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We recently had a family reunion at my cousin’s son’s house. He and his wife bought a fixer upper last fall. They’ve been working on it ever since. But things really became rushed as time neared for our annual family reunion. Scooter (his childhood nickname) and his wife Alicia agreed to host the reunion in their new home. My Aunt Dot—we fondly refer to her as Granny in our family, as she has adopted Jamie and I as her daughter and granddaughter as my mom passed away when Jamie was only nine.
So, back to today’s subject. Granny asked if I would make a couple of signs for her, one being for the reunion, and the other a sign for her grandson Scooter’s pool.
I got busy designing this sign using my Silhouette Studio® Designer Edition software. You can see that I have the box activated that says Scooter & Alicia’s. Look to the right, you will see the ruler that shows how large the box is. The box diameter reads 2.285 x 13.845. In reality, using the ruler I can see that the largest letter is the A in Alicia, and it is a little less that two inches in height.
I chose to do three different selections on this sign. One is Scooter & Alicia’s, the next is the remaining part of the sign with the exception of the “P”.
That
This shows how the sign would layout if the entire sign was in one text box. I wanted to decrease the spacing in between the line Scooter & Alicia’s and ool—Notice there’s. That is why I chose to have the top line in it’s own box.
When making an oversized sign, I design it all at one time, but cut it out in two different sessions. You can see that this is how I cut out the lower portion of the sign without changing the layout. BUT wait! Look at all of that waste that is about to happen on the vinyl/contact paper stencil.
I added an additional stencil so I wouldn’t be wasteful.
To make the sign, I used two fence boards and some ripped pieces to connect them.
These boards will become my new sign.
You can see that I cut the top portion of the sign as one piece, and the bottom portion as a separate piece.
I removed the backing from my contact paper stencil.
It’s not as difficult as it may look to apply such a large stencil. It gets a lot easier with practice. You can see the oodles and boodles on the contact paper I removed. (in the background)
I flipped the stencil over and applied it. I got in a hurry and forgot to take a picture before I got busy painting the stencil. As soon as I finish stenciling, I remove the contact paper. I let the oodles and boodles dry slightly before I remove them.
I drilled holes and added wire to hang the sign.
This is the sign hanging on my fence.
I didn’t get a picture of the sign at Scooter’s, but here’s the pool where it will be displayed. Scooter really liked the sign, and may have me make another one that says “bathing suits optional” but he has to wait for Alicia’s approval. 
Good idea cuz!
In this picture you can see the other sign that Granny requested from me. Our matriarch (my aunt Helen) is holding the Hunchman Reunion sign, while the newest member of our family is helping his mom hold the 2013 sign.
I love my Silhouette Portrait, and I know you would love one too. Don’t forget to check out yesterday’s post for all the details about July’s promotion and a GIVEAWAY for a Portrait and Silhouette Studio® Designer Edition software of your very own!
gail
Tim and I have been wanting to make a sign like this! Thanks for the great tutorial 🙂
Can’t wait to meet you at Haven!!!
Hey Gail, Love the pool sign, beautiful family! I have nominated you for the Super Sweet Blogging Award!!
please visit http://www.glassslipperrestorations.com/2013/07/02/super-sweet-blogging-award/
Thanks,
Cindy @ GlassSlipperRestorations.com
Great sign! My aunt had one with the same saying when I was kid.
I totally fell for this sign. I was embarrassed for you that you left the p off it! Then I read the rest. SO cute! What a wonderful large family, you have, Gail. Family reunions are so fun!
Many moons ago, my Mom hung a sign at our pool that said “We don’t pee in your toilet so don’t pee in our pool” I still laugh when I see pool signs and yours is really clever! I can’t even imagine how to use one of those machines, but they sure do a great job 🙂
Lookiing for the directions for the DIY lollypop ornaments
What a fun sign! We just bought a pool and are in the process of filling it with water. I thought it was so appropriate that you had this post today. I will have to make one for our pool. I finally got my Portrait out of the box and have cut a couple of stencils with it using Dura-lar film. I didn’t even think about using contact paper for a stencil. Is it hard to remove from the project?? Thank you for showing how to section off a larger sign. I was wondering how to do that. I love my Portrait!!
Kay
Kay,
I use contact paper for all my stenciling. I set my blade for vinyl, but put the setting on the software to either 3 or 4 depending on the thickness of the contact paper. I have never had trouble getting it off of my projects. It works great on this old wood. If you have an issue you can make it less tacky by putting your palms on it before you apply it.
gail
Love the sign! Looks like a fun family reunion! I have been dying to know how your color master challenge went? I didn’t get a chance to watch, I hope it went well! Hugs!
that sign is so nice! and it looks like your family is a bunch of fun!
Great sign Gail! Way to rock that Silhouette! … And the reunion looks like such fun! Our families are so small, we really don’t have reunions.
love how the littlest one is having a staring contest with his cousin? brother? too cute!
Marie–brothers! There had already been a little issue with the big brother being unhappy with the little one. It seems to me in this picture, he’s really throwing daggers at his mamma! 🙂
we had cousins who had a sign like that and it always made me laugh as a kid!
Hi Gail…what did the finished size of the project end up being? I still haven’t made anything bigger then 12 x 24. I think I worry most about me getting that second sheet of contact paper the right distance away from the first one so you can’t notice the join. Do you have any tips on doing that? I do have the design edition, but have to say I don’t really know how to use it very well. (tutorial????)
Enjoy your day!!
Debbie.
Debbie,
It was a little less than 12 x 24. The Portrait cuts up to 8.5 inches, that is why I had to cut it in two sections. The same you would do if you were cutting something on your CAMEO. If you design it all in one piece and move it in and out of the cutting area, you should be able to piece it back together when you get it on your project. I just sort of eyeballed it on my boards to get the spacing correct. I am here if you ever have any questions. If you click tone of the Silhouette categories on my side bar you will see all the projects/tutorials I’ve done. There are even a couple of videos. The Silhouette YouTube channel is a great resource for tips and tutorials. I refer to them often myself.
gail
I saw one that says “we don’t swim in your toilet so please don’t pee in our pool”.