Have you ever wanted to know how to make old signs for home decor? It adds so much to a blank wall with very little effort. I’ve always wanted an antique circus sign but every sign I’ve ever come across was way out of my price range. So I decided this one:

Instead of using a plain piece of wood I repurposed two old drawer fronts. They made the perfect wood panel. I just used wood filler to plug up where the drawer pulls had been:

They are just attached at the back:

For the lettering I made a template using circus-inspired font:

You can use my template if you like (just print the letters one at a time if needed so they fit onto smaller paper and then tape together):

Chalk transfer paper makes the lettering easy to trace!

The words “ticket office” were added underneath:

I love painting with liquid gilding…this is the gold color from Martha Stewarts line, found at Michaels:

I love how smoothly it goes on :

For the red paint I used Golden Liquid Acrylics:

I brushed the outer edges with some liquid gilding as well to give it an aged look:

I love that the drawers gave it an instant framed look:

The finished sign:

I love the touch of the liquid gilding:

Here’s what it looks like in our kitchen! The old phone was from my childhood home:

If you want to make your own lettering Font Space has some great free fonts available! (click here for circus category)

 

More vintage inspired signs I’ve made with tutorials:

DIY Rustic Palette Sign:

Vintage-inspired Round Railroad Signs:

And an oldie but goodie…

How to Antique and Age Wood:

If you don’t have wood and want to use canvas I have a tutorial for that too!

And you can find all my other home decor tutorials here!