Fact: We’ve already watched Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer 6 times this month. I know. It’s completely premature. I think our “Livie Bug” has caught the bug. But in her defense, she gets it honest. Robert and I get all giddy and giggly when the Christmas decor starts popping up in our town.
Since we’re hosting a big family Thanksgiving this week, we got a jump start on the Christmas decorating. And in the midst of pulling out the bajillions of tangled strands of twinkle lights, I decided to get crafty…again.
I got the idea to do a Christmas version of my DIY Pumpkin Patch Sign that I made for fall. But this time, I wanted a little industrial fun in the mix with some metal letters.
If you feel like getting crafty too and want to make this DIY metal and wood Christmas sign for yourself, here’s what I used: (Affiliate links are provided below for convenience. For more information, see my full disclosure here.)
- 3 – 1x4x8 pine furring strips
- 1 – 1x2x8 pine furring strip
- Circular saw (or whatever saw you prefer)
- Wood glue
- 1 1/4″ wood screws or nails
- Minwax Pre-Stain Wood Conditioner (optional but recommended)
- Rustoleum Weathered Gray Wood Stain
- Sponge brush and clean rag
- Metal and wood letters (I found mine for $15 each at Hobby Lobby or you can get this N, E, and L that are similar.)
- 1 – 12 to 15″ wreath (This one is similar to the one I already had.)
To construct the sign, I cut my 1x4x8 furring strips into thirds with the circular saw at 32″ long. I used 7 of the cut furring strips to make my sign 32″x24″ since those measurements would work best on top of our media cabinet.
I layed all 7 of the 1×4 furring strips face-down beside each other. Then, I made two cuts from my 1×2 furring strip at 24″ for the width of my sign.
I used some wood glue for extra security on the back of the 1×2 strips.
Then I nailed them across the back of the 1x4s.
Whenever I stain a project, I like to use a wood conditioner first to keep the stain from being splotchy. I just followed the directions on the back of the can- basically, swipe it on, wipe it off after a minute, let dry, and you’re good to go.
Then, I used my FAVORITE wood stain (besides the homemade kind that is).
Once the stain was dry, I just put a few nails in place to hang my letters. Since these are meant to hang on a wall, they already had the hangers built into the backs. I got mine for 50% off at Hobby Lobby. Woot woot!
I added one more nail to hang a wreath I already had, and it was done!
It’s really simple, but I love how it turned out.
Since I already had the wreath and wood stain, the entire thing cost about $55. That’s still not exactly cheap in my book, but if I’d bought it already made somewhere, it would have cost way more, I’m sure.
And sometimes when I get an idea that I’m excited to try out, I just can’t help myself.
I can’t wait to show off all of the Christmasy goodness with a few other secret projects happening behind-the-scenes right now. You’ll be seeing lots of it starting next week.
But first…turkey. If I’m being completely honest though, the dessert spread is what I’m most excited about, aren’t you?
What do you think? Are you loving this cute industrialish sign as much as I am? Have you started on the Christmas decor at your house? If not, congratulations, you’re sane, unlike the three of us currently wrapped up in our rogue light strands all over the place.
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I have same nativity set. Made it in 1980 ceramics . love the sign too!
Wow! You made one!? I’m impressed.
Hi Lauren! I stumbled across your site from Pinterest and was looking for the DIY coffee table you did! That was an awesome find! Anyway, I started clicking through all your various projects and I’m hooked on your blog! I really *like* your style! I was thinking, if you wanted to revamp this sign for the upcoming Christmas (yes I am a Christmas-nut and love looking for ideas/decor year-round) maybe paint the wood trim around the letters red? Just a thought to give it a little more of a pop since most of your beautiful decor is soft and neutral! For now, I’m enjoying your fall decor and trying to spruce up my apartment while getting ready for my wedding (October 29th!) I’m looking forward to reading/seeing more! PS: Joanna Gaines is my spirit animal too 🙂
Ooh! That’s a cute idea! Thank you SO much for the blog love, Sharon! And congratulations on your wedding!!!
Do you happen to have an item number or description for the letters? I saw some today at an out of town shopping trip to hobby lobby but didn’t think to write down a number so I could look online!
I scoured their website just now and couldn’t find them. But I JUST saw them today when I was at my nearby Hobby Lobby, so I know they still carry them. I can’t find any markings on the actual letters though. I’m so sorry. :-/
Were the letters already wrapped in wood? I have not seen those yet!
They were actually! I didn’t have to do anything to them except nail them to the sign.
This is such a great project. It looks lovely 🙂
Thank you, Ashlea!
This is amazing! I am sharing this with our facebook fans! They will all love it!
Thank you so much, Terri!
This is really cool! I love that you used a wreath for the O in Noel. Perfect Christmas DIY!
Thank you, Amy! I was so excited when I stuck that wreath up there. It worked out perfectly!
Love it Lauren! That bug is definitely going around….I’m in ,I’ve with that stain that you used. The whole project turned out gorgeous! Thanks for sharing 🙂
Shonee
http://www.hawthorneandmain.com
Thank you so much, Shonee! You’re too sweet. 🙂
Love it! Seeing all the beautiful Christmas decorations on Instagram and now here makes me want to drag out the decorations. However, I’m holding out till after Thanksgiving.
Haha! I’m an odd bird this year. I normally hold out until after Thanksgiving too, but this time around, Christmas tour dates took over to get it done early. Hope you’re enjoying it all now though. 🙂
I love this, Lauren! We have lots of furring strips left from the board and batten project and I’m going to be making faux pallet boards with them. And those letters…oh my!
Thanks, Carol! That’s where ours came from too. We had a good many of those furring strips left from the b&b. All the more reason to keep on creating. 😉
SO, so cute!!!! Hobby Lobby has the best assortment of letters at their store for things like this! I love the stained board you put them on!
Carrie
curlycraftymom.com
Thanks, Carrie! I love their letters too. Definitely wait for those 50% off deals on them. 😉
I love this! Probably going to be making a trip to Hob Lob this week! Thanks for sharing!
Haha! I love that you call it Hob Lob.
Ahhh! This is so cute, Lauren! I love those letters. I’ve definitely got the holiday bug too. I am so excited to start decorating! Can’t wait to see what else you’ve got up your sleeve!
Thanks, Sarah! Can’t wait to see how you’ll decorate too!
Looks great! Easy project and perfect for Thanksgiving company! I love the letters you found too. 🙂 I love that your daughter has got the bug. My kids do too and we have been cranking up the Christmas music and watching our favorite Christmas movies too! Never too early. 🙂
I’m telling ya. I thought Christmas was fun before but once we had a kid, Christmas is even more a blast. It is soooo fun to see those little ones’ faces light up at everything this time of year. I agree. Never too early. 😉
Soooo cute! Love this idea! I’m such a sucker for signs with wreaths (or wreaths in general, who am I kidding). Well done!
Me too girl! You can never have enough.
I love it! We put up our Christmas tree this weekend! And it was my husband’s idea to put it up early – I was so surprised! I’ll send a picture of it some time, to show how I diy’d the entire tree South Africa style!
Yes! I would love to see that! I don’t know if I’ve ever seen a South African Christmas tree before.
I couldn’t like this more! So so cute! Great job!