How to Have a Stress Free Wood Sign Painting Party

Hosting a wood sign painting party can be stressful, but I want to show you how you can have one that is stress free!

We had so much fun at this sign party but it was a definite learning curve for me, that’s for sure.

I was hoping to get everything ready and prepared for when everyone arrived; but of course, I forgot the transfer paper.

It was the one thing that cannot be purchased at Walmart last minute! So Carson very graciously drove almost an hour round trip to get it from the house and bring it to me.

Thanks, honey 😊

One of the things that made this sign party stress free was that I only stuck to one design. That way, the design was cut out for everyone before the party begun.

If anyone has ever thought about hosting any kind of craft party, the one piece of advice that I can give is to be prepared for anything!!

Here is a list of the materials that I used to prepare for the sign party. They are also linked to Amazon to make it convenient for you if you want to plan your own party!!

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Paint

I like chalk paint because a little goes a long way. A little tip for when you have a party is to dispense the paint to your customers yourself. Otherwise, they will get way too much and their stencil will bleed.

Paint Dispensers

You can pour the paint straight out of the bottle, but I absolutely love these dispensers. They work so good and will pour out just the right amount of paint.

Paper plates

People use different things to put the paint on but I like paper plates. They’re cheap and disposable so no washing anything afterwards.

Brushes

I like to use stencil brushes because they are easier to handle but you can also use makeup wedges which are cheaper if you plan on having a large party.

Mod Podge

I used mod podge to apply to the stencils after laying them onto the wood. This seals them so the paint doesn’t bleed and the image will be crisp.

Rubber Gloves

I bought a box of disposable gloves but no one ended up using them. If I do another party, I’ll still provide them for anyone that wants to use them.

Painter’s Tape

Painter’s tape is used to hold down the stencil onto the wood.

Stencil Material

I used this stencil material with my Silhouette Cameo. But you can use it if you have a Cricut too. I like it because it’s not too sticky so it doesn’t pull up pieces of the wood when you take the stencil material up.

Transfer Tape

You can use any kind of material to transfer your stencil to the wood. You can even use laminate paper but I like medium stick transfer tape. It has grids to make it easier to line up the stencil and it sticks better.

Wood Planks

I’m pretty lucky because we have a sawmill so we can cut our boards to any shape or size but you can buy boards on Amazon or any home improvement store.

Weeding tools

I used only tweezers on this party. They turned out good but I probably should have gotten this pack to make it easier.

Cutting Machine

I used a Silhouette Cameo to cut my stencils but a Cricut will work too.

This first party that I did was basically a test sign party with a few friends which I highly recommend. That way you can get feedback and will know what to do and what not to do next time.

The stencils were cut out beforehand but I also brought my machine with me just in case someone wanted something custom on their sign.

I questioned the people in my group and gave them a few options for designs. I just chose the most popular one because I didn’t want it to be too complicated.

The wood was sanded, prepped and stained beforehand so the party didn’t take too long.

The stencils were also stuck to the wood beforehand as well. Some people will not do this step because they say it adds to the fun but I wanted to make sure everything was straight. I may not do that the next time.

I also wanted to provide drinks for the group so I brought my cooler and bought some ice, water and tea to fill it up!

The venue was also pretty awesome and I got so lucky. We have a museum that offers rooms for rent at $1.00 per person. That was incredible because the rooms had tables, sinks and bathrooms. Jackpot!!

They all turned out wonderful and I can’t wait for another one!

If you have any questions, don’t hestitate to put them in the comments below!