Amazing Grace Wood Sign! This is one of my favorite hymns and definitely one of the most familiar hymns. It was the perfect inspiration for my next wood sign tutorial.

This is a fairly simple DIY wood sign, but I am going to show a new technique for writing your words! Yah! I have shared many tutorials already, each one a little different in their construction or materials, and this is no exception.

If you want to check out some of my other sign options you can check them out by clicking on the images below.

Let’s get started on our Amazing Grace Wood Sign

Supplies:

• (1) 24″ x 24″ squre 3/4″ Plywood
• (2) 1″ x 2″ x 6 ‘ pine wood
• White Paint
• Minwax Dark Walnut Stain
• Acrylic black paint or Sharpie Paint pen
• Wood glue
• 1.5″/2″ nails
• Picture saw tooth hanger (optional if you want to hang sign)

Tools:

• Circular saw or table saw
• Hand saw or chop saw
• Measuring tape
• Pencil
• Nail gun or hammer and finish nails
• Paint brush
• Small craft paint brush
• Projector and computer

1. Cut Wood

• (2) 1″ x 2″ x 24″
• (2) 1″ x 2″ x 25.5″
• (1) plywood  24″ x 24″ square

2. Stain frame pieces

I used Minwax dark walnut to stain my 4 pieces. If you want to check out my tips for applying stain you can check them out here.

Optional: once the stain is dry, distress the edges of the frame with sandpaper to give a more rustic look.

3. Paint

Paint the square plywood. You can paint after you assemble, but I find it easier to do it before. Then there is no need to worry about getting paint on your nicely stained frame.

3. Assemble Frame

Use wood glue and a nail gun to attach 1 x 2 frame pieces to the edges of the plywood making the back flush to the edges.

4. Stencil on Words!

I am so excited to share another way to add words to your DIY wood signs. In different tutorials I have shared how to use paper templates with a trace method and also how to make your own stencil with a Silhouette Cameo. These are both great options, but I think this new one may be my favorite for extra large signs with minimal wording.

So what is the method for the Amazing Grace wood sign? A projector. That’s right! So easy. But maybe you are thinking Emily, I don’t have a projector and I don’t want to really buy one for one project. I hear ya. Try checking with your local library. I was able to check out a projector for a week from our library!!! How awesome is that!

Steps for using a projector for your Amazing Grace Wood Sign:

1. Set up an area where you can lean the sign up against something sturdy, like a wall.
2. Connect projector to your computer so that your screen is being projected onto sign. The library included the cables with the projector. I used the HDMI cable.
3. Download and open Amazing Grace jpeg
4. Make image full screen on your computer.
5. Adjust/move projector as needed to center and size image onto your sign. This may mean physically moving the projector closer or farther. There were also smaller knobs on the projector to zoom and focus.
6. Use a pencil and trace the projection onto the wood.

Here was my setup. The projector was sitting about 4-5′ away from the sign. Make sure wherever you are working that your sign does not shift around, otherwise your words will move.

5. Paint words

Last step is to fill in your penciled words with paint! I used black acrylic paint and a small paint brush. You could also use a sharpie or sharpie paint pen. That is it! You can finish with a clear coat if you want or leave as is. I applied a light coat of wax to finish it.

Amazing grace! how sweet the sound,
That saved a wretch; like me!
I once was lost, but now am found,
Was blind, but now I see.

’Twas grace that taught my heart to fear,
  And grace my fears relieved;
How precious did that grace appear
  The hour I first believed!

The Lord hath promised good to me,
  His word my hope secures;
He will my shield and portion be
  As long as life endures.

When we’ve been there ten thousand years,
  Bright shining as the sun,
We’ve no less days to sing God’s praise
  Than when we first begun.

Thanks for stopping by! I hope you enjoyed this Amazing Grace wood sign tutorial!

Emily