Lumber Letters

Disclaimer – This post is sponsored by Canon.  All opinions are 100% my own. 

One of the best things about having a Canon printer is that the things I use to spend money and time on are so much more available and convenient.  So I have done this project before….cutting words out of scrap wood….but this time it got a lot faster and better with my PIXMA iP8720 crafting printer because now I don’t have to run out to a office supply store to have them printed.  No waiting in line.  No $5 fee.  No makeup, no bra, no problem.

And the printer actually prints up to 13×19 easily.  That’s big.  That’s really. really. big.  SOooo today I wanted to share with you some tips on how to do this project – from fonts to jigsaw tips, even to ways to display your favorite words in your home.

First you have to create your word art.  I created mine in Photoshop and I use free fonts that are available for download online….just search “free font ________(insert name listed below)” and you will see where you can download.

I tend to like the handwritten or script fonts for this project but you can also use clean ones that don’t connect naturally.  Here are my favorites….

 

Once you open up your new file and type out your word of choice, note that it might not be wood ready.  I typed my name and it wasn’t ready AT ALL.  See where it’s not connected?  And where there are weak links?  It’s like Bachelors in Paradise…..not many individuals stay together because their connection isn’t strong enough to withstand pressure of real life.

 

 

In order to fix that, you can shorten the distance between the characters….a date if you will…to bring people closer together.

 

 

You can also beef up the letters themselves…this would make the connections stronger because the letters would be thicker.  What you do is select your word layer (blue arrow below) and then select Layer\Layer Style\Stroke.  This is going to make the outside of your letter appear like it has a thicker stroke to it….like it was written with a fatter pen.  Simply adjust the slider to thicken up the letters.

 

 

This is what it looks like afterward….

 

Whatever word you choose, just make sure to format your canvas to be 13×19 and then you can print it on your PIXMA iP8720.

See how you can do the same thing to both words and some STILL do not connect well.  It’s especially important to do when getting ready for two words….just keep that in mind.

Single words you can fit on a single sheet of photo paper.  I like using the photo paper because it’s thicker and is easier to trace.

Okay…so first as you may have guessed….you gotta cut it out.  I use scissors for the outside and a little X-acto knife for the little inside parts.

Once that is done, you place it on your scrap wood and trace with a pencil.

Obviously it might be a little messy 🙂  The wood I like is just 3/4 inch plywood.

Then you will want to cut out the little holes.  Start by drilling a hole in the section you will remove.

Then use your jigsaw with a scrolling blade to cut out the little bits in the letters.  My friend Jen of the blog House of Wood makes these beautiful jigsawed names and this was her best tip – “The biggest takeaway is the blade.  That’s the secret weapon.  The scrolling blade will allow you to cut tighter curves and turns.”

After you do the center cut outs, then cut the outside.  Then sand it down.

See how cute?  I did quite a few and after the first few, it got easier and faster.

Then I painted them or stained them to the color of my choice.

The best part about these is that you can choose whatever phrase or word you like.  For example….I really would never be able to find the phrase “take luck”.  It’s from a very old stand up comedian (google Brian Regan Take Luck to hear it) and it was one of my sister’s favorite phrases.

Cutting out two words was even more of a challenge because the letters had to connect with one another and each word had to connect with the other.  I did have to improvise once I traced.  The idea is exactly the same though….make the connections strong and cut out the littlest pieces first.

In the end, I stained hers to make a wall plaque and I attached it to a wood round.  I love it and I hope she does too.

The HEY was probably my favorite in the end and I put it in my office as a wall hanging.  I just marked the wall with two tiny nails and it is hanging on them.

Cute right?!

And the words even work well as shelf decor.  This one is finished in chalk paint and feels like it’s floating on the shelf.

The possibilities are endless!  You can make custom phrases, cut out inside jokes, and create words that you would never be able to find in the stores….all with a little scrap wood, jigsaw and your Canon crafting printer.  Easy peasy!

Another great idea is to print out patterns and photos and use a bit of glue/sealer (or Mod Podge) to decorate the cutout.

Now what to cut out next….on fleek?  bae?  bearded wonder?

 

Are you guys just loving these Canon printer posts? I love them so hard! I have about thirty other ideas on ways to use photos, display pictures and craft your home to be a place you love! The challenge is what post comes first! ha! Here are some of my favorite past posts where we partnered with Canon craft printers…(CLICK ON ANY PHOTO TO GO TO THAT PROJECT)

        

Happy crafting y’all!