Personalized Letters for Kid’s Room
Kid’s rooms can be so much run to decorate, but for some reason, we often forget about the door. The door is the introduction to a room, the beginning of the space and if your kid’s room is anything like mine, the door is often shut to hide the mess! So, why do we make these cute rooms with a plain door? I wanted to have something to hang on my boys’ doors that will introduce the theme of the room and provide a cute decoration for when those doors are shut. Taking the first letter of their names and making personalized letters seemed like the perfect project.
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I never really thought of myself as being good at painting. One of my favorite things to do is to prove myself wrong. So, I decided to take on a fun project of painting letters to hang on the doors for my boys’ rooms. My oldest is having a transportation themed room and I’m designing a Peter Pan themed nursery for my baby. I thought the perfect decoration for the doors would be to paint a wooden letter (the first letter of their names) for each of them. My oldest starts with “D” and my baby’s name will start with an “N”.
Supplies
I needed a couple large wooden letters (a “D” and an “N“). It’s important to have letters that are smooth for painting. The size is a preference, but I wanted larger ones so I had more room to paint.
I also needed some acrylic paints and paint brushes. For the paints, I got a basic set that included lots of colors along with black and white so that I could mix and make the colors lighter or darker as needed. I choose a paint that isn’t overly expensive, but also that isn’t too cheap so that it would come out looking nice. I also got a metallic gold I choose based on the color. For paint brushes, I also went with a variety pack so that I could choose which would work for different parts of the paintings. Getting a variety also means that I will have what I need for future projects!
Making it a Surprise
When I started this project, I hadn’t told my husband that I had decided on a name for our unborn son. He was absolutely in love with a name and I kept being indecisive. Our fourth anniversary was approaching as I can to a decision and so I thought it would be fun to announce it to him on our anniversary by showing him the painted letter. I knew it was going to be tough to paint a Peter Pan themed letter, especially having very little confidence in my painting abilities, but I was willing to give it a try.
I started by painting the “N” with a twilight blue color that I made by mixing black in with my blue paint. Then, I made a Peter Pan silhouette stencil by sketching it out on paper and cutting it out. I laid this down where I wanted it and painted white around it in a large arch to create the moon. When I lifted the paper stencil, I was left with the Peter Pan outline I wanted against the moon. I touched it up and painted over it with black to make it more like a shadow. Then, using a light grey I made mixing white and black, I painted some shadows on the moon to make it more realistic and some stars across the twilight sky using white. As a finishing touch, I took a metallic gold paint and painted Tinkerbell and some fairy dust coming off of her wand.
I’m so happy with how this one turned out and completely surprised myself. I guess I’m better at painting than I thought! My husband was so thrilled when I showed him the letter. Not only did we finally have a name, but he was also really impressed with how it turned out.
Including my Toddler
For the letter “D”, I wanted to include my toddler since it was for his room. I thought it would make it a little more special if he helped. His room is transportation themed, so I started by painting the letter to look like a road using black and white paint.
Then, we had a little fun. I took some bright colors and broke out the hot wheels and we painted tire tracks using the hot wheels! To do this, we simply rolled the cars in some paint and then rolled them on the “road” I had painted on the letter. My son had a lot of fun doing this and painting with hot wheels (and other cars) is a new fun craft we like to do together!
At first, I wasn’t sure if I liked how it came out. Having a toddler help paint means it isn’t going to be the “cleanest” looking product. However, the first time he saw it and looked at me smiling and said “I did that”, I knew it had to stay! So, I decided to put some little final touches on and hot glued some cars onto the road. In the end, I’m happy with how it came out and it’s really special how he helped and is so proud of it!
Finishing Up
To make sure that the paint doesn’t get messed up, I made sure to seal it. To do this, I use a clear spray paint that will coat the paint and protect it without covering it or messing it up. It has to be a thin, even coat of spray paint and really makes a difference in creating a final product that will last!
I’m really happy with how these turned out and think it’s a really fun, personal way to decorate their doors. They both relate to the theme of their rooms and are unique pieces of art that mom made for (and with) them.
Letters like these can be made for any theme and for any name. I think it’s very special to try and do them yourself, but if you don’t want to and are interested in me making one for your kid(s), you can email me for a custom quote!
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55 Comments
shanna
so cute!
Kat
Thanks!
Monica
Love this idea. Your letters came out great. Also ps your logo is awesome!
Kat
Thank you so much!
Lacey
Thanks for sharing.
Jennifer
This is such a cute idea! I love that the kids can get involved as well!
Kat
Thank you!
Tina
These are so adorable, and such a nice way to add that bit of personality to their space!
Kat
Thank you!
T.M. Brown
Oh, I love this!!! This was something I wanted to do when my boys were younger, but just never got around to doing it. Very creative ~ love the Peter Pan one!
Kat
Thank you! It’s hard to find the time to do stuff like this, I totally understand! I have plans for so many more projects than I will ever complete!
Annette
I love to personalize my kiddos items. This is a great idea!
Kat
Thank you!
Merav
Love a good art project! Came or cute!
Kat
Thanks! Me too!
Ashley Reese
I like how creative you got with decorating the letters! I wouldn’t have even thought to paint anything beyond a solid color! I need to try this!
Kat
I’m sure they will come out great!
Naomi
Love this! My son and I would enjoy decorating his room together. He is getting a big boy room makeover soon and I will do the wooden letter with the hot wheel cars. Such a neat idea.
Kat
Thanks! It was a lot of fun to do together!
Christa
These are adorable! I love how you can personalize them to suit a personalty or decorating theme.
Kat
Thank you! I really enjoy making them.
Candi Randolph
Really clever, simple and colorful…perfect for a kid’s room!
Kat
Thank you!
gail
OMG, your designs are so cute!
Kat
Thank you!
Kirsten
What a great idea!
Kat
Thanks!
Ili
This is such a cute idea. I love how creative you can be… and allowing kids to join in makes it so much more fun. I love your Peter Pan letter… It’s amazing!!!
Kat
Thank you so much! I enjoy doing it.
Laura Belle
This is such a cool idea. I always see the cool letters at the store and always wanted to buy them for my kids. I never thought of making my own.
Kat
It’s much cheaper to make them yourself!
Samantha
I love them! I think they would make cute gifts too.
Kat
Yes they would! I can make them to fit different themes as well.
Katy
Great idea to seal it at the end! Keep those precious creations forever!
Kat
Exactly! Thank you!
Erin
So cute and such a fun way to give a kid’s a bedroom that personal touch.
Kat
Thank you!
Ina @ Crafty For Home
This is fun and brilliant, love the idea to glue the hot wheel on it!
Kat
Thank you! It was a lot of fun!
Deanna
Super fun project, love the race car letter!
Kat
Thank you!
Laurie @ www.lifewithasideoftheunexpected.com
I love this – so bright and colorful! And it’s great that you can put your own spin on the design.
Kat
Thank you!
Pam
I did letters like that for my son when he was a little boy – he’s since moved to a more “grown-up” room, but it was actually easy and fun!
Kat
I agree! I had a lot of fun doing these!
Sarah
That Peter Pan letter is amazing! And love your little guy’s contribution. Great job!
Kat
Thank you so much!
Maria
Wow! I don’t think I’m this creative! But what a fun craft to do for kids’ rooms. Also your Peter Pan is spot on!!
Kat
Thank you so much! If you have an idea for one you can always order one from me!
Cindy
Omg! The Peter Pan one is life! I can’t wait to do these for my LO. I’m such a crafter. Love this.
The cars one- we will defienlty do!
Kat
Thanks! I had a lot of fun doing them!
Kristi @ Way Beyond The Norm
My girls love doing this for their rooms. They change them out every year or so. You did an AMAZING job on the Peter Pan! And such a cute idea hot gluing the cars on the ‘D’. I think I need the 50 paint brushes. Seems like we go thru tons of them.
Kat
Thank you! I go through a lot as well. I try to keep some paint brushes away from my son, but it doesn’t always work.
Mom
So creative and fun!! Great job!!
Kat
Thanks!