As a gift giver I like to focus on handmade items that serve a purpose. I’ve tried many different gift options but this one in particular was pretty fun and came out beautifully.

Wood burning is a really fun technique that makes for the perfect DIY wedding gift.

When deciding on this particular gift not only did I want something functional for the bride and groom, but I also wanted something that would fit nicely in my duffel bag (cause who has time for baggage fees 💁🏻). With the materials I had on hand I decided on a custom key hanger.

Pick Your Wood

Now I had a few pieces of curly walnut in my craft pile, but if you don’t have a trust wood pile I recommend Wood Craft stores. They have a huge variety of wood types and colors! I tend to gravitate toward the scrap pieces that are much more affordable and user friendly for small project such as thing one. (Find a store near you by clicking here Also – join their mailing list for additional discounts!) From my selection I choose I nice rectangular piece that would make a statement. To prep the wood I sanded each side and edges with 80 grit sandpaper (be sure to sand in a well ventilated area with safety glasses and a respiratory mask😷). After the wood is even and smooth hit it again with 120 – 220 grit sand paper to get a nice smooth finish.

Create Your Design

Once my wood was prepped it was time to work on my overall design – for most of my designs I tend to use the text box feature in Microsoft Word. This is not the most scientific way to do it – but it works, and this project doesn’t need a whole lot of science. Pick your statement, font and size. **Not finding a font the fits your vision? I am a font junkie and absolutely love 1001freefonts.com. (Warning – it can be very addicting )  For more on how to download and install new FREE fonts check out this blog post. Once you have finalized a design, flip the image – THIS IS CRITICAL! Most of the time I find it easiest to use the Snip It tool to cut out the design, then I paste it to a Word document and flip the image using the Picture Tools.

Once your image is flipped and sized we need to prepare the wax paper. There are a lot of tutorials on how to print on wax paper. The method I prefer is to fold a piece of wax paper  around a heavy weight paper and secure with tape. Once secured you feed the wax covered paper through your inkjet printer. After printing cut the wax paper away from the cardstock, flip the design (wet ink against the wood) and place on your wood. Rub the design on to the wood using your fingers – being careful not to adjust the placement. Remove the wax paper and the design will be left on the wood for you to trace.

Begin Wood Burning

Next is the fun part! Find yourself a comfy chair in a well lit room with a TV tray or work table. For wood burning I chose this wood burner on Amazon.com. I decided on this one for the range of heat settings and on/off switch. After having it for a while I have really enjoyed the variety of tips (although, in all honesty I use about three for most projects).

Once you’re all set up and your wood burner is hot begin tracing your design, shading in the areas with ink. This can be time consuming the more intricate your design – keep this in mind when choosing your phrase and font.

If you make a mistake – never fear! First, I like to think that handmade items should be perfectly imperfect. Next wood burning is pretty forgiving; your first option to cover your mistake is by making the line thicker to accommodate the mistake. If the mistake is not that easy to cover there is always the option to sand down and start over.

Seal & Finish

After your design is completely burned it is time to seal the wood. To seal my curly walnut I chose a satin finish as to keep the wood grain light (so the burning would be more prominent). The number of coats is all based on personal preference (and time). I tend to be a procrastinator, and sealing takes time – so one coat will do the trick. If your item will be exposed to weather or extreme conditions additional coats will be needed.

After your wood is cured it is time to measure out the hook placement. I picked up these hooks from Home Depot (the ones I purchased were brass – so I spray painted them for the desired look). I had the hubby measure out and pre-drill the holes so the hooks would go in straight and easy.

Last step is deciding how you want to mount the sign. I opted for two holes drilled with a router and key hole bit for a flush mount but using hardware from any picture hanging kit would work as well.

I was able to pack the key hanger in the bottom of my duffel with no consequence. Upon arrival I stopped by a supermarket to grab some gift wrap. Voilà – The Perfect DIY Wedding Gift!

If you have any questions please leave them below – and if you give it a try let me know, I’d love to see your handy work!

xo

Carolyn