Wooden Spindle Sign For Christmas

I made a wooden spindle sign for Christmas! It’s a small wooden sign made from reclaimed fence boards and an old spindle. Short and simple—to the point—JOY!

I recently showed you my stash of spindles when I made the DIY Christmas Lanterns. That stash of spindles reside in the garage. THIS smaller stash of random spindles are stored in the barn/shed. Many of these spindles are reclaimed from old cribs. I think the one I used for this spindle sign was actually from a chair.

Items needed to make a JOY wooden spindle sign for Christmas

I love using reclaimed fence boards for signs. They are perfectly weathered and gray.

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Make Stencils for Joy Sign

This started out as a very simple project using these pieces. I love using contact paper as stencils. I transfer the entire piece to each board, then use that hook to pick out the letters. If you use tweezers or dental tools, I highly recommend using this hook tool instead. You can also print letters on your printer to trace and paint them.

I use Martha Stewart Foam Pouncers on all of my stenciling projects.

Blotting the excess paint onto the contact paper backing gives a smoother stenciling application.

Remove stencil before paint dries

It’s best to remove the contact paper while the paint is still wet. Even on this rough wood, the contact paper has very little bleed.

See why I love using this reclaimed wood for stenciling? The white paint shows up so perfectly, making it ideal for my wooden spindle sign.

How to paint a spindle

Generally I use my Homeright Finish Max to paint spindles. But since I just had one to work on, I used a rag dipped in the stenciling paint—wiping the paint all over the spindle.

Attach weathered fence boards to scrap plywood

Grabbing a piece of thin plywood from my bucket of scraps, I used my Kreg Multi-Mark tool to make sure everything was uniform.

A nail gun makes this wooden spindle sign project easy

My nail gun made quick work of attaching the reclaimed fence boards to the thin plywood. Then I flipped it all over . . . .

oops! how the heck did THAT happen?

I took apart the wooden spindle sign, and redid it. WRONG again! Can you believe it? How hard can this be people? In my defense I was distracted by several phone calls from my friend who was Christmas shopping and couldn’t make up her mind what to buy for a “dirty Santa” gathering.

DIY joy sign

Much better! Time to attach the Joy sign to the wooden spindle.

Being a little math challenged, this self centering tape measure makes it really easy to find the center on any project I’m working on.

A nail is handy to start a pilot hole

To add small eye hooks to the wooden signs I used an old trick my mom taught me. Using a nail to make a small hole will allow easy installation of the hooks. Using said nail to actually “twist” the nail into the hole saves fingers.

If you look closely you will see that I marked the spindle to match the spot on the signs. Another eye hook will be placed on the spindle.

Attach small chain to DIY spindle sign

I added eye hooks to the bottom side and top of the spindle.

Here is the Joy spindle sign hanging on the shed to make sure it hangs straight. I used linked chain to hang it—you could also use jute or rope.

Holly branches help spruce it up a little on the front of the diy picket fence.

DIY wooden spindle sign

PIN IT!

It is currently residing on my front gate until I can take it to my booth at Vendors’ Village. I love simple Christmas décor projects that work both inside and outside, and this Joy spindle sign fits the bill perfectly!

gail

If you love this wooden spindle sign, you should check out my Bless The Food Before Us Sign.