Looking for a fun DIY to incorporate into your holiday decor? Don’t miss this fun Sleigh Ride Christmas Sign. It’s a simple project when made with the accompanying cut file stencil that’s available for download.
I get asked all of the time if I purchase all new holiday decor every year. While I love a fresh theme, the answer is no. Most of the new Christmas items that I make or purchase are red and white, so everything always matches. I simply switch out a few key pieces for a whole new look.
This year I incorporated two new handmade items to my red and white holiday mantel – a super easy handmade Christmas gnome garland and the playful sleigh ride Christmas sign. I am going to share how to make the sign today!
DIY Sleigh Ride Christmas Sign
While I make and share free cut files all the time, I typically use them to make pillows and t-shirts. This is the first time I’ve shared a painted wood sign DIY here on the blog (though it’s similar to this Kringle Cookie Co HTV sign). Stencils make quick work of hand painted signs. I think that this project took me under two hours, including dry time.
What you need to make a DIY sleigh ride Christmas sign:
I have provided a direct affiliate link wherever possible so that you can easily shop and create!
- Wood Frame (Make your own, or purchase the pre-made sign I used here)
- Minwax Wood Stain – Provincial
- Americana Acrylic Paint – Snow
- Americana Acrylic Paint – Watermelon
- Americana Acrylic Paint – Ebony
- Foam Paint Brushes
- Cricut Stencil Vinyl
- Electronic Cutting Machine (I use a Cricut Explore Air 2)
- Sleigh Ride Cut File (Download available at bottom of post)
How to create a sleigh ride Christmas sign:
- Download the free Sleigh Ride Cut File at the bottom of this post and gather stain and painting supplies.
- Stain frame of unfinished wood sign, using Minwax Wood Stain in Provincial and allow to dry.
Note: Let’s be honest, watching stain and paint dry just isn’t my favorite. I keep a blow dryer on hand in my craft room to help speed things along.
- Paint the inside flat of the unfinished wood sign, using Americana Acrylic Paint in Snow and allow to dry.
- Upload the design to your electronic cutting machine’s design software and create the appropriately sized layout.
- Feed the stencil vinyl into your machine. Select light vinyl on the dial or in the media menu and cut.
- Weed the negative space in the design (I removed the letters).
- Position the design on the wood, as desired, sticky side down. Press the design firmly and smooth, removing all air bubbles.
- Using Americana paints in Watermelon and Ebony, paint over the top of the stencil and allow to dry.
- When paint is dry, remove stencil vinyl and touch up anywhere the paint bled.
- Optional: Weather the face of the freshly painted sign, using the Minwax stain used on the frame and allow to dry.
I am all about simple projects with a big impact and this sleigh ride Christmas sign fits the bill! Honestly, the most difficult thing about the project is waiting for the stain and paint to dry (answer: blow dryer!).
I love having the sign on display on my mantel. It goes perfectly with the collection of wood trees I have on display and pulls the red in my garlands up on top of the mantel.
Download the Sleigh Ride Christmas Sign SVG
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