Custom Wall Decal Wooden Sign DIY

Want to make a custom wooden sign without a fancy machine? No problem, you can design your own clear wall decal online with StickerYou in minutes.

Then just peel, press and seal your way to fabulous.
 

This post is sponsored by StickerYou.

Wooden signs are one of my all time favorite decor accessories.

And over the years, I've made a lot of them. I absolutely adore the old world charm they bring to any room.

However, they can be pricey to buy and I don't always love making them.

That's why, whenever possible, I cheat my way to the pretty, by using a vinyl wall decal. 

It's literally the easiest way to make a wooden sign. 

Unfortunately, I don't have a fancy cutting machine, so my sign designs are always based on what's available in stores.

Which isn't always ideal. 

As a matter of fact, sometimes it stinks.

For example, for a really long time I've wanted a Flower Market sign. I had a design in my head that included a simple bloom and the date our home was built. 



It wasn't something I was ever going to find pre-made...and estimates to have one made for me were ridiculously expensive. 

Besides the fact that I enjoy crafting. So it's a project that's lived only in my mind for years.

Until.

Until I found out that I could design my own clear wall decals at StickerYou.

No fancy machine, no ridiculous price tags and no stenciling or painting. Just peel and press. 

Fabulous.

I couldn't wait to get started.

How To Make A Custom Wooden Sign With A Clear Wall Decal

Of course, every sign begins with a vision.

As I said, I've had this design on hand for a long time, so I didn't need to create anything.

However, if you need artwork for your own sign, you can either make it on a site like Canva or PicMonkey or you can go directly to the StickerYou site and design it there. 

You can choose from their art and/ or numbers and letters, in a variety of fonts and colors to put together something lovely. 

Or if you want to make my exact Fresh Flower Vintage Market Sign you can use my PNG. 

With my design nailed down, I was ready to dig into the DIY.

Supplies:

Custom Clear Wall Decal
Wooden Board
Chalk Paint
Satin Sealer
Paint Brushes
Measuring Tape

Step 1: Order Decal

Placing my order was a very simple process. The prompts are easy to follow and if you do need help, there's a chat box that puts you in touch with a live agent.

I just uploaded my file, chose the size I needed, which was based on the board I was going to use. Then I chose the type of decal I wanted - I chose removable, that's important. 

Next, I was given the choice of several shapes, including a die cut version, that hugs your design.

I went with a rectangle. It's much easier to center and I like the faint border it provides. Then, I hit checkout and I was done.

Step 2: Paint Your Board

While I waited the few days for my decal to arrive, I decided to paint my board.

You may remember this one, it's from a toolbox. My husband didn't need it, but it was too nice to toss.

Thick and sturdy. I knew it'd be the perfect backdrop for my sticker sign.

I didn't need to prime it, since I used chalk paint for the project. Two coats and it was ready.

When my decal showed up, I was thrilled. It was better than I'd anticipated. The letters were sharp and the vinyl was a great weight.

Now, right away, I know some of you will say, hey, but it's shiny. And it is. That's ok.

I actually opted for the decal that way. I've worked with matte ones in the past and I much prefer the clarity of the gloss. 

Plus, the shine can be toned down with a matter sealer. But more on that later. 

Step 3: Measure

For this part of the project, I measured my clear decal and my wooden sign to determine placement. I drew the faintest pencil lines on the board and then stuck a piece of blue painter's tape on the decal to mark the center.

Step 4: Peel and Press

Then I peeled the decal away from its backing.

And laid it down on the board, making sure it lined up with all my marks. 

I'd like to tell you that I got it right on the first try...but then I'd be lying. Even with all that careful planning, I was off by a smidge. 

That's ok, that's where the beauty of a removable wall decal comes in.

I simply peeled it up and tried again. It didn't chip or mar the paint and there was no damage to the decal while I repositioned it. 

You can't do that with a stencil or hand painting or even furniture transfers. It's much, much harder to fix a error with any of those techniques. 

That's why making signs with these decals are my go to. Like I said, it's literally peel, press and done.

And I was. I could've stopped right there. I was over the moon with how it turned out.

The sign looked fabulous covering up those countertop outlets that I cannot stand. 

Way, way better than it looked in my head.

But I wanted it to stay that way. Forever.

Step 5: Seal

So I had to seal it. 

It's not really necessary to do that, I would say that about 50% of the time, I don't. Especially if I know I'll want to swap sentiments out for the season.

Another perk of being removable. 

As I said, though, this one is so elegant, so simple, so timeless, it wasn't coming off. So, I applied one coat of satin sealer with a brush over the entire sign.

If you want less shine, you can use a matte sealer, but I always go with satin. It just has more personality than matte, plus it's easier to dust. 

And the way it catches the candlelight just makes me smile.

The big dilemma now is where to put my new show-stopping sign.

It's been making the rounds in the kitchen.


Right now, it's parked on my pine server.

That means I can see those icky outlets on the countertop again, though.

And I can feel the pull to place it in the living room...or my bedroom...or on my covered porch.

Hmmm...I think that means I need another sign. 

Or two.

What do you think?