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May You Never Be Too Grown Up to Search the Skies on Christmas Eve — Rustic Wood Sign Tutorial
Sharon Hankins of I Restore Stuff shows us a charming, rustic Christmas sign that pairs a softly dry-brushed wood background with a sweet rub-on Santa and stockings. Sharon’s style is relaxed, practical, and perfect for holiday signs you’ll actually use around the house.
Project: “May You Never Be Too Grown Up to Search the Skies on Christmas Eve”
Materials
- Wood slat sign board (approx. 12"Ă—16" or similar)
- Christmas Eve Magic Stencil (16Ă—12)
- Jolly Saint Nick Rub-on Transfer Set (Santa + stockings)
- Stencil Brush Set | Pure Natural Bristle Brushes
- Essential Rub-On Transfer Tool
- White paint (thin, not glossy) + small detail brush (optional)
- Scissors, painter’s tape, paper towel
- Light sandpaper or sander (optional, for distressing)
Step-by-step Instructions
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Prepare the board — dry brushing:
Load a small amount of white (cashmere/off-white) paint on a stencil brush, then blot most of it off on a paper towel. Lightly brush across the slats to pick up the grain and create a driftwood, aged look. Go gently — you want a subtle, natural highlight on the wood grain.
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Stencil the saying:
Position the Christmas Eve Magic Stencil near the top of the board. Use a stencil brush and white paint (very little paint on the brush) to fill in the words. If you need to shift a line slightly closer for spacing, lift and reposition the stencil. Use painter’s tape to mask any tight spots where letters could snag on the wood slat edges.
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Prepare the rub-on transfer:
Cut out the Santa from the Jolly Saint Nick transfer sheet. Trim around the image so it fits the sign’s center area. If the board has slats, score or carefully trim the transfer edges where it will cross gaps so it sits flat on the surface.
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Transfer Santa onto the board:
Place the transfer where you want it and press the plastic layer down. Use the Essential Rub-On Transfer Tool to burnish the artwork firmly and evenly. Work from the center outward, and go slowly — pulls that are too quick can lift thin details. If the transfer crosses slats, use short, careful rubs and press edges into the gaps so the transfer molds to the wood.
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Add stockings and small accents:
Cut two small stockings from the transfer sheet and position one on each side of Santa. Burnish them down the same way. If any tiny branches or fine lines don’t fully transfer, use a tiny detail brush and a touch of paint to fill bridges and make letters crisp.
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Final checks & clean up:
Inspect the transfer edges and letter fills. If you see small gaps or faint letters, carefully touch them up with a tiny brush and white paint. Remove any stray paint blobs while still wet — a damp cloth or quick sanding after drying will tidy things up.
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Seal the sign:
When everything is fully dry, protect your work with a clear tough-coat sealer (matte or gloss depending on your preference). Apply an even coat and let cure per the sealer instructions.
Helpful Tips from Sharon
- Dry brush very lightly. Less is more — you want the wood grain to show through.
- When pressing transfers over slats, work slowly. Short, firm rubs with the burnishing tool help the transfer settle into gaps without tearing.
- Trim transfer pieces for a seamless fit. Use scissors to remove the excess plastic where the transfer crosses slats or edges.
- If tiny transfer details don’t fully take, touch them up with a small detail brush rather than redoing the whole area.
- Seal with a tough-coat sealer for durability — matte if you want a rustic finish, gloss if you prefer a polished look.