Easy DIY Wooden Porch Sign for any season or holiday
Time: 1.5 hours
Cost: $25
Skill: Easy
Note: This post may contain affiliate links.
Today I am going to walk you through exactly how to make your own wooden porch sign, for any season or holiday, but first let me catch you up to speed.
A couple of weeks ago I set out to make a DIY wooden porch sign for the Fall season, and I ended up finding an out-of- season “Welcome” sign that I decided to give a makeover. In the end $2.00 worth of paint turned this tacky sign into something that is much more my style.
Sometimes that is how DIY projects go, you find an unexpected or more affordable way to complete something, and that is completely ok! Roll with it.
Now that I finished my year round “Welcome” porch sign, I am ready to get back to my original project. A Fall porch sign, or more specifically, a Halloween porch sign!
For me, October 1st means I have one month to go all out for Halloween, because November 1st I start sneaking out my Christmas decor while listening to my husband plead with me to wait until after Thanksgiving.
Keep reading to see how you can make your own porch sign for any season, or use my “Spooky” Halloween sign idea!
How to Make a Wooden Porch Sign
Here is a list of tools and supplies that I used to create this DIY project.
Materials
- Clear Glue
- Paint
- Paint Brush
- MDF Letters of Choice
- Wooden Base
Note: Most porch signs are around 4 to 5 feet tall. You will want to take into account the overall sign size when coordinating what size letters and accessories to potentially use.
Step One: Selecting or Creating your Wooden Sign
In an ideal world I would have built the wooden base for my porch sign, however, if you have been following along you know that all my tools are in storage while we have temporarily relocated. So I am making do with what I have, which is basically nothing, but that is okay because this is the perfect no-tool project!
A few options if you choose to build your base:
- Multiple Boards Secured Together
- You can use a method like I did for my Wooden Wedding Guest Book
- A Single Cut of 1 x 6 Board
- A Single Cut of 1 x 8 Board with a Simple Molding Trim
- You can create a raised trim by gluing attached around the edges of the front of your board
Since I was unable to build or cut a base myself, I found the most affordable option, this unfinished sign base from Joanne Fabrics. With their standard 20% off coupon I got this wooden piece for $11.00 (Org. $14.99). Not too bad, but if you can make one yourself, I guarantee it will be much sturdier than this.
Step Two: Painting your Wooden Porch Sign
When I am working on low cost crafts, like this one, I don’t typically invest a lot in my supplies. Very different from when I am building or painting furniture, or completing home improvement projects. With something like this my goal is to create something affordable, and $1.50 paints from folk art are perfect.
Knowing when to invest in projects, and when to use affordable products is a little nuanced, but for me, wooden porch signs falls less in the long run quality department and more in the I just want something cute and affordable department.
If you have a collection of paint, and brushes, you can cut down on the overall cost a little, so I always recommend using what you have on hand. Whether it be paint, stain, or scrap wood! Use it! Maybe its not the exact Christmas red, or Evergreen color you wanted, but it could still work 🙂
So go ahead, paint your wooden sign base.
Since I am using this process to create a “Spooky” wooden porch sign, I decided that I wanted an orange base with a black trim.
It was definitely easier to paint the trim first, and then go cut back in with the orange. Thankfully FolkArt paint dries quickly, and I could do two coats without much dry time. I basically walked away for a few minutes, came back, and got the second coat on there.
Now that you have your base sign painted, it is time to paint your letters of choice.
Step Three: Painting your MDF Letters
These 5″ MDF letters from Michaels Craft Stores are the perfect thickness, weight, and height for a 4 foot sign. And with $1.59 (Org. $1.99) price tag, you really can’t beat them.
To pull in my black trim, I painted my letters black. Wrought Iron from FolkArt is a perfect farmhouse black.
In addition to the MDF letters, I found some cute little Halloween inspired wooden accessories at the craft store. These are about 3″ Tall and work perfectly at the bottom of my sign. You can find these all year round, for many different holidays and seasons, so take a look and find something to accessorize your porch sign!
Alright, lets paint those letters.
Start by painting the edges, as it is easier to hold them while you are doing this and then lay them flat to get a a coat on the top. I like to do two coats on the face of the letters, just to make sure they are well covered, but you can definitely get away with one. Allow to dry.
Now that your letters and accessories are dry, it is time to attach them!
Step Four: Attaching your MDF Letters and Accessories
Don’t get me wrong, Gorilla Glue is amazing, but I really wish my glue gun wasn’t packed away in a box collecting dust.
Simply take your letters, arrange them how you want them, and start gluing!
I laid my base flat, and found myself a spacer, so I could avoid constant measurements. In this case, this little votive candle was my spacer, so whatever you have on hand works!
Working your way from the top, apply the glue to the back of your MDF letter, and press into place. I held each for about 5 seconds, before moving on to the next letter.
Lastly, I attached my cute little Halloween accessories using glue and pressing them for several seconds.
Allow all the glue to dry according to the product specifications before turning the sign upright. This will prevent your letters and accessories from sliding! Also, make sure that you are using a clear glue as it may seep beyond the edges of your letters.
Now Enjoy your New Wooden Porch Sign for any Season!
This DIY project can easily be adapted to create wooden porch signs of different size, colors, and with different phrases or accessories. Create something that fits your individual style, and be sure to share the final outcome with me! I am thinking that I may make this a reversible porch sign and do a Christmas theme on the back!
Follow me on Instagram and Pinterest for all your Home Improvement and DIY needs!
Are you looking for more home or craft inspiration? Check out how I built this adorable Wooden Book Bin for my nephew, or how I transformed this old window into a Wedding Seating Chart!
