Customizable Scrabble Valentine/Love Sign with Extra Tiles
Instruction
I've been seeing these types of signs around but they were always very specific and set with only the ability to add a name or names. In these plans are included every letter of the alphabet, numbers 1 to 0, most oft used symbols for signs like this, 4 different heart symbols and 4 blank tiles to add your own. This way you can set names, phrases, signs, etc... using these tiles.
Also included, as shown in the picture, is a crossword/scrabble set up with specific words already included related to love and valentines. In the steps, I will tell you how to design and cut your own crossword.
This was done completely in XCS and color coded depending on the line functions within. Black is engrave, Yellow is score, and Red is cut.
You will want to paint the plain birch board white and let completely dry the day before your assembly. I only put one coat on and did not sand it smooth. I wanted that rough texture to the paint for this sign.
I recommend using the Ecobirch for the tiles/crossword parts as it is easy to wipe off excess burn / char residue from the surface. While you could mask, this does have a lot of small parts and so it will be very time consuming removing the mask from them all. I also do not recomend sanding because, as stated, the parts are small and so will be hard to sand them to get the residue off without burning your fingertips. (Ask me how I know this :P)
I also recommend using 3m 468mp Adhesive, once more, due to the small parts. It makes putting this piece together a breeze.
As I stated, there is some time consuming parts to this. The time I listed above is 2 hours and that includes engraving/cutting, cleaning, and assembly. If you go to just the assembly, the time will vary depending on what lettering you have. In the example used for the photos, it took me a total of about 10 minutes to assemble it. Most of that two hours was spent in the engravng/cutting time and then cleaning each piece.
As stated in the intro, this is a part included, words and all, for you to use. However, if you want to create your own, it is very easy. Do a search for “Make your own Crossword” online. One of the first options should be site called Wordmint. Open that and follow the instructions to create your crossword. Note that it will ask you to provide a clue for each word you want to put in the crossword. Just type anything really. It is not the clues you want, just the crossword setup.
As you type the words and enter, you will see your crossword being built either to one side of where you are typing or below. When you are happy with your crossword, download the file. In Wordmint, there is a button that says export above where you were typing. When you click it, there are a lot of different options. You want the Answerkey as an SVG.
After you download it, open it in XCS. While you could trace this, I decided not to since it did not look right. Instead, I took my already prepared letters (which I include with this file) and through copy, paste, and horizontal/vertical aligning, arranged my crossword to look just like the copy I downloaded. Make sure the edges touch. While this part is time consuming, it turns out much better looking. As I completed a word, I would then group them all together.
Once the crossword is completed, I selected the entire thing and then clicked outline. I set the outline to 0.001. This provides a cutout line around the crossword.
Viola, you have your new crossword.
When setting up to cut this, I recommend, as stated above, using 3m 468mp Adhesive. I put this on the Walnut MDF and the Ecobirch. If you use something different, the parts you want the Adhesive on is the border/frame, the hangers, and the letters/crossword part. None is needed on the painted board.
Cut out the parts you want. I cut out all of the letters, numbers and symbols along with everything else. You can see what is in the file just by looking at the photo included with this step.
Once you have all your pieces cut out, lay them out. If you have specific words or names, spell them out on your work surface to ensure that you have all that you need and don't need to cut others.
First you will want to assemble the backer and frame. Start by peelling the adhesive from the walnut frame. Stand the white backer long side down and gently line up and lever the walnut frame onto the white board. DO NOT PRESS ON THE WALNUT YET. Run your fingers along the edges to make sure that they align together. If not, press/push so that the frame meets the edges all the way around. Once you are happy, lay this part flat and firmly press down around the frame so that it securely adheres to the white board.
Next you will layout your crossword, letters without removing the adhesive backing. This will ensure you have everything properly placed on the white board. I recommend taking a photo to refer to when you are happy with the placements. Peel the adhesive backing from each part and place back where you had it, pressing it down firmly to help seat the adhesive.
Once done, admire your new piece for a moment and then proceed to the final step, which is the hanger.
Included with this file is a hanger. These are cut from 1/8" (3mm) birch/scrap wood. (In my case, I just used some of the walnut that was there since I wanted it to use the 3m 468mp adhesive already on it. Use the cut settings above to cut out the pieces. You should have 1 piece with a keyhole cut out, 1 frame piece and then 2 rectangle pieces (one of them will be the center of the frame).
Take a keyhole piece and glue/adhere it to the top of a frame piece. Glue this, keyhole side up, to the center approximately ½" to 1" in from the top on the back of your sign. This needs to be as exactly center as possible to allow for proper hanging.
Take one of the rectangle pieces and glue/adhere it to the bottom right corner, again, about ½" to 1" in from the edges. This does not need to be as accurate as the hangers but should be close to the bottom corner without going to the edges. Do the same to the opposite corner. These provide slight bumpers to raise the bottom of the sign from the wall if needed and addes a little weight to keep it hanging straight.
Your sign is now ready to hang.
NOTE: If you don't want to hang this but instead prop the sign up like a picture desktop frame, I do offer a kickstand bundle that would work with this. Check out my profile for that bundle and other plans that I have at https://projects.xtool.com/user-center?active=projects&id=15190
I wanted to do something simple and yet very customizable. Anyone that knows me also knows that I like to design things that can be made to order and be unique to a customer. Thus this was project was made. While it is not extremely simple, it is still a simple to do project, just a bit time consuming due to the small parts.
That being said, I recommend color. Maybe cut out a few hearts in red to place around the tiles.
Maybe make the frame in a Pink or Red MDF/Eco board. Keep the tiles wood to give it that scrabble type of look.
Or maybe you could do a few tiles in different colors to lend it a vibrant rainbow scheme.
How about the tiles being attached to the frame to spell out names or special events?
Add a smaller frame within the frame to put in a picture and then put the letter tiles around it.
The ways are endless in how this can be used. Get creative.