Make beautiful farmhouse signs for your home with wood and a few simple materials! You can use either removable vinyl or paint to make these rustic farmhouse signs. This tutorial includes options to use a Cricut or Cameo machine or hand-paint lettering directly onto the wood.The best part about this sign construction is you can make the sign reversible to use it for multiple holidays or occasions.
After cutting your wood to size, sand all edges and dust off the surface.
Apply 1-2 coats of chalk paint. Chalk paint dries quickly, but you should still wait 20-30 minutes in between coats.
Cut, stain, and attach border panels
Cut the furring strips for the frame using a pull saw or other woodworking tool. (Home Depot or Lowe's will usually make a few cuts for free.)
You can measure the top and bottom strips to extend beyond the plywood so the side strips fit snugly inside.
Apply a stain color of your choice to the strips before attaching them to the sign.
Attach the frame to the plywood using either wood glue or nails.
Option 1: Create a farmhouse phrase and cut with Cameo/Cricut
If you use a Cameo/Cricut, cut your design on removable vinyl (preferably) or permanent vinyl.
Weed the design by removing all negative space you do not want to be transferred.
Apply the design to the wood using transfer tape.
Option 2: Print and transfer design using pencil
Print your design on computer paper.
Turn the paper over, and scribble pencil marks over the areas where the text is printed.
Place the paper on your surface (design facing up) and trace an outline of the printed letters with a pen. (The pencil on the other side will make faint marks on your wood.)
Remove the paper and fill in the text with a permanent marker or black paint.
Option 4: Print and transfer design using carbon paper
Print your design, as in Step 1. under pencil transfer method.
Place a sheet of carbon paper (shiny side down) on the wood surface.
Cover the carbon paper with your printed design (design facing up). Then, trace the letters with a pen, making sure you press hard enough to transfer your design.
Fill in the traced letters with a black marker or paint.