DIY Kit Instructions
Follow these simple steps in order to create your own handmade wood sign! If you have questions or need assistance in any way, please feel free to reach out to us at info@onceuponacreationco.com or (954) 258-6665.
Step 1: Place your materials out in front of you, put your gloves on and open up your stain container. Use the black foam brush to brush on the stain following the grain of the wood. Go relatively quick and after you stain about 1⁄4 of your sign, stop and use the rag to wipe it off. It is a quick drying stain, so we want to be sure to wipe well and not have it dry on before we wipe it off. Continue to stain the rest of your board this way, continually stopping to wipe off. Stain the top of your board and the edges. The brush works best on the sides by dabbing the stain on. You do not need to wipe the excess stain off the sides, it will soak into the wood on its own. When you are all done staining, make sure it’s wiped well and that there are no tacky or wet spots. You don’t have to worry about the back because no one sees the back anyway.
Step 2: Take out your stencil and a credit card or something with a flat edge. Lay your stencil flat on the table and smooth it out over the top by running the card across the top of the stencil. Then flip the stencil over and do the same thing on the back side. This just makes sure that the sticky part of the stencil is secured to the transfer paper.
Step 3: Flip the stencil upside down so the white back is facing up. Start at a corner and lift up the white backing from stencil so all of the stencil stays on the transfer paper and *nothing* comes up with the white. (Think of it like taking off the back of a big sticker!) Pull straight back, almost flat with the table, instead of pulling up. Once the back is off, you are ready to place your stencil on your board!
Step 4: Place your sticky stencil on your board where you want it and smooth it out gently with your hands. Then grab the credit card or something similar and lightly scrape across the top to press the stencil onto the wood.
Step 5: Start in the corner and remove the white transfer paper from the stencil. Once they are separated a little, you can keep one hand on the stencil and use the other hand to peel the transfer paper straight back. You don’t want to pull up, but rather straight back, keeping every piece of the stencil on the board. Once again, use the credit card to firmly press the stencil onto the wood so your paint doesn't bleed.
Step 6: Grab your paint color for your design and your white foam wedge. While holding the skinny end of the wedge, dip the flat, fat side of the wedge into the paint and then dab off the excess onto a plate or paper towel so there is very little paint on the wedge. THIS IS VERY IMPORTANT!!! You are going to do a couple very light coats of paint so that the paint isn’t thick enough to seep under the stencil at all. And just dab, or pounce, up and down with the wedge. Do not stroke it back and forth as this will also push paint under the stencil. Dab up and down until your design is covered with 2-3 coats of paint.
Step 7: You may pull off your stencil as soon as you are done painting. The paint should dry fast but it is not necessary for it to be dry in order to pull your stencil off. It’s actually better to pull it sooner, even when wet because the longer it sits on the board, the more the adhesive is getting into the wood and the chances of peeling off the bottom layer of paint gets higher so go ahead and take it off right away!
Step 8: Grab a toothpick and gently pick out the middle of your letters or parts of your design that didn’t come up with the main stencil. You can also grab a tweezers from home too if you are having trouble with some smaller pieces.
Step 9: Congratulations!! You can now stand back and enjoy your beautiful creation!!!
Step 10: Take a picture and post it on the Once Upon A Creation Co. Facebook or Instagram page because we’d LOVE to see it!! :)
Step 11: (optional)...If you’d like to hang it, nail the included picture backing to the back of your sign.