Cut Out + Keep

Marquee Bar Sign

Light up your cocktail bar with a marquee letter bar sign.

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).

You will need

Project Budget
Cheap

Time

4 h 00

Difficulty

So-so
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Description

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).

Instructions

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    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.

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    Peel off the first letter.

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    Punch out the holes for the lights.

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    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.

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    Slip the lights through the holes.

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    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.

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    Continue stringing the lights through each of your letters.

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    Now peel off the strips for the edges and glue mirror board to the reverse side. Pritt Stick worked well for this.

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    Work out how the strips will fit around the letters and bend in the correct places to give them a 3D shape.

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    Hot glue your strips around the edge of the letter.

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    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.

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    Use packing tape to neaten up the wires from the lights at the back of your letters.

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    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.

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    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.