Custom Family Sign Post with Personalized Names & Places!

Instructions

STEP 1: GET MY CUSTOM FAMILY SIGN POST DESIGNS

First, download my Custom Family Sign Post designs from my free library – look for Design #552. Alternatively, you can use the Save This Project form near the top of this post and the design link will be emailed to you.

TIP: If you're not sure how to upload, go to jennifermaker.com/svgs to learn how to unzip and upload SVG files.

There are two sets of SVG designs in my collection: A Christmas theme and a winter theme.

In this tutorial, I’ll show you how to make the winter directional sign with snowflakes and how to create a personalized design in Design Space!

STEP 2: PREPARE AND PAINT YOUR WOOD ARROWS AND STAKE

1. Cover your work area with butcher paper to protect it.
2. Use needle nose pliers to remove the staples and hanger from the wooden signs.

3. Use the sander tool to smooth any rough areas on the wood arrows and wood stake.
4. Brush off any dust with a paper towel.
5. Place each arrow on a paper plate and use a foam paint brush to apply the chalk paint. Spread the paint in long strokes along the length of the arrow. I’m painting one red, one white, and one green.

6. Carefully use the tip of the brush to apply the paint to the edges of the arrow.
7. Place the stake on paper plate supports and apply a coat of paint.

8. Allow the first coat of paint to dry. I left mine for 2-3 hours.
9. Apply a second coat of paint to the arrows and stake the same way as the first coat.
10. Allow the arrows and stake to dry for another couple of hours.
11. Use a synthetic paint brush to apply Polycrylic to the arrows and stakes. Cover all painted areas.

12. Allow the Polycrylic plenty of time to dry. I left mine overnight to be sure they were completely dry.

STEP 3: PREPARE YOUR DESIGN

PROJECT 1: WINTER SNOWFLAKE DIRECTIONAL SIGN

1. Open Cricut Design Space and click “New Project.”
2. Click “Upload” and then “Upload Image.”
3. Click “Browse.”
4. Select the SVG file.
5. On the Prepare to Upload screen, it will say “Cut image” with the design preview.
6. Click “Upload.”
7. Find your design in Recent Uploads and add it to the Canvas.
8. Click the minus (-) sign to zoom out (50% works).

9. Click the Ungroup icon.

10. Hide or delete the Christmas designs.

11. If you are using different arrows than me, measure your arrows and follow steps 3-14 in Project 2 to create a guide. If necessary, use the corner handles to resize the designs.
12. Make sure the correct machine is selected in the top right.
13. Click “Make.”

14. If prompted, click "On Mat," choose your mat size, and click “Confirm.”
15. On the Prepare Screen, there should be 2 mats.
16. Leave the material size at 12” x 12” for all the mats.
17. Select the first mat and click “Continue.”

PROJECT 2: PERSONALIZED DIRECTIONAL SIGN

1. Open Cricut Design Space.
2. Click the “Canvas” tab at the top.
3. Click the Shapes icon on the left of the Canvas.
4. Select the Square.

5. Click the Shapes icon again and select a triangle.

6. Click the Square to select it and click the Unlock icon above the Size menu.
7. Enter 9.25” for the Width (W) and 3” for the Height (H). Press Enter.

NOTE: If you are using different arrows, you may have different measurements for your guide.

8. Click the triangle to select it and click the Unlock icon above the Size menu.
9. Enter 4.5” for the Width (W) and 2.75” for the Height (H). Press Enter.

10. Press and hold the Shift key and position the cursor over the corner of the triangle so the curved cursor appears. Click and drag to rotate it 90 degrees clockwise.

11. Move the triangle to slightly overlap the right edge of the rectangle.
12. Select both the rectangle and triangle and click “Align” and “Center Vertically.”

13. Click “Combine” and “Unite.”

NOTE: If a line still appears between the rectangle and the triangle, the shapes are not overlapping enough. Undo Unite, move them a little closer, and try again.

14. With the arrow shape still selected, click on the Operation menu and select “Guide.” The arrow shape will turn into a guide with a red outline.

15. Click the “Text” icon and then click on the Font Menu dropdown arrow.
16. Click “System” and search for the font you’d like to use. I’ll use JM Sweet.

TIP: If you need help downloading and installing fonts to use in Cricut Design Space, check out this helpful tutorial.

17. Click the “X” to close the Font menu.
18. Double-click on the text box to type your personalization.

19. Click on a blank space on the canvas to exit text-editing.
20. Click and drag the text layer over the arrow guide.
21. Drag the corner handle of the text box to resize the text to fit within the arrow. My text box looks good around 9” W and 2” H.

22. Click on the Color menu and select the color for the personalization. I’m changing it to white since it will go on a red arrow.

23. With the text box still selected, click the Duplicate icon above the Layers panel.

24. Double-click on the duplicate text box and repeat steps 18-23 for the rest of the words you wish to use.

NOTE: You can move the first text box to a blank space on the canvas when you need to place the second text box in place for resizing.

25. When all your words are ready, make sure the correct machine is selected in the top right and click “Make.”

26. If prompted, click "On Mat," choose your mat size, and click “Confirm.”
27. On the Prepare Screen, make sure nothing is missing and all words are on the right color mats.
28. Leave the material size at 12” x 12” for all the mats.
29. Select the first mat and click “Continue.”

STEP 4: CUT AND ASSEMBLE YOUR DESIGN

CUTTING

1. On the Make Screen, click “Browse All Materials.”
2. Search for and select the “Premium Vinyl - Permanent Glossy” setting.

NOTE: I used the “Premium Vinyl - Shimmer” setting for the silver mat.

3. Select “More” for the Pressure.
4. Place the first piece of vinyl face up on a green StandardGrip machine mat.
5. Use a brayer to smooth out any bubbles and adhere the vinyl to the mat.

6. Press the flashing arrows to load the mat into your Cricut.

7. Press the flashing “Go” button to begin cutting.
8. When it has finished cutting, unload the mat, flip it over onto your work surface, and gently pull the mat away from the vinyl.

9. Repeat steps 4-8 for the second mat.

ASSEMBLY

1. Use a weeding tool to remove excess vinyl.

2. Starting with the white vinyl words, cut a piece of StandardGrip transfer tape slightly larger than the “snowball fights” text.
3. Remove the transfer tape backing and fold the edges up like a taco. Lower the center of the transfer tape onto the vinyl and press in place.

4. Use a scraper to burnish the transfer tape to the vinyl.

5. Turn the vinyl over and remove the backing.
6. Center the vinyl in the middle of the arrow.

TIP: Refer back to the design on the Design Space Canvas to help you guide the snowflake placement.

7. Press the vinyl to the arrow and burnish it with a scraper.

8. Gently pull away the transfer tape.

9. Repeat steps 2-8 for the “hot cocoa” and “sleigh rides” arrows.
10. Next are the snowflake pieces, cut a piece of StrongGrip transfer tape slightly larger than the first snowflake. I found it easiest to cut and apply the snowflakes one by one.

NOTE: StrongGrip Transfer Tape is made to work with heavier vinyl, like shimmer/glitter vinyl. StandardGrip Transfer Tape works best with glossy permanent vinyl.

11. Refer to the snowflake placement on the Design Space canvas and place the snowflakes on each arrow.

12. Repeat steps 10-11 for all of the snowflakes on the three arrows.
13. Arrange the arrows on the wood stake where you would like them to go and make a small mark with a pencil behind each one to help guide Velcro placement.
14. Use outdoor Velcro to attach the arrows. Cut the Velcro into 1” squares.
15. Keep the two pieces of Velcro together.
16. Remove the backing from one side of the Velcro and press it on the wood stake.

17. Remove the backing from the other side of the Velcro.
18. Press the top arrow onto the Velcro.

19. Repeat steps 16-18 for the remaining arrows. My Velcro pieces are about 6” apart, but you can position yours however you’d like.

STEP 5: SHOW IT OFF

Here are what my complete Custom Family Sign Posts look like! Place them in the ground outside to display in your yard. You can also fill a pot or bucket with sand for an indoor display.