How to Make a Reusable First-Day-of-School Sign

A first-day-of-school sign with your kids' photo is a great idea whether you're just looking to post them on social media or years from now you want to make it easy to remember who was in which grade in what year. Instead of making a new sign each year, make this reusable sign now and you'll have it for years to come. It'll be one less thing to do during the next busy back-to-school season.

Paint

Cover the wood plaque with chalkboard paint. You will need at least two coats of paint. Let it dry thoroughly.

Plan

You can freehand your design. However, it’s easier to plan it out beforehand to avoid mistakes. Use a piece of paper roughly the same size as the wood plaque. Draw a grid with the pencil on the wood board and the paper to help you line up the words and design.

Transfer

When you have your design planned out, transfer it to the board. This is where the grid comes in handy. Use the paint pens to create your design.

Embellish

After you get the main area filled, embellish with more designs. Try adding swirls and other freehand doodles. Gently erase the grid lines with a pencil when you are done.

Say "Cheese"

Use chalk or a liquid chalk pen to add the current grade on the bottom half of the sign. Next year, wipe off the old grade and add the new. If you have several kids and don’t have the time to make individual signs, keep the name area blank and use chalk to add the different names between shots. However you decided to personalize it, a reusable first day of school sign is the perfect way to get school started on the right foot.