painting a DIY wooden sign

ANy suggestions before I start painting my DIY wooden sign? I just want to make a little sign for my bathroom. I bought a small piece of wood from AC Moore, and I have acrylic paint in the house. I plan on painting the wood white, using Word to print out a phrase and transfer it to the wood, and use a SHarpie Paint Marker to fill in the letters. Then I think I should go over it with some Mod Podge. Do I need to prime it? Or do you think there is anything else I should know before I start? I am sooo not crafty! But I want to be!

TIA!

Re: painting a DIY wooden sign

I would use a polyurethane for the final clear coat. It's a hardier coating, and made for wood products.

Depending on the wood, and the paint, you may or may not need to prime first. It's never a bad idea to prime. If you are using pine, you definitely want to, since pine sap may still leach through. If it's maple or oak, you can probably get away without priming.
Some paints are primer and paint in one, so you don't have to worry about it.

painting a DIY wooden sign

i had no idea so much went into painting wood!

painting a DIY wooden sign

Make sure you sand it with a very fine grit sand paper. The wood from AC Moore needs it.

ETA: Be careful about the sharpie bleeding through the paper around the letters.

Message edited 3/1/2014 9:04:36 AM.

Re: painting a DIY wooden sign

I would buy a stencil for the lettering and use a sponge or a brush to put the letters on.