Create Personalized String Art Wall Signs with Vibrant Numbers

Create Personalized String Art Wall Signs with Special Years

Imagine a cozy corner in your home, radiating with nostalgia, embellished with a customized wall sign that captures the uniqueness of you and your loved ones. This vision finally nudged me to create my very own personalized significant years sign.

Process view of string art numbers 1989, 1990, 2017, and 2023 being assembled on a black wood base.

With a palette of vibrant colors, brass nails, and four special years in mind, I celebrated creating something unique for our white walls. If you’ve been itching to add a personal flair to your space, join me on this crafty adventure. Trust me, it’s worth every knot and twist!

We discovered a new supplier of wood stains with an overwhelming range of colors. Fortunately, Kristaps, the logical member of our family, accompanied me, and we chose a black wood stain that enhances the natural texture of the wood.

Rear view of a custom string art sign showing the nail patterns for the years 2017 and 2023.

Combining brass nails from Tacks and Nails with vibrant threads is stunning. As a child of the 90s, my love for Mario runs deep, but it’s the vibrant color palette that truly captivates me. From Mario’s iconic red and blue to the fantastical landscapes, the 90s aesthetic continues to inspire my creativity.

It’s a nostalgia that fuels my passion for incorporating whimsy and vibrancy into my projects. After all, why outgrow the magic of the 90s?

Getting Started: Materials and Years

  • Wood stain – Check!
  • Nails – Favorites from Tacks and Nails – Check!
  • Vibrant cotton threads – CHECK!

Next, I decided on the years to include. After a family discussion, we chose the years that really count – 1989, 1990, 2017, and 2023, representing the birth years of our family members. After some string art pattern-making and color combo playing, I created a design mock-up.

Detail view of string art numbers 1989 and 1990 alongside vibrant colored thread and wood stain samples.

Preparing the Base and Drilling Holes

I wanted the sign to be slightly larger than standard letter-sized paper, so I printed the pattern pages and carefully aligned them. Meanwhile, Kristaps sawed, sanded, and stained the wood base with the black stain.

With the pattern aligned and the correct drill bit attached to my Dremel drill, I worked on my string art years sign. It’s crucial to maintain a steady hand and hold the drill perpendicular to the surface. This ensures the holes are aligned and the nails stand upright. If you’re not using a drill, poke the holes with an awl or hammer nails right over the paper pattern. Check out my article on making holes for string art for more tips.

Custom string art sign featuring the years 1989, 1990, 2017, and 2023 in vibrant colors on a black wood base.

Cleaning Up and Hammering Nails

Our new Makita handheld vacuum cleaner is perfect for cleaning up dust and debris. Next comes the therapeutic part—hammering nails. There’s something soothing about driving uniform nails into the holes I carefully crafted. It’s the perfect opportunity to enjoy an audiobook. This is how I first experienced the ACOTAR series. Alright, nails in! Now comes the fun part—adding those vibrant colors.

Custom string art sign featuring the years 1989, 1990, 2017, and 2023 in vibrant colors on a black wood base.

Adding Vibrant Threads

Life had its own agenda; between wrapping up other projects and fulfilling orders, the piece waited patiently for its makeover. This downtime gave me plenty of time to mull over the perfect thread colors. I opted for my favorite thread type—crochet threads.

If you’re curious why they’re my top choice for string art, check out this article where I delve into the main thread types used in string art, highlighting their pros and cons. You might discover a new favorite for your creations!

Process view of string art numbers 1989, 1990, 2017, and 2023 being assembled on a black wood base.

Bringing Your String Art to Life

With threads neatly arranged, sharp scissors at hand, and audiobooks playing, I brought my string art to life. Watching the threads weave and intertwine, filling the numbers one by one, was incredibly satisfying. For this design, I didn’t worry about a specific nail sequence and strung randomly. It was therapeutic, and my mind relaxed.

For the outline, I encircled each two nails and made figure 8’s between them for a defined finish, just like in our pattern instructions. Little details make a big difference, right?

Final Touches and Display

The final touch? Adding two sawhook hangers to the backside of the years sign, just in case I decide to hang it on a wall. For now, it’s on a shelf above my desk. I smile as I take in the vibrant retro colors and realize we’ve created a string art sign for our home.

It’s these moments of accomplishment that make crafting worth it. Like it? Make it! Or if you want an original GoodStrings string art sign with your special years, you can get it here. Excitingly, a DIY kit and a custom string art template with step-by-step instructions are also available!

Custom string art sign featuring the years 1989, 1990, 2017, and 2023 in vibrant colors on a black wood base.

Thank you for joining our string art adventure. Stay tuned for more creative ideas. We’d love your support—check out our Store. Maybe some of our string art patterns will catch your eye. We can’t wait to share our creations with you!

Happy crafting!

Don’t forget to leave a comment below, sharing your thoughts or questions. Your feedback means the world to us!

Renate from GoodStrings and All About String Art

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