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The Christmas Ledge display will accent any wall while sharing the spirit of Christmas among family and friends. Be sure to use your imagination when adding decorations to the ledge. This project will work with any sign and a variety of ledge sizes. Just make sure that the ledge is wide enough for the tin sign to hang either vertically or horizontally. We offer a variety of signs that will work with this craft project. You don’t have be very creative to do this very simple craft. Enjoy!

Detailed Instructions

Step 1 – Measure and Center the tin sign on the bottom of the ledge.

Step 2 – Mark and drill the holes for the cup hooks.

Step 3 – Screw the cup hooks in the holes.

Step 4 – Cut the ivy garland to match the length of the tin sign. If your ivy garland isn’t long enough, you can attach two separate pieces together at the ends to create a longer garland.

Step 5 – Hot glue the garland to the sign. As an option, I attached the ivy using the holes in the corners of the metal sign. If you want to change the sign, I could use the same ivy every time you want to have a different theme.

Step 6 – Attach the tin sign to the ledge.

Step 7 – Finally, Hang on the Wall and add decorations to the top ledge. Use your imagination.

What’s nice about this project is that any size tin sign will work. It  can be interchangeable as the season and special occasions change from month to month. I was really impressed on how this Chistmas ledge display looked on my wall. It will stay on my wall even after the Holidays. Have a Joyous and Wonderful Holiday Season!

Detailed Instructions

Step 1 – Purchase a 18”W x 24” L Poster Board Frame and take off the backing. Also remove the outer plastic protective sheet. This may be slightly attached to the poster frame. Set aside the frame and begin to attach the cork to the backing board.

Step 2 – Turn the back of the backing board down so you will be working with the inside of the board. Place two cork tiles together across the backing board. It should fit perfectly across the entire board. Remove one tile and apply gun with the glue gun. Then put back on the board. Do the same with the other cork tile.

Step 3 – Below those attached cork tiles, where the seam is located, you will need to cut a cork tile the size of 12”W x 6”L with a straight edge and utility knife. Be sure to center the 12”W x 6”L piece of cork below the seam. This will provide a 4” space on both sides of the new cork piece. When centered correctly, glue to the backboard.

Step 4 – With the remaining 12” W x 6”L, cut in half making 2 – 6”L x 6”W pieces of cork tile. Place one piece on each side of the previously attached cork tile. Glue with glue gun when properly aligned. This will complete the cork tile attachments.

Step 5 – Attach the tin sign beginning at the top and evenly center the sign over the cork tiles. This will allow 4 inches from each side of the tin to the side edge of the cork tiles. Put the tin in place by using 2 thumbtacks at the bottom of the tin sign.

Step 6 – To cover the cork seams and add a decorative touch, I added 5/8”W spider web ribbon to the cork board. I found the ribbon at a local Hobby Lobby store, Cut 2- 6” pieces of ribbon. This will cover the two cork seams below the tin sign. Cut 2- 13” pieces of ribbon. This will cover the side of the sign beginning at the top and ending at the bottom. Finally, cut 1- 24.5” ribbon to cover the side cork seams and the entire bottom of the tin.

Step 7 – When applying the ribbon to the cork board and tin, you only need a small amount of glue. Always center the ribbon over the cork seams. Each 6 “ ribbon will cover the cork seams below the tin. Take the ribbon and slide one end of it under the tin then apply a small amount of glue behind the ribbon and attach just below the tin. Add a small amount of glue further down the back of the ribbon and at the very end of the ribbon and attach to the cork. I wrapped the ribbon around the end of the cork. Repeat the same procedures for the other side. Each 13” ribbon will cover the side of the tin sign. For each ribbon, glue the top around the edge and add a few additional glue to the tin along the side. I wanted to make sure the ribbon is over enough to cover the holes in the tin. You can cut the excess ribbon at the bottom if necessary and glue to the tin. Repeat on the other side. I try to keep the thumbtacks in when working on the ribbon. Finally, the 24.5” ribbon will cover the side cork seams and the entire bottom of the tin. Wrap the ribbon over the beginning side edge of the cork seam and glue. Then continue until the ribbon reaches the other side of the cork. Add small amount of glue along the way. When completed, find the holes in the tin and place the thumbtacks in to secure the tin to the cork.

Step 8 – Attach the frame and secure the back board to the frame. This craft project is complete. On the computer, you can print off the name of the child who will be receiving this cork board. I found some spiderman stickers and used them to attach the name tag.

This personalized cork board would also be a great gift idea for any superhero fan. Remember any tin sign could become your theme for the next cork board craft project.

Tin signs sang the praises of everything from soap to soda. Less intrusive and often quite inventive, tin signs were the ultimate in soft sell. Unlike their flashy cousins the billboards, tin signs were almost subliminal in their delivery. They were so common that they seemed to blend into the countryside almost as though they were a natural part of the landscape. Yet if you looked closely at home movies and snapshots taken along route 66 and other highways, you were sure to see one of these mini ads in the background.

Like the neon signs found today in liquor stores, the tin signs of yesteryear where either given to the grocery store owner free or, often, a small payment was made to the farmer or store owner that would put up the sign. Often the competition for advertising space would get fierce especially if a prestigious or high traffic location was up for grabs. Some manufactures wanted exclusive rights to a wall (i.e. no competitor’s signs) while others simply placed their signs wherever they could get permission.

More than just an advertising gimmick, tin signs were also used during World War II to convey patriotism. The Norman Rockwell depiction of ‘Uncle Sam’ with his finger pointing out of the sign stating ‘Uncle Sam Want You!’ is now a cultural icon. Rosie the Riveter was a popular sign found on the outside walls of defense plants, while signs asking the public to collect scrap metal and paper or to buy ‘War Bonds’ could be found on almost every building.

Not only did tin signs have a practical function but, in many cases, they were in of themselves works of art. It was not unusual to find a Norman Rockwell or a Grant Wood painting fatefully reproduced as a method to promote Coca-Cola or John Deere. It was also not uncommon to find your favorite movie star such a Marilyn Monroe , selling Luster Crème Shampoo or James Dean hawking ‘Kist Kola’.

With the advent of television, tin signs as a form of advertising began to slowly fade into history. Now original copies of these signs can go for hundreds of dollars to collectors. With the resurgence of nostalgic decorating, tin sign replicas have become a very popular glimpse into the past.

These facsimiles have been fatefully reproduced to bring back an appreciation of a time long gone; when the world moved at a much slower pace and people actually had the time to stop and look at a tiny sign up on the side of a barn, out in the middle of nowhere.

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Detailed Instructions

Step 1 – Carefully align and tape the tin sign behind the mat board. The mat board should cover the holes in the corners of the tin sign.

Step 2 – Clean the picture frame glass and place the taped mat and tin sign over the picture frames glass.

Step 3 – Place the backing board of the mat and tin sign. We had to insert fasteners with a hammer to secure the backing board. Some frames will have fasteners available.

Step 4 – Take the 20” W x 12” L chicken wire and place evenly on the top half of the picture frame. Secure with 2 staples on each top corners, also staple on the bottom of the chicken wire on each side of the picture frame.

Step 5 – Trim the chicken wire with side cutters (snips) to reveal the tin sign. Trim to your liking.

Step 6 – On the left side of the frame, place and arrange a bundle of green ivy, over the chicken wire, so it covers the side as well as the top . Then place and arrange another bundle of green ivy on the right side of the frame so it covers only the side.

Step 7 – Using the hot glue gun, glue the green ivy stems to the frame until secure. Cut sunflowers from bundle and glue them to the frame, within the green ivy that is on both sides. To secure the chicken wire on the top between the green ivy bundles, glue one sunflower.

Step 8 – Mark 4 holds spaced and centered 5 inches apart on the bottom of the picture frame. Drill a hole with a 3/16 drill bit, or according to the size of the hooks.

Step 9 – Place the screw in the back of the frame and attach the hook. Tighten the screw to secure the hook. Repeat until all hooks are on the frame.

What a beautiful and decorative tin sign picture frame! Be sure to share this with friends or give as a gift! Personally, I kept this craft project for myself. It looks great in our kitchen! Be sure to send pictures of your completed Tin Sign Picture Frame to StationBay.com for our May Contest!

Step One:  We place a layer of bubble wrap on the table and put the first tin sign faced down on a piece of wax paper laying on top of the bubble wrap.  This protective layer of wax paper is repeated for each sign.

Step Two:  Once the order of signs are complete, we tape the ends of the  first layer of bubble wrap together and then add another layer of bubble wrap in the opposite direction around the package.  This is secured with additional packaging tape.

Step Three: We place the order  in the cardboard box and secure it to the bottom of the box with packaging tape.  This will prevent damage to the signs and keep it secure if the package is handled or tossed around during delivery.  We use recycled paper to fill the remainder of the box.

Step Four:  We fold up the cardboard box flaps and tape the center of the box first.  Then we add an additional row of packaging tape on each side of the taped center seam.  This will provide extra protection and security.

In conclusion, many of our customers were very satisfied with our packaging.  Our customers were given customer service survey’s to complete and we receive very high scores for our packaging procedures.

Detailed Instructions

Step 1 – Before attempting to use any power tools, CAUTION: always read and understand the directions of any tool that you use and always wear safety glasses. Safety has to be a priority! Once you are ready to begin cutting the boards, follow the material list above to begin cutting the required boards at appropriate length and width.

Step 2 – Once the boards are cut, lay the support boards out on a solid surface approximately 12 inches apart. Lay one of the 2 foot boards across the support boards with equal distance on both sides of the support boards. Use a square to align the boards.

Step 3 – Place the other 4 boards across the backer boards equally spaced with the 3 foot board in the center. Use your square to check alignment and attach with nails. You may want to add Wood Glue for extra strength before nailing.

Step 4 – Put your 12.5 by 16 inch tin sign bought at Station Bay on top of the wood space evenly from top to bottom and side by side. Attach with nails or screws.

Step 5 – Place paper on a table, and paint on the 2 ½ by 10 inch board a Welcome in white paint. Then paint your last name or anything on the 2 inch by 11 inch board.

Step 6 – When dry, place the Welcome board at the top of the tin sign, at an angle, an attach with nails or screws until secure. At the bottom of the tin sign, place and center the Name board ( 2 inch by 11 inch board) against the tin sign.

Step 7 – Take the 35 bulb holiday light set and wrap it around the length of the green 6 ft. garland. Keep the bulbs tight against the garland. This will secure the lights around the fence when attached.

Step 8 – Begin to staple the garland and light combination to the wooden fence. On the back of the fence, start to staple the plug end of the light. Be very careful not to puncture the wires to the lights when stapling to the wooden fence. This will damage the lights. Lights are optional on this project.

Step 9 – Continue attaching the garland and lights around the fence making sure you have reached the other side of the fence with the garland and lights.

When Step 9 is completed, your Wooden Outdoor Tin Sign Decorative Fence will be ready to be displayed in any yard! Caution: Before plugging in the lights, be sure the staples haven’t punctured the insulation on the wiring on the light set. This could cause an electrical shortage.