DIY Fall Welcome Sign With Wood Cutout Letters

I made a fall version of one of my favorite round welcome signs, and the warm colors gave the whole project a completely different look. A creamy painted background, stained wood letters, rusty wire, and a loose mix of fall inspired flowers turned this familiar design into a sweet seasonal accent for my home.

Supplies I Used

For this project, I started with a round wood cutout that says Welcome to Our Home. The design also comes in a Welcome to My Home version, so you can choose the wording that fits your household.

My round was about 10 inches, and it included separate wood letters along with etched placement guides on the backboard. Those little guides make lining up the words much easier once everything has been painted.

I also used the following supplies.

• Vanilla chalk paste or creamy off white acrylic paint
• Distilled water
• Paintbrushes
• Sandpaper
• Ground Espresso distress ink
• Foam dauber
• Dixie Belle Tobacco Road gel stain
• Paper towels
• Titebond Quick and Thick glue
• Masking tape
• Rusty wire
• Hot glue gun
• Assorted greenery, orange flowers, yellow accents, and berries

The flowers and greenery were simply pieces I had on hand. I looked through my supplies and pulled anything with warm orange, yellow, brown, or muted green tones. You can do the same with leftover stems from other projects.

Painting the Round Wood Backboard

I began by placing masking tape under the separate pieces so they would stay together while I worked. Then I painted the round backboard with Vanilla chalk paste, which is a soft, creamy white rather than a bright white.

My paste was a little thick, so I sprayed a small amount of distilled water on the board and added a touch to the paste. Distilled water helps loosen thick chalk paste without introducing anything that could affect it while stored. I worked the water in with my paintbrush as I painted.

Acrylic paint works just as well on these wood cutouts. The goal is simply to create a warm neutral background for the darker letters and fall flowers.

I knew I would distress the sign, so I kept the painted finish relaxed. Perfect coverage wasn’t needed, and a little variation helped create the worn look I wanted.

Adding a Distressed Fall Finish

Once the creamy paint began to dry, I sanded the round lightly and paid extra attention to the edges. Sanding softened the painted finish and exposed a little of the wood underneath.

Next, I used Ground Espresso distress ink with a foam dauber. I worked the ink around the outer edge first, where I wanted the deepest color, and then moved lightly across the face of the board.

Ground Espresso is my favorite distress ink color for this type of project. The rich brown works beautifully with creamy paint and gives the sign an aged finish without covering all of the lighter color.

I like adding wear during the project because it makes the finished piece easy to live with. A little bump from a pet, a child, or everyday life simply blends into the finish.

Staining the Wood Cutout Letters

For the words, I used Dixie Belle Tobacco Road gel stain. It is a warm brown that gave the letters plenty of contrast against the Vanilla background.

I poured a small amount of stain into a tray and applied it with a foam dauber. A dauber makes quick work of detailed wood letters because it reaches the narrow areas without requiring a tiny brush for every edge.

After coating the letters, I wiped away the excess stain with a paper towel. This also helped the pieces dry a little faster. I handled the Welcome cutout carefully since the script sections are thin and can snap if bent too far.

Attaching the Words

The etched guides became easier to see as the painted backboard dried. Good lighting helps at this stage, especially when the paint and etched lines are close in color.

I squeezed a little Titebond Quick and Thick onto a piece of masking tape and used a paintbrush to spread a thin layer over the back of each letter. The glue grabs fairly quickly, but it still gives me a short window to adjust the placement.

I lined up To Our Home with the etched guides and then centered Welcome above it. The playful font is forgiving, but I still checked the words from a couple of angles before the glue set.

Making the Rusty Wire Hanger

The round already had holes at the top, so I threaded rusty wire through them to create a hanger. If your wood piece needs holes, a hole punch can work on thin cutout material.

I twisted the wire ends and curled the extra into small pigtails. Most of the twists were covered once I added the greenery, but I still liked knowing those curled details were tucked behind the arrangement.

Adding Fall Greenery and Flowers

I kept the floral arrangement loose and layered. First, I glued small pieces of greenery around the top edge of the sign, placing them near the wire hanger and extending them out toward each side.

Then I added the orange flowers. I trimmed the plastic attachment points as flat as possible so each flower would sit close to the wood. I used hot glue to secure them and pressed everything down with the end of a paintbrush to protect my fingers.

A few yellow accents added another fall color, and I moved one piece before the glue had fully set so the arrangement would feel balanced. I finished with a berry stem in the center. The berries added a little more texture and helped fill the space between the flowers.

You can play with the arrangement before gluing everything in place. Start with greenery, add the largest flowers, and tuck smaller accents into any open areas. Using what you already have makes every sign a little different.

A New Fall Version of a Favorite Sign

I had made this same welcome sign with spring and summer colors before, but the creamy background, brown lettering, orange flowers, and berries gave it a warm fall look. The distressed finish also tied the separate pieces together and made the new florals feel right at home.

Chalk Couture supplies I used

• Vanilla Paste

You can shop my full Chalk Couture store here.

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