Colorful Number Sign – Perfect for Anniversaries!
I’d been eyeing Unicorn SPiT for a long time. From seeing projects on Pinterest to actually seeing the bottles at Michaels, I’ve long been fascinated by the stuff. So I was thrilled when I got a set for Christmas.
As is what often happens when I get a new craft supply, I was paralyzed by indecision about what to make. But then I saw a similar address sign someone had made, and I had a vision.
I used our wedding anniversary date to make this, but it would also be cute with other dates—like maybe the birth years of your children? Grandchildren? Other family milestones (met/engaged/married/etc)? I like the simplicity of this, but you could also add text, like names or short descriptions with paint or vinyl. So many possibilities.
About our anniversary… I love it. I didn’t realize this when we got married, but the number 143 was a favorite of Mr. Rogers. It was his code for “I love you,” and I think that is the coolest thing. One reason I especially love the layout of the numbers on this sign is that it really shows off the 143.
Supplies
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- Wood board
- Metal numbers
- Unicorn SPiT
- Foam brushes
- Number hanging kits OR E6000
Optional
- Paint palette
- Oil-based varnish
- Command strips (for hanging)
Recommended
- Gloves
It probably would have been cheaper to buy a longer board and have it cut down, but I bought the 12”x24” board as-is just for the convenience of it.
When I was searching for numbers on Amazon, I found what felt like a million different options that all looked the same. I took a chance and ordered the least expensive of each number, and it worked great. They all look like they belong together.
In researching techniques to use for Unicorn SPiT, I discovered that it is a very versatile medium! I found this article on the manufacturer’s website particularly helpful:
I chose to water down the stain a little, though I didn’t measure precisely. I squeezed a little stain into each well of my paint palette, and then I added some water. I used a toothpick to mix each color.
Using my foam brushes, I brushed the color onto the board. There really wasn’t any rhyme or reason to my method. I didn’t want the colors in rainbow order, so I just went with whatever I felt like. And then I kept messing with it until I had to force myself to stop. I kept trying to smooth out any brush marks. I didn’t do a perfect job, but I don’t notice it so much anymore.
I left it to dry overnight, and cleanup was super easy. I had protected the floor with newspaper, but somehow there were still a few droplets of stain. They wiped up easily and didn’t leave a trace behind.
After that is where I made my first mistake. I used Polycrylic as a varnish. It didn’t even occur to me that since it is water-based it might react with the stain, but that’s exactly what happened. It really only smoothed out the edges a little, but I was still a little bummed. I’d worked hard to get the colors just the way I wanted them. After a while I didn’t even notice anymore, so it’s all good now!
Truthfully, I don’t even know if it needs varnish. This is hanging inside my house out of the sun, so I don’t know that it needs extra protection. It just makes me feel better for some reason.
Each number came with its own hanging kit, but I couldn’t bring myself to figure out how to use them. Then, once I’d procrastinated for a while, I ended up losing a couple of the kits. Eventually, I gave up and decided to just glue them on. E6000 is my go-to, so I crossed my fingers and hoped it would be strong enough to hold the heavy metal numbers.
Here’s where I made my next mistake. Because the whole project had sat for so long, I had to take the numbers I’d arranged off of it to dust everything. Then I glued the numbers on, and I was so proud of myself. That is some STRONG glue.
Except… my anniversary is not 01/03/04. I swapped the 3 and 4. Sigh…
After unsuccessfully trying to pry them off with my fingers, my husband used a paint palette knife and carefully removed the two problem numbers. To my surprise and delight, there was no damage! Only some glue residue, which I was able to rub off with my fingers. So if you make a mistake, it’s fixable!
You’d better believe I double and triple-checked myself before I glued them on again.
Success!! In the end, it turned out just how I’d pictured it. I love it when that happens.
My default for hanging pretty much all wall art is Command Strips. They proved to be a bit challenging this time because apparently, the board isn’t completely flat. But it’s up on the wall, and I have my fingers crossed that it stays there. Plan B is to add a couple of picture hangers to the back and use nails to hang it.
Now I’m excited to use Unicorn SPiT on something else. Did you know they make a whole line of sparkly colors?! AND metallics?! I will be buying some of those as soon as I can.
If you make your own number wall art, I’d love to see! You can tag me on Instagram and Facebook.
Happy crafting!
