This is the final DIY project from Kellyn’s rainbow birthday celebration: a colorful lawn name sign. Instead of marking the party location with balloons, the family used a bright, fringed sign spelling the birthday girl’s name. Made on sturdy cardstock and mounted on dowels, the sign can be taped for temporary display and then removed and framed as a keepsake.
Supplies
- Colored cardstock for letters and outlines (white works well for the base)
- 12×12 patterned paper for backing
- Letter printouts sized to fill an 8.5×11 page
- Glue (spray glue gives a smooth finish, but use what you have)
- Scissors and an X-Acto knife for clean edges
- Wooden dowels
- Tape or hot glue to secure letters to dowels
- Fringe garland or other embellishments (optional)
Step-by-step Instructions
1. Print each letter so it fills an 8.5×11 sheet. For a sturdy result, print onto white cardstock.
2. Glue the white letter onto colored cardstock to create an outline. Trim the colored layer so about a quarter-inch of white shows around the letter for a clean, defined edge.
3. Center each letter on a patterned 12×12 background and glue in place. Instead of a square backing, try triangles, flags, circles, or any shape that fits your theme.
4. Attach each finished letter to a dowel using tape or hot glue. Make sure the attachment is secure enough to hold in the wind if the sign will be outdoors.
5. Add fringe or other decorations behind each letter to give the sign extra movement and color. You can also paint the dowels, tie ribbon around them, or add small embellishments for more personality.
6. Position the dowels and gently hammer them into the lawn at even spacing so the letters line up nicely. If you used removable tape, you can take the letters off after the event and preserve them as wall art or a framed keepsake.
This project is flexible and approachable — perfect for personalizing a birthday celebration and creating a memorable decoration that can live on after the party. Have fun mixing colors and patterns to match your theme, and consider coordinating other rainbow DIYs for a cohesive look.
For more party ideas and rainbow inspiration, search for additional rainbow birthday DIY projects and tips.