DIY: Three Whimsical Sign Designs that Will Help Organize and Decorate Your Kitchen

Whimsical and functional signs are a great accessory to have as decor in your kitchen. You can add you own designer touch by personalizing the plaques with your first or last name. Many of the items needed to make the signs can be found at thrift shops or salvage yards. If you have pieces of wood laying around the house, you can use the wood for two of the signs. I suggest phrases that I personally used when making my signs, but any wisecrack saying would be perfect stenciled on these whimsical kitchen plaques.

Pie Plaque
Supplies:

• Piece of wood approximately 7"W x 13"L
• Letter stencils
• Black paint
• Cup hooks
• Black and pale yellow acrylic paint
• Ruler
• White marker
• Paint tape
• Small and medium paint brushes
• 2 sawtooth hangers

Directions:

1. Lay the piece of wood flat on a covered work area. Paint the front of the sign black. Let dry. Repeat for the other side.
2. Make a 1/4 inch border around the front edges of the plaque using your ruler and white marker.
3. Paint the border pale yellow. Another decorative idea is to glue ribbon around the edges instead of painting the border.
4. Use a ruler to keep the letters even and centered. Trace the letters with a white marker. On the first line I traced the letters to make the phrase "Pie & Cake." Centered below these words I traced the word "Sale."
5. Carefully fill in these letters using the yellow paint and small paint brush. Underline the top and bottom phrase using your ruler as a guide to draw a straight, even line.
6. Evenly space and screw in the cup hooks at the bottom of the plaque.
7. Attach a sawtooth hanger on each end at the top, back of the plaque.

The hooks at the bottom of plaque are a great way to keep utensils, towels and potholders organized. I also use this plaque to keep my keys organized. The organizing ideas are endless for this whimsical and functional plaque.

Window Recipe Plaque
Supplies:

• Window (size depends on the wall space)
• Gloves
• Sandpaper
• White and black acrylic paint
• Letter stencils
• Small and medium paint brush
• Clear tacks
• Paper punch
• Decorative recipe cards
• Protective goggles
• Sandpaper
• Black marker
• 2 sawtooth hangers

Directions:

1. Try to find a window with the glass already removed. If the glass is still in the window or broken, make sure to wear gloves and goggles to protect your hands and eyes. I ran a putty knife around the edge of the glass to help remove the putty and loosen the glass. Once the putty is removed, I carefully removed the glass. Once all the glass is removed, I rubbed sandpaper around all the edges of the window.
2. Lay the window frame flat on a covered work area. Paint the front of the window frame white. Let dry. Repeat for the back of the frame.
3. Trace the words centered at the top of the frame with the black marker. On my frame I stenciled the phrase "A pinch of this...a dash of that..." Once the phrase is traced on the center, top of the window frame, paint the letters black using the small paint brush.
4. Write your favorite recipes on the special cards. Punch a whole at the top, center of each recipe card.
5. Place a clear tack centered above each window pane where the glass used to be.
6. Hang a recipe from each tack.
7. Attach a sawtooth hanger on each end at the top, back of the plaque.

The window recipe plaque is a great way to keep your favorite recipes close by. I also use this recipe plaque to organize my recipes by meals, desserts and appetizers.

Chalkboard Plaque
Supplies:

• Piece of wood (24" x 24")
• Chalkboard paint
• Piece of cork board (8"W x 24"L)
• Glue gun and glue sticks
• Scissors
• Letter stencils
• Black marker
• Black acrylic paint
• Chalk
• Vine of berries
• Small and medium paint brush
• 2 sawtooth hangers

Directions:

1. Lay the piece of wood flat on a covered work area. In a well ventilated room, paint one side of the wood with chalkboard paint. Let dry. Paint the back side with black paint.
2. Glue the piece of cork board at the bottom on the chalkboard side of the plaque.
3. At the top, center of the plaque I traced the phrase "Sit...Relax...Gossip..." with a black marker. Paint the words black with the small paint brush.
4. Glue the vine of berries around the edges of the kitchen plaque.
5. Attach the sawtooth hangers on each end at the back, top of the plaque.

The chalkboard plaque is perfect for attaching notes and important bills to the cork board end of the plaque. This is also a great place to hang your kid's artwork and awards. The chalkboard part of the plaque can be used to write important notes or phone messages.