How to Make Outdoor Garden Signs

Draw the desired shape of your sign on a 3/4-inch thick piece of hardwood, using a pencil. The shape can be simple--such as a rectangle, circle or triangle--or it can be more complex, such as a house, tree or animal. A common size for a single-stake sign is around 10 to 12 inches tall and 14 to 16 inches wide.

Cut out the shape, using an electric saw. For rounded or other intricate cuts, use a saw with a narrow blade, such as a jig saw, band saw or scroll saw. Sand the cut edges to smooth them down with 120-grit sandpaper.

Cut a 16- to 20-inch piece of a 1-inch-by-2-inch board for the stake. The length of the stake depends on how high you want your sign to be. Cut one end to a V-shaped point for easy insertion into the ground. Sand the cut edges with 120-grit sandpaper.

Sand all surfaces, using 220-grit sandpaper. Wipe the wood with a slightly damp cloth to remove all sanding dust.

Prime the stake and sign (front and back) with a high-quality, outdoor primer. Allow the primer to dry.

Measure and mark the horizontal center on the backside of the sign, to determine where to attach the stake.

Drill two pilot holes, 3 to 4 inches apart, at the top of the stake. Line the stake up with the center mark at the back of the sign. The top of the stake should be 4 to 6 inches below the top edge of the sign.

Affix the stake to the back of the sign with 1 1/2-inch wood screws.

Paint the entire sign (front and back) and stake with a base color, using a high-quality, outdoor paint.

Trace the words and images you want on the sign, using a pencil. If you do not want to draw the sign freehand, stencils can be used for painting.

Paint the text and images a second color that compliments and stands out well from the base color, using artist's paintbrushes.