden script art at home before because I don’t have the needed tools to complete the project but your idea is great. If I had a drill I would make the word Love or Happiness at a bigger size and put it on the wall near the front door.
It was really easy, if you ever have the tools you should give it a go! Love the idea of putting the sign somewhere near the front door – maybe we’ll do that, too!
Cx