DIY Beware of the Dog(s) Sign

This sign was free to make and super easy to do.  It looks much nicer than the scary “Beware of Dog” signs they sell in the stores.

Items Needed:

Board– I used a pallet board in decent shape but cracked on the ends.  The cracks and nail holes give it character.  You might want to sand it before you begin this project, depending on the condition of the wood.
Paint and paintbrush– Any craft paint or interior paint will do.
Stencils or Computer and printer– Unless you plan to freehand your lettering.
Pencil
Permanent Marker or Black Paint
Clear coat– Some sort of protectant like Shellac or Polyurethane.
Hammer and a way to hang your sign– I used two screws and picture hanging wire on the back of the sign, and a picture hanging hook on the fence.

How to do it:

1. Paint your board.  I used a brush and lightly brushed the paint on.  I purposely let the paint skip over the cracks and crevices of the wood to give it more depth.  If you don’t like the weathered look, paint it solid without leaving any empty spots. If you really like a weathered look, you can take sandpaper to it after the paint is dry and rough it up even more.

2. While the paint dries, figure out your lettering.  Your sign could say anything you want- the only limit is your imagination! (and the space of the board, of course!)  I chose to use a transfer method I’ve done many times before.  It’s super easy.  I printed out my letters with my computer using a font that I really like.  The key here is to make sure the sizing is good and the font is readable and will not be too difficult to trace onto the board. (Remember, boards aren’t always super smooth!)  Once your letters are printed how you want them, color the back of the paper with a lead pencil.  Make sure to get the outlines of the letters.  Place your paper, lead side down, onto the board where you want them.  Trace over the outlines of your letters, pressing firmly.  The lead behind your letters should transfer to the board.

3.  When your letters are transferred onto the board, fill in the letters with a black permanent marker or black paint.  I used permanent marker and it worked very well.  If the permanent marker doesn’t look good, you can always use black paint and a small craft brush.  It will take you a lot longer than using the marker, though.  Keep in mind that the marker might bleed a little on the wood, so start well within the lines of your letters until you see how the marker reacts to your particular project.

4. Once your image is finished, let it sit for a few minutes.  If you used permanent marker, a few minutes is all you need before you can apply your clear coat.

5. When your clear coat is dry, hang up your sign and enjoy!