Stenciled Round Wood Sign For Winter

Oh winter. Here we are again, my friend.

Or should I say my frenemy?

I'll admit that I adore a few snowflakes on Christmas and maybe a bit of chill while viewing the lights in my neighborhood, with hot cocoa to warm my hands.


However, once New Year's Day rolls around, I'm ready for summer.

Unfortunately, the calendar and Mother Nature call the shots. So I try to make peace with the season, by wearing layers, cuddling up in front of the fireplace.

And creating cozy decor. Of the snowy kind.

Ornament wreaths, adorable sock buddies and painted curbside upcycles.

I guess it's my way of taking a bit of the sting out winter.

This week, I decided to start by decorating the front door. 

Normally, I would leave my flocked wreath out there for a few more weeks, and then skip right to one for Valentine's Day.

Apparently, someone didn't like that plan, because the week after Christmas, that evergreen wreath disappeared.

I'm not sure if the wind took it away or someone really liked it and took it home to decorate their own entryway, but either way, it's gone.

And a naked front door isn't acceptable.

So. What to do?

Easy. Combine winter and Valentine's Day decor in one, with a darling snowman stencil on a large wooden craft round, and hang it up.

Fabulous.

How To Make A Round Wood Door Sign

Since I just had a traditional Christmas wreath on the front door and my spring and summer wreaths are all about flowers, I decided to decorate with something different.

I'd seen those lovely round wooden wreaths for years, but never tried my hand at one.

I thought this would be the perfect time.

My first thought was to cut out my own circle from a piece of leftover plywood, like I did with my wooden Christmas trees.

But honestly, with a coupon code and a reward certificate, this one from the craft store, was less than $5 and so much easier than making my own.

Supplies To Make This Craft:

1. Decide On Paint Colors

The first step in this process is all about design. While most stencils come with a completed photo for inspiration, those colors aren't set in stone.


You can choose whatever tones you please, ones that fit your personal decor or the current season.

Keeping that in mind, I chose ones that would work well for winter and Valentine's Day, since once this sucker goes on that door, he's going to be there until March.

2. Paint The Wooden Round

I literally just squeezed the paint onto the wood and began painting. 

White craft paint and a basic brush did the job. I didn't prime it and only gave it one coat, since I like the rustic look.

Where the wood shows through a teeny bit.


Then I set it aside to dry. Completely.

3. Tape The Stencil To The Sign

Then it was time to add the pretty, with a stencil. A snowman stencil.

Isn't he a dapper fellow? 


I simply positioned it where I thought it looked best and then I used my blue painter's tape to secure it to the board.

I didn't tape all the way around, just a few pieces worked well.

4. Stencil

Now, normally when I stencil, I use rollers. Big rollers, small rollers, I find they work the best. 

However, this stencil pattern was composed of mostly lines, so the rollers wouldn't have been appropriate. They were too large and the lines were too close together.


I needed small brushes. There was no way around it. Not my favorite, but effective.

I like small, round, stiff stencil brushes. They hold the paint well and don't absorb too much, so offloading is minimal.

And I don't have to worry about it bleeding under the stencil openings.

In addition, in really tight spots, I used index cards to block off any portions that I didn't want the wrong color paint to make its way into.

They work great, they're very inexpensive and they're disposable.

Nothing to wash. I think I like that part best.

When I had added all my colors, using a different brush for each one, my crafty new wreath didn't look so professional.

But when I peeled that stencil away...magic.

5. Add Hand Painted Details

To add a little more Valentine's Day charm to my round sign, I decided to break out the pink paint and fill in the white spaces on the snowman's scarf.

Putting your own spin on a stencil is what makes a cookie cutter craft personal and really takes it up a notch.


It was a quick process, but one that made a huge difference in the design.

6. Add A Bow

I used my handy dandy bow making tool and a thick, bold, red ribbon to create my bow. Again, another quick process.


Then I added it to my sign and I was done.

So how do you attach a bow to a wood sign?

You can use a hot glue gun, if your sign will be inside. However, if outside, I recommend using a staple gun so it's very secure. 

I did not use either. I attached my bow to the rope that came with the round to hang it. I used a small piece of the the bow maker wire to tie it onto that heavy twine.

When I was all done painting and fussing with my bow, I had an adorable new addition to my winter decor collection.


This sweet snowman dressed for Valentine's Day and his adorable puppy pal were almost too precious to part with and place on the front door.

Somewhere I'll only get to visit when I'm coming and going.


But snowmen don't belong in the house.

They're so much more comfortable outside.

All those cold temps and flurry filled days.

They love winter.

And with those two cuties on my front door, the whole neighborhood will think I do, too.

Shhhh.

😉


Stay warm friends!