Homemade Happy Holidays Sign

How to Make a Homemade Happy Holidays Sign

1. 1 Cut Out the Circles

   

   Use a round bowl or other household object to trace circles 3-4" in diameter onto the piece of 1/2" plywood. Trace one circle for each letter in your message.

   Mark the circles in neat rows so that you conserve wood material, but leave enough room in between them for cutting.

   With your BLACK+DECKER 20V MAX* Cordless Lithium Jigsaw and a blade for fine cuts, carefully cut out each circle from the plywood.

2. 2 Sand the Circles

   

    Using 100-grit sandpaper and your BLACK+DECKER MOUSE® Detail Sander, smooth down the edges and faces of each wooden circle.

   Use the sander to perfect the roundness of each piece. Take care not to linger too long in one place or you'll create flat spots.

3. 3 Add the Fabric

   

   Iron the fabric fat quarters to remove all wrinkles. Cut the fabric into squares that are slightly larger than the wood circles, using sharp fabric scissors. Mix and match different fabric colors and patterns as desired.

   Apply a thin layer of decoupage glue to the surface of each wood circle, using a foam brush. Cover the wood with a fabric square, overlapping the edges.

   Smooth the fabric to remove any air bubbles or wrinkles. Apply a second coat of glue on top of the fabric to seal it. This will keep the fabric from unraveling around the edges so you can reuse your holiday message year after year.

   Allow the glue to dry completely, as directed by the manufacturer, and then trim the excess fabric flush to the wood edges with the scissors.

4. 4 Paint the Letters

   

   Place the letters of your holiday message on a scrap piece of paper or cardboard.

   Paint the front faces and all exposed edges with an acrylic paint color of your choice, using a foam brush. Let the first coat of paint dry as directed by the manufacturer.

   Apply a second coat, if necessary, and let it dry completely.

   TIP: Choose a contrasting paint color that will stand out against your fabrics. If you have printed fabrics, it's a good idea to use a single paint color to avoid a busy look.

5. 5 Finish the Edges

   

   Make sure all the threads and extra fabric have been trimmed away from the edges of the wood circles. Carefully paint the bare wood edge of each circle with a clean foam brush, and let the paint dry as directed.

   Apply one or more additional coats, as needed, and let the paint dry.

6. 6 Apply the Letters

   

    Arrange the circles in the desired order to create your message. Place the letters onto the circles, without glue, and experiment with different arrangements to find the layout you like best.

   Attach each letter to a circle by applying dots of glue to the back of the letter, using the BLACK+DECKER 20V MAX* Cordless Glue Gun.

   Immediately press the letter into place and maintain pressure for 15-30 seconds, until the glue cools and solidifies.

7. 7 Install Picture Hangers

   

    Mark the top center on the back of each wood circle with a pencil to indicate the placement of a picture hanger.

   Use the BLACK+DECKER SMARTECH™ 20V MAX* Lithium Drill/Driver to secure the hanger with the provided screw. Install one hanger on each circle.

8. 8 Hang the Message

   

   Extend the arms of the BLACK+DECKER MarkIT™ Picture Hanging Tool and place the first three letters of the phrase on the picture hanging hooks. Adjust the sliding arms to space the letters evenly.

   Once the built in level indicates you’re perfectly straight, press into the wall to mark the placement of the nail for each letter. Remove the tool and letters from the wall and drive a 1-1/2" nail at the marked locations. Hang each letter from the nails.

   Repeat the same process to hang the remaining letters in the message, maintaining consistent spacing between the letters.