I have found an easy way to transfer images and words onto a wood surface, and I’m so excited to show you how! It is so easy and you will get amazing results. Pairing this method with a paint pen will leave you itching to hand-make decor, signs, and more! Trust me, it has me wanting to create all the things!
I recently used this method to create a farmhouse style sign for my dining room, and I am so excited with how it turned out. Today I’m showing you how to make this sign using this simple transfer method!
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Materials Needed:
- Wood Sign or Plaque
- Computer & Home Printer
- Pencil
- Paint Pen
- Sandpaper (optional)
I purchased a pre-made wood sign from Michaels (with a coupon of course!) and painted it white, then sanded the edges a little. It was already stained so I didn’t need to do that extra step before painting.
Instructions:
The first step is to create a document and create your words in a typeface you like (I used Abril Fatface found here), and then flip them so they are backwards. In Adobe Illustrator you do this by selecting object > transform > reflect (vertical). I needed to separate my word onto 2 lines due to the length of the letters not fitting on a standard 8.5×11 piece of paper. Then print your word(s) and trim the paper from around them.
Next I flipped the word over so that the printed side touched the wood and taped it down so that it wouldn’t slide or move.
Then I began to use a pencil to rub around the edges of each letter, transferring the ink onto the surface.
Then you peel off your paper and have your transferred letters! It really is so easy and simple to do.
Now you can go over this with a paint pen, or with a paintbrush and paint if you have a steady hand. This was my first time using a paint pen and I loved how easy it was to use! Just like using a marker and it has great coverage.
After I filled in all my letters I stood back and admired my DIY sign. It really was very simple to transfer letters to a wood surface and paint them by hand!
And if you like this farmhouse style sign, you’ll love my post here about where to find some beautiful farmhouse style decor!
Have you ever tried hand painting letters for a project? Do you have any methods that you love?
