How to Make a First Aid Cabin Sign

With summer in full swing, I thought it would be fun to share how to make a first aid cabin sign.

This is one of those projects that can be easily customized with whatever color combinations you like best. 

Bonus, it doesn’t take very long to complete at all! 

For many years, we went to the same sleep-away camp at a lake close to our hometown.

It was a blast!

In fact, one of my grandmothers was a nurse at a competing sleep-away camp.

So, it was always fun to get the inside scoop on our “rivals.”

While I miss my grandparents terribly, we’re constantly looking for sentimental ways to celebrate our fabulous memories with them. 

One simple way to do that is to incorporate summer camp and cabin decor into our summer decorating.

Here’s a look at how to make a First Aid Cabin sign.

How to Make a First Aid Cabin Sign

First Aid Cabin Sign Supplies:

• Wood (size of your choice)
• Base Color Paint (we used a sample of Valspar interior paint in Coconut Milk, but you can use a color you like best)
• Alphabet Letter Stencil Kit 
• Ruler
• Pencil
• Craft Paint (color of your choice) 
• Paint Brush (to paint a base color on the wood)
• Detail Art Brush (to paint/fill in letters)
• Tarp (to protect surfaces)
• Paper Plate (if you plan to customize your paint colors)
• Sandpaper (if you’re trying to create a distressed look)
• Dark Wax (if you’re trying to create an aged look)

First Aid Cabin Sign Steps:

Our first aid cabin sign started like most of the signs we make, with scrap wood from the garage. 

This piece of scrap wood in particular was the top of a wooden crate.

I painted the wood with paint leftover from another project. 

The color is a warm off-white color called Coconut Milk by Valspar.

Feel free to use any color you want, though.  

Once the paint was dry, I used a ruler to draw the cross and alphabet stencils to create the lettering. 

Make sure your lettering is straight and the scale is appropriate. 

This step may require extra attention in the beginning.

But it’s always worth the effort in the end. 

To create this specific color for the lettering, I used Americana Craft Paints, which you can find at most craft supply stores. 

For the red, I mixed Primary Red and Country Red. 

The blue was created with Primary Blue and Black. 

Simply mix the colors with your paintbrush on a paper plate, adding a few drops of color one at a time until you’ve achieved the custom color you want. 

Use a fine-tip art detail brush to outline the letters first.

Then fill in the color with a bigger tipped brush where possible.

This will help to eliminate the appearance of multiple brush strokes.

After the craft paint on the lettering dries, sand the entire sign with sandpaper and add a layer of dark wax.

How to Decorate with a First Aid Cabin Sign

This is one of those signs that can easily be used at a lake house, a beach retreat, or a cozy cabin in the woods.  

We’ve used this sign to decorate our breakfast nook during the summer and for patriotic holidays.

It can be used on a coffee bar, drink station, or to add a festive feel to outdoor parties as well.

While my days of sleep-away camp might be completely behind me, this first aid cabin sign is one of those pieces of our home decor that brings a smile to my face every time I use it.

Let us know what you’ve been crafting this summer!     

Other Patriotic Posts to Explore…

Patriotic Holiday Decor Ideas

DIY 1776 Runner

The Easiest Way to Craft USA Wall Art

Until next time, I’ll see you on Instagram, Facebook and Pinterest.

Many blessings,

CoCo