Make a Personalized Wooden Sign Using Vinyl as a Stencil

After Christmas it's hard to know how to decorate.  I'm not quite ready to jump into the next holiday.  And though I don't want my home to be bare, I want it to be fresh and clean.

This year I made a personalized wooden sign using vinyl as a stencil.

How to make a Personalized Wooden Sign using Vinyl as a Stencil



I've made a few wooden signs lately and just love how they turn out.  So when my home was bare from taking down our Christmas decorations, I thought a personalized wooden sign would be perfect!


Make a DIY wooden sign using a vinyl stencil


I have piles and piles of scrap wood and leftovers from various projects in my garage.  It's actually kind of embarrassing how much stuff is out there!


Make a wooden sign using leftover wood from other projects


I was happy to pick a piece of wood out of my stash that was about 14 inches by 40 inches. I then painted it white with craft paint.  I used my silhouette to cut vinyl with our name, the year my husband and I were married (20 years this year- holy cow), and the states where we've lived.


how to use vinyl to make a wooden sign


The weeding, or taking the extra vinyl off of the backing paper, is my favorite part.  I used contact paper to pick the letters off the backing, then apply them to the painted wood sign.


How to use vinyl for a stencil for a wood sign


I applied craft paint over the top of the entire sign.  I like the rustic look, so I don't care if the paint isn't perfect.  But if you'd like perfect lines, use mod podge over the top of the vinyl letters.  Then paint over that.  The mod podge seals the letters so the paint won't bleed underneath them.


Use vinyl as a stencil for wooden signs


Carefully peel the vinyl letters off, revealing the words.


Use vinyl as a stencil for wooden signs


I like things to look really worn, so I sanded the letters and the edges of the sign.  The more worn, the better in my opinion!!


Use vinyl as a stencil for wooden signs to decorate your mantel for winter


The sign ended up being the perfect piece to decorate my mantel for winter.


Use vinyl as a stencil for wooden signs to decorate your mantel for winter


I grabbed a few things from my stash to round out the decorations.


Use vinyl as a stencil for wooden signs and faux plants to decorate your mantel for winter


I like the look of these faux plants, along with glassware, wooden and brass candlesticks.


Use vinyl as a stencil for wooden signs and faux plants to decorate your mantel for winter


I found this mini card in my stash (my hoarding tendency pays off) and put it into a vintage floral frog.


Use vinyl as a stencil for wooden signs and faux plants to decorate your mantel for winter

Use vinyl as a stencil for wooden signs and faux plants to decorate your mantel for winter


I wasn't quite ready to let the twinkle of lights go, so I added some to my winter mantel.


Use vinyl as a stencil for wooden signs and faux plants to decorate your mantel for winter


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It's time for this month's Inspire My Creativity link party.




My friends have been hard at work creating awesome projects. There are even some new friends here!

Check them out:


Shani  |  Sunshine & Munchkins
Ali  |  Home Crafts by Ali
Christine  |  Swordfights & Starry Nights
Meg  |  The Kusi Life
Lauren  |  A Life of Love and Joy
Jaclyn  |  The Dotted Nest
Victoria  |  Dazzle While Frazzled
Sydney  |  Tastefully Frugal
Lindsay  |  See Lindsay
Julia  |  The Quiet Grove
Marie  |  The Inspiration Vault


Then please link up any projects you have been working on lately.




An InLinkz Link-up

Also, come back next month for our next link party.  It's always the 2nd Wednesday of each month.  
On February 14, our theme is Dollar Store Craft.  My head is already spinning with ideas!