Fall DIY Acrylic Sign

This fall DIY acrylic sign is simple to make with a brush stroke ombre background + fine line hand lettering… plus it’s affordable with this tip for finding affordable acrylic!

Fall decor always comes early and we’ve been seeing halloween in stores for weeks. I’m not totally ready for it (the twins are in grade one this year… that feels way more real than kinder did!) but I am excited to start crafting some decor for fall! This is a DIY I’ve been wanting to try for a while and when I was brainstorming what to create for today’s Seasonal Simplicity fall series DIY… well, these colours were too good to resist!

CLICK HERE for a video tutorial of this DIY acrylic sign and 12 more modern DIY Dollar Store Party Decorations that you can make for your next party! 

I really love how this one turned out but I totally cracked it, trying to rush the drying… fanning it aggressively. *sigh* So I’m definitely going to be making another DIY acrylic sign and might even do two at a time so I can try some different things… like maybe a texture instead of ombre! I mean… look at the amazing shine on this sign! And with all the texture from the brush strokes. I’m obsessed. Just look at it in the sun! (I had it outside to pick the sunflowers- ha!)

Anyways… want to see the how-to? AND if you’re looking for more fall DIYs, make sure to scroll down to the bottom and check out all the amazing ones in the Seasonal Simplicity series!

TO MAKE YOUR OWN DIY ACRYLIC SIGN, YOU’LL NEED:

• A piece of acrylic (see note below!)
• Acrylic craft paint (multi surface is great for durability!)
• Medium sized flat paint brush
• White acrylic paint pen

The acrylic can be found a few different ways. You can buy it on it’s own- I’ve bought larger sheets at Home Depot. But for this one, I just bought a cheap poster photo frame and pulled the acrylic out of the frame. 

Before you get started, I wanted to give a suggestion if you like the idea of tracing a design you love! I painted the back first and free hand lettered on the front. I couldn’t decide between drawing some leaves and lettering a quote so I left it until last so I could decide BUT if you aren’t into hand lettering like that… trace it! You can print any quote or design you’d like to trace and put it behind your acrylic to trace with your paint pen FIRST. Once that’s dry, then you can flip it over and paint the back.

Okay! Painting! I used four different shades of cranberry to sienna and painted then in an ombre for this DIY acrylic sign. I used the same paint brush and just started with the lightest paint colour, moving to the brightest cranberry. Even though the acrylic is thick, I tried to make sure the changing of colours was gradual by mixing them. 

You’ll want to put the paint on really heavy. I let it dry and when I held it up, you could see light through some of the parts that I would have preferred opaque so I did a second coat of thick paint. This time I just put the paint directly on the sign. 

Let it dry completely before flipping it over to letter on the front if you didn’t trace on the front first! I used a bullet nib acrylic paint pen and even though I’d planned to thicken up my downstrokes for faux brush lettering, I loved the look of the thin line lettering so left it as is. 

You can also create an acrylic sign like this using vinyl! I shared how I make an acrylic sign for fall with a Cricut vinyl decal instead of hand lettered quote here!

This quote is magic. I’ve used it on my letterboards before but I love having it on a more permanent sign to bring out for fall every year! ‘Life starts all over again when it gets crisp in the fall,’ F. Scott Fitzgerald. Isn’t that so beautiful? I love it! 

Alright, well that’s how it’s made- super easy with some paint and a cheap picture frame! I’m thinking it would be simple to glue hanging hardware to the back of this or even to drill holes in the top two corners to use small brass nails to hang it. I just leaned it up on my console with all my plants. I’m going to pull it back out to hang in a few weeks once fall actually hits the air (it’s freaking hot here still- ha!). 

And now for more fun! Today I’ve been joined by some of my blogging friends who are also sharing their Fall DIY projects! Just click on the links below the images to see their project ideas…

Modern Geometric Painted Vases at The Happy Housie
How to Make Easy Fall Sweater Pumpkins at Tatertots and Jello
Room Spray for Fall at Modern Glam
Fall Candle Rings at She Gave it a Go
How to Build a Tray at The Handmade Home

Textured Vase at Craftberry Bush
Farmhouse Slat Pumpkin at My Uncommon Slice of Suburbia
Pumpkin & Dough Bowl Fall Centerpiece at The Turquoise Home
Happy Fall Sign at Lolly Jane
Personalized Fall Mug at Jenna Kate at Home

Fall Terrarium Centerpiece at Clean and Scentsible
Black & White Modern Ceramic Vases at Taryn Whiteaker Designs
Fall Chalkboard Art at Happy Happy Nester
Fall Faux Centrepiece at Inspiration of Moms
Monogrammed Vase at My Sweet Savannah

Tobacco Basket Wall Hanging with Flowers at Hallstrom Home
10 Minute $10 Sunflower Garland at a Pretty Life in the Suburbs
Small Wood Projects to Use as Decor at Grace in My Space
Fall Inspired Wood Photo Holders at In My Own Style
Neutral Fall Floral Arrangement at All Things With Purpose

Vintage Amber Glass Candle at Seeking Lavender Lane
Vintage Wreath Mirror at Sincerely, Marie Designs
Fall Acrylic Sign at Lemon Thistle
Wooden Bowl Candle Holder at Cherished Bliss
Blanket Ladder from Copper Pipe Dowels at The DIY Mommy
Thrift Store Basket Turned Fall Arrangement at Confessions of a Serial DIYer