Give a Sign Making a sign for mom is a great way to combine interior (or exterior) design and show her your love. The words on your sign can be anything you dream up. “Gardener Lives Here” or “Family is Everything” are examples. Emphasize pets, hobbies, or love and peace. Pick something that momwill love! Start by selecting wood for your sign. You’ll want your board to be about ½” thick. Pallet boards provide a rustic look, or you can clean them up and sand themdown for a more modern appeal. Alternatively, forage through your scrap pile or head to the lumber yard to make a selection. Use a planer or power sander for very rough boards. You may also want to use more than one board to put your message on two lines. An easy way to attach light boards together is using eye and tea cup hooks.
Finally, apply hardware to the sign. Wind picture wire around eye hooks that are twisted into the top of the sign. Another option is to attach a sawtooth hanger or create pocket grooves using a pocket hole jig. Kids’ Handprints on Apron This is a great way to get the kids involved in gift giving. Simply sew or purchase a basic apron. Then, get out the acrylic paint and give the kids their own apron to mitigate the mess. Allow them to press their hands into a tray of paint and stamp their handprint onto mom’s apron. Each child can have his or her own color, or mix it up. Allow the kids to use their fingers or paint brushes to write their names below their handprints (if old enough).
Depending on the finished look you want, choose your paint colors. If you want hunter green on white, for example, start by painting a base coat of white on the entire board. You can also add paint to the natural wood tone without a base layer. For a rustic look, paint the base color, then hit it with a sander to remove some of the paint. Next, use a hand or machine-made stencil for the script and words of your choice. Freestyle writing is another option if you’re comfortable. Remember, you can always sand the paint back off and start over, so have fun with it! If using stencils, make sure they are thoroughly adhered so paint doesn’t seep underneath. Apply a very thin layer moving from the center of the stencil toward the center of each letter to avoid pressing paint beneath the stencil. Allow the paint to dry between coats. When done, remove the stencil andmake touch ups with a small brush. Seal the paint with a topcoat.
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