Steps for creating a hand carved and painted custom house sign

A couple of days ago, I finished another custom house sign. It was hand carved and painted on a piece of wood out of oak that measured 18" x 13". Added pictures and a Youtube Video on my Facebook Page (www.facebook.com/housesignsguy) along with my website (www.housesigns.webs.com)

Here is the Youtube Video:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0HnHfE8aLLc 

After I finished meeting with my clients, I decided to walk up and down the streets of Alexandria, VA and here are some of store-front signs that were displayed outside. Alexandria is one of the most beautiful cities I have seen on the eastern coast. 

What are some of your favorite cities?

My Top THREE:1. Charleston-SC,  Savannah-GA,  Marblehead-MA.

Heavenly Carved Sign

I recently finished a carved house sign that was totally unique from any other sign that I have made before.

A new potential costumer called me one morning with a simple idea for a house sign that she intended to hang from a wooden post outside her home. Irene, wanted the sign to say GOD IS GOOD. This would be her gratitude and appreciation to God. We worked on designing this house sign. I convinced Irene to add an artwork so it gives the sign that extra “pop”. The artwork that Irene agreed on was an angel holding a dove in his hands. Soon after that I was ready to start working on Irene’s sign.

A few hours later, I ran into a friend of mine on my local golf course. One of the topics that we talked about was Irene’s project that I was ready to work on. My friend, Gene, is a very well known painter in USA as well as in his home country, Ukraine.

I wanted to impress Irene with a unique sign so much that I thought I’d ask Gene for a favor to paint the images on the wood sign. I thought it would be a good idea to come up with two unique images on both sides of the sign, which in return would give Irene “two signs in one”. Gene had the freedom of painting whatever he wanted as long as he incorporated his look and style in this painting. I asked and expected a one of a kind sign.

Few days later, I received the call I’ve been waiting for from Gene. Seeing the paintings for the first time, I was lost for words. I received two one of a kind paintings on a house sign for Irene that everyone was proud of the finished product.

Later that day, I met with Irene and handed her special house sign that I promised she would love. When I started this project, I never intended on having anyone else work on Irene’s house sign other than myself but when I hand delivered the sign, I explained to her what I had done and who painted her artwork. Irene nearly came to tears and thanked me for everything that I went through for making this sign her most cherished item in her new home.

                                                       

To this day, I often drive by Irene’s house to look at a sign that is more than a sign to me and everyone who was involved in making it.

I want to thank Irene for her kind words of appreciation which you can view for yourselves on my website http://housesigns.webs.com/testimonials under TESTIMONIALS.

Personalized House Signs make for Great Gifts

Holiday Season is just around the corner and personalized signs from www.housesigns.webs.com would make for amazing gifts–especially for those friends that have everything!

Everyone likes to see their name on plaques at a front door, or for their kids room or even sheds or garages so personalized signs show ownership and affiliation. They show what we love and what is important in our life. That’s why personalized plaques always make great gifts.

Genuine 22K Gold Leaf or Painted signs?

Genuine 24K Gold Leaf or Painted signs?

Whenever I meet potential buyers of my house signs,  I offer them choices on different finishes that could make their  house sign a  truly unique and personalized wood carved house sign.  Nothing looks more elegant to me than a sign that has been gilded in 24K gold leaf.  The light falls on the sign differently, bringing the house sign  to life. After all, gold  is a symbol that lets your neighbors know that firstly, you've arrived, and secondly your gold leafed house sign is a few notches above their  house sign. Your neighbors will be envious of  your custom made house sign.

All of my  buyers love the house signs that I carved for them, but only a handful of them decided to have their signs gilded in gold leaf and or copper leaf. My question to you out there is, how much more would you be comfortable in paying  for a sign to be gilded in gold leaf over a painted sign?

Please give me your opinion on this matter.

Thank You,

www.housesigns.webs.com 

Clear Finish

I finished carving two signs for a couple of my neighbors. Both house signs had a similar look.

Started off with two cut off pieces of pine that were 20"x16"1". First step was to trace the family name and the house number using carbon paper. Followed that by carving out the words with a 1/8" straight router bit. Once that was done, I proceeded by applying the colors that each client requested and made sure I get the paint in every crack within the carved out letters and numbers. I used acrylic black paint on one sign and a browish/reddish paint for the second sign. After the paint was left to dry, I used 80 grit sand paper to sand off the access paint thus giving me the finishing look. A layer or clear wood stain was applied and allowed to dry overnight. This is what it looked like when it was all done.

Hand Carved house signs as Christmas Gifts?

Gifts are given to friends or family members out of love and is always accepted with appreciation, but, can personalized wood carved house signs and plaques make for good gift items?

House signs are items that  you get to see every day for many years to come and it also reminds you of the person who gave it to you. Isn't that the point of giving and receiving gifts? 

You can find many designs of house signs that would make for wonderful gift items on my website.