Article: Before you begin working, you must acquire the right piece of wood. The easiest and best type of woods to use are plywood and medium-density fiberboard (MDF), which you can purchase from your nearest hardware store. When you visit the hardware store, ask the attendant to cut the wood to a specific size, or buy a large piece and trim it on your own.  You can go as large or small as you want, depending on how you’re using your sign. The majority of precut wood is sold in 48 in (120 cm) by 24 in (61 cm) or 24 in (61 cm) by 24 in (61 cm).  Square or rectangular pieces of wood are the easiest shapes to work with, especially for beginners. However, if you’re trying to fit a certain theme or just want something different from the norm, use a woodcutter to shape your wood differently. Circular signs make excellent wall art, for instance. Alternatively, a heart-shaped sign with a romantic quote is a great choice for decorating yours and your significant other’s bedroom. You can’t write on wood without first having an idea of what you want to write! If you have an eye for design and typography, draw out a template of your own on a piece of paper with a calligraphy pen. Alternatively, do an online search for typography designs and print out a design you like.  For example, you could write something like, “Welcome to our abode,” to create an entrance sign for house guests. If the sign is for a specific room in your home, use your favorite phrase to describe the home. For instance, this could be a literary quote about enjoying family and the smaller moments in life for your living room. Alternatively, write a family member’s name to create a nameplate for their bedroom. Sand the entire surface of the wood—even the sides and back—by rubbing the fine-grit sandpaper back and forth along the grain. Sanding will make the wood easier to stain and write on. Alternatively, you could use an electric sander. Mix the stain thoroughly with a wooden spoon or a stick. Apply the stain with either a paintbrush or a clean rag. Load up your paint brush or rag with stain and swipe it across the wood. Coat the wood with stain from top to bottom.  Don’t forget to put on a pair of gloves before you begin staining!  The stain can be any color you want. Don’t be afraid to get creative! This will especially help if you’re writing with permanent markers. Focus on coating the darkest parts of the wood and use a soft cloth to apply the product. Add a second layer once the first layer has completely dried. Most stain blockers take between 6 and 8 hours to dry. Stain blocker is available at your local hardware store. You may want to use a ruler to calculate exactly where you want each letter to be and what size to make your writing. Sketch out how much space the writing will take up on the wood by making a box (or boxes) to fit your letters into. The box(es) will form a guideline to help you center your template and keep your letters organized. Alternatively, make a frame to block your letters into with masking tape.
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Select a rectangular piece of plywood or MDF in any size. Choose or create a typography template for the letters. Sand the wood with 120- to 220-grit sandpaper until it's smooth. Apply oil-based stain to the wood. Smear a stain blocker onto the wood to protect your lettering. Sketch out the size and spacing for your lettering.