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DIY Hand-Painted Pallet Signs

Last Updated: August 12, 2020 | By: Laura 42 Comments | Filed Under: DIY Projects, Silhouette This post may contain affiliate links.

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These DIY pallet signs make a beautiful gift that is sure to be loved for years to come! Or you can create one for yourself  and enjoy the hand-crafted goodness in your own home.

How to create beautiful hand-made signs from pallets.

I know I’ve been promising to share the gift I made for my friends’ wedding last weekend, and didn’t want to make you wait any longer! My friend, Lara, asked me a couple of months before her wedding if I would make some signs with special Scriptures on them for her wedding.

She also wanted to be able to hang them in her home. Isn’t that such a great idea? I love being able to use something for an event and then continue to enjoy it after the party is over. And the idea of giving a hand-made gift sounded perfect! This post contains affiliate links for your convenience. See my fill disclosure policy here.

Materials Needed to Make DIY Pallet Signs

  • wood planks from a pallet or the hardware store
  • Kreg Jig (A must have tool for any serious DIYer!)
  • Contact paper
  • Silhouette Cameo or stencils (I love my Cameo for creating custom stencils.)
  • Painter’s tape or Transfer Paper
  • Mod Podge
  • Foam paint brush
  • Paint

Instructions:

First, I removed my boards from my pallet. I use my DEWALT Reciprocating Saw with a demolition blade for cutting through wood and nails. A sharp, new blade will cut through the pallet joints very easily. Sometimes I knock the boards loose with a hammer first and then cut through them with the saw.

How to create beautiful hand-made signs from pallets.

Once I cut off enough boards, I laid them side-by-side on the ground to make sure they fit well together. I had to rearrange them a few times to make them work.

How to create beautiful hand-made signs from pallets.

I used my Kreg Jig to attach my pallet planks to each other. In my opinion, if you do any kind of wood-working projects, then a Kreg Jig is a must. It is my favorite tool in my garage. And it makes attaching wood side-by-side and creating joints a breeze!

How to create beautiful hand-made signs from pallets.

Once I got them all attached, I did have to attached a couple of reinforcements on the back of one sign. And if you don’t have a Kreg Jig, then you can use this method entirely. Just get a couple of scrap wood pieces that run the width of your sign and screw them into each board. I did this with my pallet sign on my mantel before I had my Kreg Jig.

How to create beautiful hand-made signs from pallets.

Then I sanded my signs with my orbital sander. I didn’t get a picture of this step, but it’s pretty straight forward. 🙂

I wiped the sawdust off with a damp cloth and brought them inside. I painted them this beautiful green color that the bride picked out. It’s called Pantone Online Lime and I had them mix me up a sample pot of it at Lowe’s.

How to create beautiful hand-made signs from pallets.

 Now, here comes the time consuming part…

I am going to try to explain how I designed the typography on the signs, but I’m such a novice at Photoshop Elements and using my Silhouette Cameo. So, don’t laugh at me. This is me winging it… and maybe you’re a winger too, so you’ll get this. A winger, not a swinger … just making sure you’re still with me. 🙂

I started in Photoshop Elements, because I knew I could create a document using the same measurements at my board. That way all of my letters would be to scale.

How to make a beautiful hand-painted sign from pallets!

And then I just started designing my signs. I used these two fonts: Cochin and Chopin Script.

How to make a beautiful hand-painted sign from pallets!

Once I had everything arranged just the way I wanted, I went into my Silhouette Studio software and used the same font size that I was using in Photoshop Elements and cut my words out of plain white contact paper. The last time I made a sign with my Silhouette, a kind reader alerted me to the fact that I could use contact paper or shelf liner for adhesive stencils. And it worked like a charm!

How to make a beautiful hand-painted sign from pallets!

I used this tutorial from Shanty to Chic for my Silhouette settings. And the only thing I changed was I set my blade to level 2 instead of level 1. That way it cut through the sticky layer of the contact paper and didn’t cut through the backing. I could then remove each letter one at a time and place it on the board.

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Let me tell you … this took forever! {Update: now I know I could have used transfer paper, which would have been … awesome!!}

How to make a beautiful hand-painted sign from pallets!

{I used painter’s tape as a guide to keep my words from being wonky.}

The script letters took the longest to place because of all the squiggly lines, but I love the script, so it was worth it. I finally got smart with the second sign and realized I could pull the backing off of the word and the sticky side would stay in place as I pressed it all down on the board. And then I just peeled up anything that was unwanted. Much faster. {Sorry I didn’t get a pic of this process.}

Once all of my letters were down, I used a trick I found from Sugar Bee Crafts.I painted around all of my letters with Mod Podge! That way if there was any bleed underneath the stencils, then it would be clear Mod Podge and not white paint. How handy!!

You can see in the picture below the white stuff around “Beauty,” “ashes” and “Joy.” That would be the secret ingredient doing its trick!

How to make a beautiful hand-painted sign from pallets!

I let the Mod Podge dry. Then I took some of my Sherwin Williams Antique White paint that I had on hand and kind of dry brushed it on in all different directions. I wanted it to be a thin coat and let the green come through in spots.

How to make a beautiful hand-painted sign from pallets!

(Yes, I know that “dispair” is misspelled. #facepalm)

After the white had dried most of the way, I peeled off the white contact paper to reveal the beautiful green beneath. I didn’t wait for it to dry completely because I probably forgot to mention that I was finishing these up at 2 am, the day I was leaving for the wedding. Um, yeah … I should have started on these a little sooner.

I always say I do my best work on a deadline, so there you have it. 🙂

I absolutely love – a million times over – how they turned out. I can’t to make some for my own house. I’ve been wanting to make some for my master bedroom for years now … and I think now that I’ve tried it out on a friend, I can do it for myself. Ha!

How to make a beautiful hand-painted sign from pallets!

Just a little note: there was some bleeding underneath the stencils where the letters overlapped where two boards met, but I thought it looked fine. If you don’t want that to happen, then you probably don’t want to have letters overlapping two boards.

How to make a beautiful hand-painted sign from pallets!

I love how all of the thin scripty parts came out. Can you have a crush on “scripty parts?” I think you can. Swoon. Swoon. Swoon.

Seriously, this is my favorite DIY project yet. And I don’t say that about every one. I can’t wait to make more. I’m just going to keep saying that until I do make more. 🙂

How to make a beautiful hand-painted sign from pallets!

Are you wondering what these looked like at the wedding?

Well, I was too busy having fun that I completely forget to snap a pic. But one of the other bridesmaids happened to grab a one with her iPhone, so I’ll share what I’ve got.

This was on the table as guests entered the wedding.

How to make a beautiful hand-painted sign from pallets!

So pretty, right?

I hope you’re inspired to make a sign of your own. I just love how beautiful they are and can add such a personal touch to your home!

 

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Comments

  1. Caroline says

    February 23, 2014 at 2:10 am

    Love the tutorial. Beautiful work. Please note “dispair” is spelled “despair”.

    Reply
    • Laura says

      March 12, 2014 at 3:50 pm

      Yeah, it’s a bummer that I misspelled that, especially since it was a gift. 🙁

      Reply
  2. Kellie says

    December 5, 2013 at 4:10 pm

    They are beautiful but you spelled despair wrong. :/

    Reply
  3. Richella Parham says

    November 21, 2013 at 7:39 am

    Absolutely beautiful. What a wonderful way to use pallets! I especially like the “oaks of righteousness” sign. Thank you so much for sharing at Grace at Home.

    Reply
  4. Sharon @ Elizabeth & Co. says

    November 17, 2013 at 7:40 pm

    Those are gorgeous signs! I really need a Silhouette!

    Reply
    • Laura says

      November 22, 2013 at 12:21 am

      Yes you do! It’s fabulous!!

      Reply
  5. tori says

    November 14, 2013 at 10:59 pm

    Gorgeous signs! Thanks for the tip on the mod podge. I will have to try that next time!

    Reply
  6. Kiki says

    November 14, 2013 at 12:51 am

    Smart idea! love pallets repurposed!

    Reply
  7. [email protected] nail gun says

    November 13, 2013 at 9:17 am

    Awesome Paint, On the beginning of your writing I never expect this will make a design like this. Please let me know can I use Photoshop except Photoshop Element ? Thanks for your great design.

    Reply
    • Laura says

      November 21, 2013 at 10:51 pm

      Either one would work fine!

      Reply
  8. RosevineCottageGirls.blogspot.com says

    November 12, 2013 at 1:53 am

    These are so beautiful! Would love to try it. Found you at Tasteful Tuesday Party!

    Reply
  9. Dawna says

    November 12, 2013 at 12:22 am

    Pallets seem to be all the rage and I love how you have re used yours! Great signs! Be sure to stop by my blog and enter for a chance to win some handmade card I have been working on in my newly organized scrapbook room. its small, but does the job! Take care!

    Reply
  10. Erin says

    November 11, 2013 at 9:09 pm

    Holy cow, these are awesome! Wonderful tutorial! I’d love for you to share with our Life Created Tuesdays link party! This week’s party is now live 🙂

    Erin

    Reply
  11. Krista says

    November 8, 2013 at 11:29 pm

    These are awesome Laura! I have two pallet signs in my garage right now waiting for me… Wishing I had a silhouette!! I love how crisp the white and green looks together:) pinning

    Reply
    • Laura says

      November 21, 2013 at 7:57 pm

      Thank you Krista! I know a bunch of bloggers are giving away Silhouettes right now. Go enter them all and cross your fingers! 🙂 Or maybe you can get one for Christmas. It’s taken me a while to get used to using mine, but now I am using it for so many things. I really love it!!

      Reply
  12. Lauren @ The Thinking Closet says

    November 7, 2013 at 1:55 am

    Gorgeous, Laura! That scripture happens to be a favorite of my friend Gianna…I’ll have to share this with her. Also, MAJOR props for tackling that lettering with contact paper. I’ve used contact paper before as a transfer paper substitute, but never as a vinyl substitute. I know how tricky it is to work with. I’m so impressed with the outcome, though! I’m sure your friend was so touched by the gift these signs. Not only are they great decor for the wedding, but now they can be displayed in their home and enjoyed for years to come! Brava!

    (Also, I’m loving your little scrolling blogroll down below in the footer. I’m just now seeing that for the first time. And OH there’s me! What an honor! Thanks, friend.)

    Reply
  13. Brandi @ Nest of Bliss says

    November 5, 2013 at 6:30 am

    I think I need to get myself one of these! My house would be filled with pallet art and subway signs!
    Beautiful work as always Laura!

    Reply
    • Laura says

      November 21, 2013 at 6:14 pm

      My house is quickly become filled with lots of typography thanks to my Silhouette! 🙂

      Reply
  14. Tamy says

    November 4, 2013 at 11:25 am

    These signs are gorgeous!!! You are motivating me to start on my pallet ‘flag’ soon!
    Thank you for sharing 🙂

    Reply
    • Laura says

      November 21, 2013 at 6:13 pm

      Thank you Tamy! I bet the pallet flag turned out awesome!!

      Reply
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