DIY “Call Granny” Sign

I had SO much fun creating this DIY “Call Granny” sign to honor the baby’s great-grandmother at an upcoming baby shower. Yes, you can make one, too. I’ll tell you how! The best part is that it can be painted in colors of your choosing and embellished any way you’d like.

Materials, Tools and Supplies

Finding the materials to create the DIY “Call Granny” sign is not difficult; however, you will need tools to cut the wood to size and drill holes for the wire handle. As a side note, most lumber supply stores should be able to cut the wood for you upon request. They usually carry 5-1/2″ wide boards in 24″ and 36″ lengths in the specialty wood aisle. You can also find sign wood at most craft stores in different sizes and thicknesses.

Material List:

• One 12″ x 5-1/2″ x 3/8″ board or board of your choice
• One 4″ baby shape laser wood cut-out (or shape of choice)
• 18″ of 20- or 22-gauge metal wire
• Acrylic craft paints colors: white, Caribbean blue, light blue, black, flesh tone, shading flesh tone, pink
• Sandpaper, sanding block, or sander (optional but recommended)
• One S-gel black pen
• One medium-point black paint marker
• One fine-point black paint marker
• One pre-made stencil with wording of choice
• One cosmetic wedge for stenciling
• Craft glue
• Beads, optional
• Clear satin or matte spray sealant (optional but recommended)

Tools include a miter saw (or some means of cutting wood), a wire cutter, and a drill for drilling holes to insert the wire for the handle.

Laser Wood Cutout Sources

I purchased and painted a baby-shaped wood cutout last year, anticipating that I would use it for a future project. While I couldn’t find the exact same shape to share with you, I found several baby-themed alternatives that would work just as well for creating a DIY Call Granny sign. Some examples include baby bottles, diaper pins, crawling babies, pacifiers, and stork shapes. My favorite place to shop for laser wood cutouts is Etsy. Most craft stores have a variety of selections, too.

Here are two links to Etsy shops that provide some cute baby-themed options: Firehawk Customs and Craft Cut Concepts. I am not affiliated with either of these shops, but I have ordered from them dozens of times over the years. They provide great customer service, quality cutouts, and ship within a reasonable amount of time.

Prepping the Wood

Once the wood board is cut to size — in this case 12″ in length — use sandpaper, a sanding block, or a sander to round the corners and edges. Also, sand the front and back. Then, use a damp cloth to wipe away sawdust residue.

To begin, use a drill to create holes in both top corners. The holes should be large enough for the wire handle to pass through. When using twine or rope instead of wire, be sure to make the holes larger.

Painting the Wood

Start by giving the front and sides of the sign a base coat using white. After the paint dries, apply a second coat. Allow the sign to completely dry before painting the back. The back of the sign can be painted in two coats of any color. However, you can also leave it unpainted. Just be sure to go back to sand any paint drips.

Using a flat paint brush and your choice of two paint colors, create the borders on the front of the sign. These do not have to be perfectly straight or perfectly solid. Allow the paint to dry. Use a hair blower to speed up the drying process if you would like.

Now that the paint is dry, use the medium-point black paint marker along the outside edge of the wood to create a border around the sign. Use the fine-point black paint marker to draw lines between each of the painted border lines. Refer to the DIY Call Granny photo below.

Painting the Wood Cutout

For the baby shape, I used a peachy flesh tone color and gave the front two coats. While the second coat was still wet, I used a filbert brush and a darker flesh tone color to create the shading. Then, I went back and added some highlights with white.

After the paint dried, I used an S-gel black pen to draw the face. A touch of pink was added to the nose and cheeks. The shape is outlined using the medium-point black paint marker.

Stenciling the DIY Baby Sign

I made the stencil for the DIY wooden baby humor sign using my Cricut machine and some clear 5 mil mylar. If you don’t have a Cricut or a way to create a stencil, there are many shops on Etsy and Ebay where you can order custom stencils.

I use a foam cosmetic wedge to apply paint for stenciling, although you can use whatever method you prefer. Painter’s tape helps to hold the stencil in place without peeling up the paint.

Assembling the Sign

Once all the wooden pieces have been painted, use craft glue or hot glue to attach the baby shape to the sign. At this stage, it’s a good idea to take the sign outdoors and apply a spray sealant. Most sealants dry within a few minutes.

Next, use the wire cutters to cut a piece of wire at least 18″-24″ in length. Thread one end of the wire to the top left corner of the sign. Twist the wire around itself at the top, and cut off the excess.

If you are adding beads to the wire, thread those onto the wire next. Wrap the wire around a paint brush to create the “curly” look, if desired. Then, thread the other end of the wire through the hole in the top left corner of the sign. Twist the wire around itself at the top, and cut off the excess.

Voila! Your sign is ready for keeping or gifting! ~ Susan