How to Make a Vertical Welcome Sign with Cricut

Recently a friend asked me to make an item for the benefit they were holding for her mother’s final expenses. While I was very honored by this request, I was also a little scared. I didn’t exactly know what to make and would anyone bid on my piece?! I finally decided that a vertical welcome sign with my Cricut Maker would do the trick. Let me show you how I did it.

I am really fortunate to have a ton of these boards that were originally used for draw sides. They measure 4.25” x 36”. I begin by spray painting the board a flat black.

Next, I wanted to distress it some because, well it just screamed to me it needed it! Using Waverly chalk paint, I dry brushed the entire board. Dip your brush into the paint and then on a paper towel, brush as much of that paint out of the brush. Now begin applying that dry brush to the board and continue the process until you have the results you want.

After letting the paint dry thoroughly, apply your letters. You can make your own design using your favorite font or use my design found in my resource library. Which ever you chose, size them to your board by clicking shapes and chose a square. Measure your board then using those measurements, change the size of the square by unlocking it and filling in your sizes in the height and width boxes. Change the color of the square and send it to the back.

Place your letters vertically if you are using your own fonts then group and align the letters. I have already done this for you in my design. Each of my letter are 3′ square. Now lay it on your board template and using the lower right handle, size them to fit your board.

Now that you have the letter the proper size, you can delete your board template. I use permanent premium vinyl placed it on the mat. I always choose more pressure and go fast mode. Cut your letters and weed them.

Time to apply them to the board. I simply laid them on the board until I have them where I wanted them. I left plenty of space at the top and bottom for a little extra decoration to the sign. Almost done.

Using transfer tape, place each letter on the board using the scraper tool.

Maybe I needed to add just a even more to the sign, I wrapped some jute twine around the board four times and tied it off.

Finally, I cut a piece of fabric 4” wide and big enough to wrap around the board. I used a stapler to fasten the fabric to the back of the board.

Finally, on the front, I slipped a piece of twine under the fabric directly in the middle and pulled it together and tied that as well.

So now my sign is finished and ready to drop off for the benefit. I sure hope it does well for the family! Now what do you think? Easy enough to make, are you going to make o e for yourself? Please share your projects and thoughts in the comments below.