• Home
  • Privacy Policy
  • Contact
    • Collaborate
  • Blog
  • Parties
    • Children’s Parties Ideas
    • Holiday Parties
    • Adult Party Ideas
  • Holiday Ideas
    • Christmas
    • Easter
    • Fourth of July
    • Spring
    • Thanksgiving
    • Valentine’s Day
  • Seasons
    • Winter
    • Spring
    • Summer
    • Autumn
  • Recipes
    • Appetizers
    • Beverages
    • Desserts
    • Main Dishes
    • Side Dishes
    • Soups
  • Project Gallery
    • Crafts
    • Decorating
    • DIY
    • Good Ideas
    • Tutorials
  • Nav Social Menu

    • Bloglovin
    • Email
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • Twitter

At The Picket Fence with Vanessa Hunt

Where Ideas for your Home Meet Inspiration for your Heart

  • Book
  • Speaking
  • Meet Vanessa
    • Featured

December 19, 2013

Outdoor DIY Marquee Sign for the Holidays! #damagefreeDIY

DIY Outdoor Holiday Marquee Sign

Today I, along with the Command Brand, am sharing a super cool outdoor holiday project! I have been so busy getting the INSIDE decorated, that I must confess I had been a little neglectful of the outside!

Oh I had thrown some lights in the bushes and hung a wreath on the door, but I had still to create that one fun thing to make our yard stand out from the rest of the neighborhood.  Until I came up with this idea…

DIY outdoor holiday marquee sign

an outdoor DIY marquee sign! I’m going to show you how you can make one for yourself, in an afternoon.  Here’s what you’ll need…

SUPPLIES YOU’LL NEED:

Sheet of plywood (large enough to accommodate the word you choose. Mine was 4 feet X 24″ by 1/2″ thick)
Large wooden craft letters (mine were 18 inches tall)
White spray paint and primer combination
Gold spray paint
Sets of  large bulb outdoor approved lights (I used 3 sets of 25 for my project)
1 inch wood drill bit
2-3 small wood stakes (I found mine in the garage sale sign section of my home improvement store)
Outdoor Command Brand Light Clips
Nail gun and brads (or small nails and hammer), measuring tape, pencil, shop vac, sawhorses, safety glasses

supplies for diy lighted marquee

HOW TO MAKE YOUR OWN SIGN:

DIY outdoor lighted marquee sign tutorial

1. Paint plywood sheet with white spray paint and allow to dry thoroughly
2. Paint letters with gold spray paint and allow to dry thoroughly.
3. Arrange letters on plywood and measure to make sure they are centered and even.
4. Nail letters to plywood using nail gun and brads or small finishing nails and hammer.
5. Measure and mark out where you will drill your holes for lights.  I spaced mine 2 1/2-3 inches apart.

DIY outdoor lighted marquee sign tutorial

5. Using firm pressure drill holes on marked locations.  Step back and make sure holes are lined up and even.
6. Use a shop vac, if you have one, while working to keep letters and work space free of sawdust for easy clean up.

DIY outside lighted marquee sign tutorial

7.  Once you have your holes drilled and your work space cleaned up, begin to thread lights through holes.  You will need to remove each bulb and push base up through hole, and place bulb back in base.  Start at the top and work your way across your sign so that you end with your plug at the base of sign to attach to extension cord.
8. Once you have all of your lights placed, turn your sign over to arrange cords neatly along back of sign using the Command Outdoor Light Clips.

DIY outdoor lighted marquee sign tutorial 9

The Command OUTDOOR Light Clips work great for outdoor lighting projects because they hold strongly in temperatures from -20°F to 125°F! They also are provide damage free hanging and remove cleanly when you are finished with them.

DIY outdoor lighted marquee sign tutorial

9. Place your Command light clips along the back of your sign, where you will gather up the light cords neatly, and allow the clips to set for one hour.  Run clips along the bottom of your sign for excess lights and cords.  This will keep them protected and off of the ground.  If you need to reposition a clip, it’s super easy! Just pull the strip straight down and the clip will pop cleanly off.  You can use a new strip and reuse the clip in the proper location.

DIY outside lighted marquee sign tutorial

10.  For the final step, using your nail gun or finishing nails and a hammer attach stakes to the back of the sign, lining the top up evenly with the sign. Place your sign in your yard and hammer stakes into ground to properly secure your sign.  Plug lights into a outdoor approved extension cord and watch your sign glow!

DIY outdoor holiday lighted marquee sign

DIY outdoor lighted marquee sign

Be sure to see this video from John Storms, holiday lights display expert,  for more fabulous ways to use Outdoor Command Strip Products in your holiday decorating!

And we invite you to follow the Command Brand on Facebook, Pinterest, Twitter and YouTube for great ideas and projects using Command products!

Are you all ready for the holidays? If you still have some last minute outdoor decorating to do, be sure to grab you some of the Command Outdoor Products for easy and #damagefreeDIY !

DIY outdoor holiday marquee sign

signature

I was provide product and composition from Command Brands for this project and post, but all opinions and ideas are my own.  Please see our full disclosure policy for more information. 

24 Comments Filed Under: Christmas, DIY, Holidays, Outdoors, Reviews, Sponsored, Tutorials Tagged With: Christmas, DIY, tutorials

Subscribe

Get the latest goodness straight to your inbox!

Previous Post: « The Box
Next Post: Merry Christmas Dear Friends! »

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. TidyMom says

    December 19, 2013 at 5:33 AM

    oh I love that you made the marquee sign for outside!! that would be fabulous for parties too!!

    Reply
    • Heather says

      December 19, 2013 at 10:38 AM

      It would be great for parties and even for a kid’s bedroom, my daughter is talking me into making her one for her room! 🙂 Thanks for stopping by Cheryl!

      Heather

      Reply
  2. lucysinspired says

    December 19, 2013 at 5:43 AM

    I love this sign! I’ve always wanted to make one. Maybe I should make one for my booths for when I sell Lucy Lockets! Will you make it for me? pretty please? 😉

    Reply
    • Heather says

      December 19, 2013 at 10:38 AM

      I think I just need to head down your way and help you make one. 😉 Thanks for stopping by Lucy!

      Heather

      Reply
  3. Jennifer @ Celebrating Everyday Life says

    December 19, 2013 at 5:50 AM

    I didn’t realize that Command had Outdoor hooks too! WOW!! This opens up so many new frontiers! Thank you so much for sharing. Your sign is wonderful!! Where did you find those 18″ letters? Love, LOVE those!! Happy Holidays!

    Reply
    • Heather says

      December 19, 2013 at 10:37 AM

      Hi Jennifer, The letters are from Hobby Lobby, they are huge! I love them. Happy Holidays to you!

      Heather

      Reply
  4. Thistle says

    December 19, 2013 at 5:53 AM

    This is such a fun project! You go girl! I am totally pinning to make for next year!

    Merry, merry Christmas to you sweet friend!
    karianne

    Reply
    • Heather says

      December 19, 2013 at 10:36 AM

      Thank you! Merry Christmas to you my dear friend!

      Heather

      Reply
  5. jp says

    December 19, 2013 at 6:32 AM

    I am crazy over this with the big, old fashioned lights….I want one for our New Year’s Eve party! Thanks for sharing that great video, too!
    Wishing you and Vanessa a wonderful celebration this year……Happy Holidays!
    JP

    Reply
    • Heather says

      December 19, 2013 at 10:36 AM

      It would be fabulous for New Year’s Eve! Great idea! Thanks for stopping by and Happy Holidays to you!

      Heather

      Reply
  6. LUCY says

    December 19, 2013 at 9:25 AM

    Love this ! Thanks for the great tutorial..:)

    Reply
    • Heather says

      December 19, 2013 at 10:35 AM

      Thank you Lucy! Heather

      Reply
  7. Sharon Rexroad's Bringing Creativity to Life says

    December 19, 2013 at 10:39 AM

    Heather — SO worth the sweat & tears yesterday! I’m saving this as inspiration for a project for NEXT year! (I’ve hit that point — all fresh inspiration ain’t gonna get done for THIS Christmas)

    Reply
    • Heather says

      December 22, 2013 at 8:47 AM

      I’ve hit that point too, Sharon! lol I think I may use it on my mantel next year! 🙂 Heather

      Reply
  8. Mimi says

    December 19, 2013 at 2:00 PM

    Nice project that can be customized for a variety of styles. Thanks for the post.

    Reply
    • Heather says

      December 22, 2013 at 8:46 AM

      Thank you Mimi! ~Heather

      Reply
  9. Cheryl says

    December 19, 2013 at 2:23 PM

    What an amazing idea…and it could be used for many other occasions! Have a very Merry Christmas at the picket fence!
    Cheryl

    Reply
    • Heather says

      December 22, 2013 at 8:46 AM

      Thank you Cheryl! My daughter is requesting one for her room now. 😉 Merry Christmas to you! ~Heather

      Reply
  10. Randi - Dukes and Duchesses says

    December 19, 2013 at 3:03 PM

    That’s so fabulous! I’d love to have that in my front yard! Great use of those clips … we really need to get some of those and do some outdoor decorating.

    Reply
    • Heather says

      December 22, 2013 at 8:45 AM

      Thanks Randi! The outdoor clips have really helped up nicely! Heather

      Reply
  11. jessica @fourgenerationsoneroof says

    December 19, 2013 at 4:17 PM

    What a great idea and it must look so cool outside your house at night 🙂 I would love to see that driving in my driveway 🙂

    Reply
    • Heather says

      December 22, 2013 at 8:45 AM

      Thanks Jess! It does look really cool from the street! Heather

      Reply
  12. Claire @ A Little Claireification says

    December 21, 2013 at 7:44 AM

    So pretty! I love how this turned out! Pinning of course! xo

    Reply
  13. Margaret says

    October 28, 2014 at 7:32 PM

    I love this. I know my hubby won’t nix this idea and I might have a shot at getting his help. It isn’t too girly…it stores fairly flat…some work but should last for years…statement piece for those who want to declare their faith with a word like Savior.
    My question is…how would you suggest decorating with it. Not sure if I want it just propped up against a tree. Any suggestions?

    Reply

Leave a Reply to Cheryl Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Primary Sidebar

Search This Blog

Take the Quiz

Stay updated!

Get all the latest goodness straight to your inbox!

Get the book!

Invite Vanessa to speak at your event!

Must Reads

Recent Posts

  • A New French Country Dining Table February 3, 2021
  • Open Now December 17, 2020
  • Tradition and a Christmas Home Tour December 9, 2020
  • Tabletop Hot Cocoa Station November 29, 2020
  • A New Front Door November 10, 2020

Get all the latest straight to your inbox

Footer

Instagram

I've been watching our cherry trees bloom for 12 y I've been watching our cherry trees bloom for 12 years now and every year I ohhhh and ahhhh over the blossoms like it's the first time I've ever seen them. I gush and I take photos (that look exactly like the ones I took the year before and the year before that) and I make my family come outside and look at them with me which you know they just LOVE to do. 😉 I think that is one of the main reasons why I love spring so much. On the one hand, it's predictable and yet, on the other hand, it still feels like such a surprise after the long months of barren branches.

And yesterday, as I was staring at the gorgeous blossoms for the umpteenth time, I couldn't help but think that I hope this is how I feel when our lives return to some semblance of normalcy.

I hope that the predictable feels special and that the typical feels anything but. I hope that I ohhh and ahhh over the simple things I've realized I've taken for granted. And, most of all, I hope that feeling doesn't go away for a very, very long time! 💗
Are you living with great expectation friends? Bec Are you living with great expectation friends? Because He is risen!

Happy Easter from my home to yours!
Lemon bars all ready for tomorrow! It’s going to Lemon bars all ready for tomorrow! It’s going to be a different kind of Easter for sure but some things don’t change. Have you been baking and getting ready for tomorrow? What’s one thing on your menu that you have to have every year?
If this is Good Friday, why doesn’t it feel so “good”? It all seems backward doesn’t it?

What could be good about the unspeakable pain he suffered? What could be good about the shame and betrayal?

Easter Sunday is so joyful, bright and cheery. Shouldn’t that be the day we call “good”? It just feels so much better!

But, I don’t know how to rejoice over His resurrection, unless I have felt the pain of His death. I have realized that in life the sweetest victories are the ones which were realized after a pain-filled journey.

And, so it is with Good Friday. I know there will be victory over death, but I can’t skip ahead in the story.

Jesus knew what was coming. He knew what he would experience. And he knew why he would go through it. He did it for me. He did it for you.

Do you know that? Have you felt it down in the very core of your soul? 
Sometimes it makes me squirm a bit. Why would anyone do that for me?

Well, because, I can’t do it for myself!

There is nothing I can do to earn that kind of love and mercy.

That is why it is called GRACE.

His grace is freely given. We don’t have to pay for it. He paid the price for us already.

Do you remember that movie from years ago called “Ransom”? A couple’s young son was kidnapped and the parents went to hell and back trying to find him and pay the “ransom” demanded by the kidnappers.

Well, Jesus is our “ransom”. (1 Timothy 2:6) His life was the payment.

Why is it called “Good Friday”? Because that wasn’t the end of the story….
.
…It was just the beginning!
Raise your hand if there’s a table in your house Raise your hand if there’s a table in your house that’s become the landing zone for ALL THE THINGS! 🙋🏻‍♀️🤪 I’ve never been more thankful for our rarely used dining room table as it’s become command central for school books and laptops and games.

Where are things collecting in your house right now?
“Sighing, tears, frustration, anger.” Every si “Sighing, tears, frustration, anger.” Every single one of these emotions has made their way through our home in recent days and, my guess is, they have in your home too.

I SO needed this reminder today from the new book ‘Adore’ by @sarahagertywrites.

Adoration isn’t just sitting at His feet gazing longingly with stars in my eyes. It’s bringing my fears and my sorrows and gray roots in my hair that desperately needs to be colored and my messy house and all of the things that threaten to send me over the edge right now and laying them down before Him, soaking up His word and His presence so that when I stand back up, I am changed for having spent the time adoring the ONE who is... Healer, comforter, peace-giver, deliverer, redeemer.

What do you need to bring to Him today? I’ll share mine in the comments and I’d love to hear from you too!
I’ve always loved evenings, but since this whole I’ve always loved evenings, but since this whole lockdown thing began, I’ve come to appreciate this time of day even more.

It feels the most...normal. Daytime is strange and foreign right now. My husband has taken over our home office, I’m suddenly taking over the responsibility of managing my kids’ distance learning and let me just say that teaching 7th grade algebra to my daughter is hugely ironic since I struggled with math all the way through school. I’m trying to do my own work but it feels utterly futile with the constant interruptions which take precedence right now. In the daytime, I’m constantly reminded of how upside down life feels.

But, in the evening, I cook dinner like I’ve always done and we gather around the table like we’ve always done and we laugh and tell stories and then clean up and play games or go on a walk or watch a show. And that feels SO gloriously normal.

So now I love evenings even more than I ever did before and I’m so grateful for this little chunk of time where the rhythms we established years ago are helping to sustain us now when so much of life feels outside of our control.

What feels ‘normal’ to you right now? Whatever it is, keep doing it. 🌿
When I was in college I would frequently call home When I was in college I would frequently call home and pour my heart out to my mom, sharing with her all that was happening in my life in that completely unfiltered way that you can talk with the person who potty trained you. These phone calls usually took place at night and my mom would patiently listen as I vented frustrations about professors, roommates, boyfriends and the food in the cafeteria. And, inevitably, they would end with my mom saying, “Everything seems worse when you’re tired. Try not to overthink things or make any major decisions tonight, especially when you are feeling emotional.” Dear friends, may I pass along this advice to you today?

If you don’t absolutely HAVE to make a decision right now, I want to encourage you to wait until life gets back to normal. If you are finding yourself over-analyzing relationships and family dynamics, I want to encourage you to remember that everything seems more dramatic when looked at under a microscope. And, let’s face it, being homebound with our loved ones non-stop makes us all feel like lab rats in an experiment.

If you are tempted to quit a job, start a business, start homeschooling permanently, stop homeschooling permanently, move to a new city, buy a farm, quit pursuing your dream, join a commune or make any other major life decision just…wait. Because, if it is in fact the right decision, it will be made even clearer once our lives return to their ‘regularly scheduled programming’. Instead, in this strange season, let’s all just take a deep, collective breath and let it out slowly, releasing the anxiety that threatens to overtake us. Let’s help each other maintain some perspective and not slip into a posture of over-thinking every little thing in our lives. Let’s remember that the enemy of our souls would love nothing more than to use this time when things feel dark to manipulate us into thinking that aspects of our lives are worse than they actually are.

My prayer for you in these days is that you will have the clarity to know what is true and that you will be filled with peace even while we live in this season of so many unknowns.
Raise your hand if you’re doing more baking thes Raise your hand if you’re doing more baking these days! 🙋🏻‍♀️ I’m trying to avoid gaining the #corona15 but my daughter and I LOVE baking together and it does help to pass the time plus it counts as a science lesson right?

If you’re able to find flour in the stores (for the love people please stop overbuying!) and you’re doing more baking at your house too you need to add this apricot bread to your list of new recipes to try!

Normally I’d point you to my blog for the directions but I’m going to do you a solid and leave the full recipe in the comments.

What have you baked so far during this time of social distancing? I’d love some new ideas!
There are a LOT of people out walking in our neigh There are a LOT of people out walking in our neighborhood right now (but still social distancing!) and she decided that she wanted to bring them some joy and put a smile on their face when they pass by our house. Also, the square with ‘say no to coronavirus’ is priceless. 😂 I just love her so much!
Follow
Privacy Policy

Copyright © 2021 · Divine theme by Restored 316

Copyright © 2021 At The Picket Fence