https://www.cutoutandkeep.net/projects/marquee-bar-sign • Posted by Cat Morley
I've made 3D letters by hand in the past, which took ages and looked a little shabby. Using the Silhouette Portrait cutting machine for this bar sign, speeded up the project, saving me hours and gave the lights a professional even finish. The letters are made from red card, mirrorboard and a set of RAMSTA diamond fairy lights from Ikea with the total cost was less than $20 (£15).
I've made 3D letters by hand in the past, which took ages and looked a little shabby. Using the Silhouette Portrait cutting machine for this bar sign, speeded up the project, saving me hours and gave the lights a professional even finish. The letters are made from red card, mirrorboard and a set of RAMSTA diamond fairy lights from Ikea with the total cost was less than $20 (£15).
Open the B, A and R template files (see attachments) in Silhouette Studio and cut on thick red card. Please note: You may need to cut some extra strips for the edges but you can use the cut strips to help you measure them.
Peel off the first letter.
Punch out the holes for the lights.
If you're using string lights that have a thicker light than will fit through the hole (and that don't pop off easily), snip a line from the outer edge to the hole.
Slip the lights through the holes.
Secure the lights so that they sit tightly in their holes. You can use hot glue but I just taped them with packing tape at the back.
Continue stringing the lights through each of your letters.
Now peel off the strips for the edges and glue mirror board to the reverse side. Pritt Stick worked well for this.
Work out how the strips will fit around the letters and bend in the correct places to give them a 3D shape.
Hot glue your strips around the edge of the letter.
This bit is the trickiest and takes the most time. Don't worry if it looks a little scrappy at first, we'll be putting an outlines on it which will make it look a lot nicer in a few steps.
Use packing tape to neaten up the wires from the lights at the back of your letters.
Open the B&R Outline and A Outline template files (see attachments) in Silhouette Studio and cut out on mirrorboard. Glue to the front of your letters.
Mount your bar sign, turn on and enjoy! To mount our side, we covered two strips of thin wood in mirrorboard and then hot glued the letters in place.