How To Decorate Wooden Letters

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Whether you lot're hanging them on a wall, setting them on a shelf, or using them in a larger design, wood letters are a great way to spice upwards a room. While standard-color cedar or birch blocks may exist perfect for some projects, odds are you'll want something a scrap fancier and more artistic. Thankfully, there are plenty of simple, fun ways to turn wood blocks from drab to fab.

i
Cover your blocks with paper. Find a pattern of newspaper you like and fix information technology confront down on a table. Place one of your letters on top. Using a utility pocketknife, trace around the alphabetic character to make a cutting out in the paper. Apply a layer of arts and crafts glue to both the paper and the woods, then press the two together. Let it sit for most 15 minutes, then apply another coat of craft glue on summit. Echo this for every letter of the alphabet.^[1]
- Try using paper themed to the area your blocks will exist put in, like blossom designs for messages kept in a garden.
- If your letters volition spell out the proper name of a friend or family member, employ newspaper themed after them, like music notes if your friend is a piano player.
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Encompass your blocks with patterned tape. A quick and easy way to decorate your letters is by using patterned washi or duct tape. They're naturally glutinous, so all you have to do is cut a strip off the main roll and press it to the woods.^[2]
- Instead of using one pattern for all the letters, try switching between ii or 3 to proceed things interesting.
- If you're using solid colors, try using a slightly different shade on each alphabetic character to create a gradient event.
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3
Tie ribbon or string around your letters. Ribbon and string are a dandy mode to add together color and texture to the wood. Considering arts and crafts letters are typically small, you lot can simply wrap the textile around each block, keeping it tight equally you go. When everything is covered, either tie the material's ends together or glue them to the dorsum of the wood.
- To keep with the theme, glue cord or ribbon to the back of your letters in the shape of a loop. Utilize this to hang them from the wall.
iv
Make a collage on your letters. Though they may non have as much infinite as a board or box, woods messages tin can still exist used for artistic collage work. Gather a series of photos, pictures, drawings, and similar items, cutting them out if necessary. Spread a low-cal amount of arts and crafts glue on the front of your letter and the back of each object, and then press the items to the block to make a collage. When information technology's dry out, coat the block with a second layer of craft mucilage to help it set.^[3]
- If your letters spell out someone's proper noun, try making a collage using photos of them.
- If your letters spell out a room proper name, apply images related to it, like pictures of food over the discussion 'Kitchen.'
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1
Sand the forest. Since they're sold as arts and crafts supplies, most shop-bought wood messages tin can be painted right away. However, rough or hand-made blocks may need a little touch-upwards showtime. Use a modest piece of fine, 150-dust sandpaper to make sure the surface is shine. Rub your sandpaper dorsum and forth in short, gentle motions, staying parallel with the grain of the woods.
- The grain of the wood is the direction naturally traveled by the lines on your cake.
two
Prime number the woods. Earlier using acrylic or watercolor paints on a letter, use primer to make certain the woods is a solid color. With a small brush, utilize a layer of white or gray primer to the wood. Let information technology dry out for 1 hour and, if necessary, employ more than coats until you have a uniform, single-colored block. After your terminal glaze of primer, let the wood dry out for 3 hours before applying paint.^[4]
- If you're using night paint, like black, navy bluish, or forest green, apply greyness primer.
- If you're using light paint, like baby or pastel colors, apply white primer.
3
Pigment with acrylics. Acrylic paint provides an easy mode to decorate wood that leaves room for hundreds of creative design ideas. To apply it, use a small castor to simply rub your paint onto the cake. Let this layer dry out for nigh 20 to xxx minutes before standing. When you lot have a design you're happy with, wash your brush and use it to utilise 1 to two coats of matte, gloss, or satin sealer.^[v]
- Acrylic paints are perfect for small patterns similar polka-dots, zig-zags, and swirls.
- Try painting objects based on what the letters will spell out, like silverware over 'Dining Room.'
four
Pigment with watercolors. Watercolors bridge the gap between acrylics and wood stains because they have both the colour multifariousness of pigment and the soft, dyed look of stains. Prepare a set of watercolors in whatever shades you like, using a castor to mix the paint with water. At present, simply paint. If you're working with layers, go out 30 minutes to dry between each. When it's done, let your forest dry overnight.^[6]
- If you lot're covering whole letters, try placing your watercolors in bowls or cups and dipping the wood within to dye it.
5

Stain the wood. To enhance the natural beauty of your letters and go along their wooden look, try staining. Apply a brush to apply a layer of pre-stain wood conditioner to the surface of a letter, serving as a substitute for primer. Let it dry for about 10 minutes, then employ 1 layer of wood finish or woods stain. When the alphabetic character has turned a color you like, apply a rag to wipe off whatever extra liquid and employ a glaze of clear finish for protection.^[7]

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1
Embrace the wood in glitter. Using a small castor, apply a layer of craft glue to the surface of your wooden letter, making sure to go any corners and within grooves. Pour glitter over the wood. Once it has set, gently shake the letter so extra glitter can autumn off. Utilize a can of clear gloss to spray the alphabetic character and seal everything in, making sure to hold it virtually ii feet (61 cm) abroad from the forest.^[eight]
- Apply black and white glitter to create scary messages for Halloween or cosmic letters for an outer space theme.
- Use rainbow glitter to create fun, festive letters that will brand a room pop.
2
Add together stickers to the blocks. Stickers are an easy mode to decorate letters since, like patterned record, yous can simply printing them onto the woods. Flat stickers tin be found in general markets, dollar stores, and activity books, while chimera, 3D, and specialty stickers are sold at craft stores.^[9]
- Apply stickers that match what the messages volition spell out, like hearts for a romantic nickname or animal stickers for a pet's name.
iii

Bedazzle your letters. To brand your letters actually shine, try adding craft jewels to them. Attach each jewel to the wood using a bedazzling gun or hot mucilage. Printing downward on the jewels to make certain they're secure, then let them dry out. Endeavor combining this with glitter to create wonderfully over-the-summit blocks.
4
Add objects themed around what you're spelling. You tin glue just virtually anything onto forest, so why not try accessorizing with themed objects? Imitation flowers, toys, and other small items can brand your letters stand out while enhancing whatever discussion they spell. Look for objects that tin be combined to create simple patterns or designs so you don't backbite from the main shape.
- Nails, buttons, pencils, and other craft tools can exist used on letters representing workshops or creative spaces.
- LEGOs, trading cards, die, and like items can be used on messages representing lounges or game rooms.
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Question

What tin can I add to wooden letters?

Claire Donovan-Blackwood is the owner of Middle Handmade UK, a site dedicated to living a happy, artistic life. She is a 12 year blogging veteran who loves making crafting and DIY every bit like shooting fish in a barrel every bit possible for others, with a focus on mindfulness in making.

Arts & Crafts Specialist

Practiced Answer

You lot can actually use anything yous desire, like paper flowers or leaves, washi tape, sequins, or beads. The possibilities are endless. Yous tin can paint them and decorate them using pigment pens. You can even try embossing foil on the letters or using a woods-called-for pen to burn designs around them.

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Article Summary Ten

To decorate wood letters, try blanket them with arts and crafts gum and and then shaking glitter over them. Or, you can cover the letters with fun stickers or patterned duct tape. Alternatively, y'all can use hot glue to bedazzle the letters with arts and crafts gemstones or embellish them with buttons, imitation flowers, and other cute decorations. Also, if you lot want to hang up your wood messages, attempt tying ribbon or string around them. For more decorating tips, like how to stain or pigment wood messages, gyre down!

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