What’s your favorite thing about Halloween? Mine is the fact that I can decorate my yard in whatever crack pot funny decorations I can think of and it won’t phase anyone. I secretly delight in the pass from the expected Instagram worthy tasteful décor. (yawn) After all, Halloween is that one time of the year we can put out whatever we feel like and no one will think twice about it. No strange looks from the neighbors, no letters from the HOA and no well meaning calls of concern from family and friends. Nope, none of that. Don’t you just love Halloween!! So with that in mind, my inner 11year old would like to share with you this fun DEAD and Breakfast sign you can make for your own yard. And as an added bonus, this tutorial is part of a Halloween Blog hop with 7 other creative bloggers so be sure to check out the links below to their Halloween projects too!
DIY Dead and Breakfast Sign
I started by creating my design on the computer.
I created a blank template for you to use and add your own family name. If you don’t feel like going to that trouble, you are welcome to just use the Kavanagh’s Dead and Breakfast sign but I’ll have to charge you a franchise fee. Kidding. Unless of course you would like to send me money then hold on while I get you my address.
To save the Dead and Breakfast image, right click on the graphic and choose save. Once you have the image saved you can insert the graphic in any graphics program or insert it in a word processing program like MS Word. To add your family name in MS Word, insert the picture and then open a text box and type your family name. I use the font Ornatique Regular which is a free font you can get here. Don’t forget to add the Est. date too.
Remember to format the text box so it doesn’t have the outline. Once you have your lettering just the way you want it, the next step is to print it and transfer your design to a piece of plywood.
Design Transfer Methods
There are many ways to transfer a design but my preferred two methods are to use graphite paper to trace the design or use a projector. I talk more about these transfer methods over (here).
I used a projector when I made my sign but I find graphite paper to be the easiest. If you choose graphite paper *(affiliate link), you will need to take your design to a copy store and have it enlarged to the size of your sign. Or you can print it yourself in sections and tape it back together like I did HERE
To start with, trace just the shape of your sign and cut it out with a jigsaw. You may need to sand the edges of your sign since plywood sometimes chips when cut. Once you are happy with your plywood shape, paint the whole thing white. After your paint is dry, transfer the rest of your design with a pencil. I go over my pencil marks with a black permanent marker. It makes the lines easier to see where I am painting.
(I painted my board first before I cut it out and regretted it! My plywood chipped as I cut it and I had to REPAINT sections. Oh it was loads of fun but I don’t recommend it.)
For the letters I use One Shot Lettering Enamel in Black *(affiliate link) I love this paint because of how smooth it is to paint with and it’s extremely durable. I used this paint to paint my house numbers outdoors and after several months in the weather it still looks as good as the first day I painted it. And no this is not a sponsored post, I’m just a fan of this product!
Hanging The New Sign
Now that your sign is painted , all that is left to do is to drill two holes and add two spring link clasps and some chain. I hung my sign off my porch to let everyone know the Dead and Breakfast is now open for business!
Keep in mind if you don’t like painting you could always decoupage your printed design on your plywood instead. I hope you will give this fun DEAD & Breakfast sign a try and as always you are welcome to contact me if you have any questions about this or any of my tutorials.
For more Halloween ideas check out…Spooktacular Halloween Porch Ideas, Easy Bee Costume and DIY Hamburger!
Happy Creating,
Be sure to check out the other Halloween posts in this Halloween Blog Hop. (Links and photos below)
• A Home To Grow Old In • Hey Fitzy • Nourish and Nestle •
• Savvy Apron • Sweet Parrish Place •
•The Aspiring Home • The Red Painted Cottage •
Affiliate Links…
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I link up (here)
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Jennifer, love the sign. Thank you so much for sharing. I love projects, but I am not creative at all. What size is your sign?
Hi Marie. The sign is around 30″ tall by 38″ wide. It’s big but depending on where you want to use it, you may not need to make it that big.
Thank you for sharing this at The Crafty Corner link party! I will be featuring your post at this week’s party, which runs tomorrow at 6 am EST. I hope you see you there! 🙂
I absolutely love this! Thanks for sharing it at Totally Terrific Tuesday! I cant wait to make my own! Thanks for all of the work on the freebie 🙂
Jess
I love your sign so much! It is so perfect with your Halloween porch decorations. Thanks for sharing at the Wednesday Showcase party. Pinned!
I love your sign, it is just fabulous!
Too Cute!
Thank you so much!!
What a cute idea and love the play on words! Thank you so much for sharing with us at Dishing It & Digging It!
Thank you Angie!
Jenny this rocks! Aren’t you the crafty one! Thanks for sharing the template, I would love to make one and have it up for our up coming party. I will pin it and hopefully get around to it before next year! I will have to take a look around your blog for more inspiration!
Thank you so much Renee! I came up with the idea the day of halloween but had to wait till the following year to get to it too! When you get around to making one, feel free to email me if you have any questions. Have a great day and thank you soooo much for the pinning it. Hugs, Jenny
Jenny, this sign is so fun! You did a wonderful job on it!! I especially like how you made your photo black and white and gave color to the pumpkins, looks so cool.
Cute idea for a sign! And I love your porch decor!
I would love to wear your creative cap for a while! Love this idea and the pictures are amazing!
this is such a cute sign!
stop by and chat with me 🙂 storybookapothecary.com
I feel like your house would be the scariest on the block, it looks awesome!
Jenny, I love your work. The chalkboard signs for in the house and this gorgeous Dead and Breakfast sign. You are so creative, but you make these projects do-able for those of us who aren’t so creative in thought! I love that!
I have been wanting to make some cool signs for the house and porch, you give me so many great ideas. I love the shape of this sign and the fonts. They are eye-catching and work so well together! Love it!
Jenny I love your sign! I have to look into the little projector for the larger signs I create.
This is awesome! I love it 🙂 I hope you’ll share this project at The Crafty Corner link party with us this week! Have a good day 🙂
Oh how I’d love to be your neighbour Jenny, your porch is seriously awesome and that sign, well, you’re one creative girl! I can’t believe you thought of this, it is genius! I’d totally stay in your Dead & Breakfast!!! Have a lovely Halloween time!
What a great sign! Love the rest of your porch also. My second year with my daughter gone at Halloween so it is hard to get into the mood to decorate!
This turned out great! Love it!
I LOVE this times a hundred! So cute!
This is such a creative and fun decor piece for Halloween! Thanks for sharing this with us at Snickerdoodle! Pinning.
If we still lived in our house, I would make one and hang it on our porch. Such a clever and scary idea, Jenny! Unfortunately, our condo association would probably frown upon on it. I could still make one for our entry to welcome our guests.
This is so cute and clever (it took me a minute to get it!)
Oh my gosh, this is the coolest sign! I love your decoupage idea, too! I just got some outdoor ModPodge, so I bet that would be super easy. Your porch is amazing, too! Love everything about it!
You are so crazy talented. I love that sign and might just have to put it on my to do list. Thanks for the graphic…will make it much easier.
Have a great weekend my friend.
Hugs, Lynn
Very cute! I just love Halloween fun!
Jenna
Your sign is so darn cute! I just purchased a tracer projector and I love it! Thanks for the great tutorial!
LOVE this sign. I may take you up on the offer of the template; why mess with perfection? Found you on Instagram, via #HalloweenDecorations. Nice to meet you. Happy Halloween!
Hi Sue!!! Thank you for letting me know. I always wonder how people find my site. Its nice to meet you too! XO – Jenny
Great tutorial and clever sign! I agree with you on decorating for Halloween – only time of year the HOA will not get me for my dead plants! lol
Haha yes! and you can tell everyone the dead plants are all part of the grand plan!!!!!
Have a great weekend -Jenny
That is just so darn cute Jenny! You win the prize for my favorite this week! (for what that’s worth!) Pinned to Fall decor!
Oh Nicki, that is so sweet of you to say! XO my friend
Jenny
Hi Jenny, I love the way your sign turned out and also laughed out loud when readying your post. Isn’t it the truth! This lovely holiday gives us the opportunity to do what ever we want with our decorations and everyone thinks its great! My favorite judgment free holiday of the year!!!
Thank you so much Tammy! Two cheers for judgment free holidays ❤️.
Hugs
Jenny