Joy Marquee sign

So it started with a trip to one of the major hardware stores in November.   I saw a workshop being advertised to make a joy marquee sign.   I asked an associate if you made it that night and he said yes.   I was excited to go and make it.  I even invited 2 of my friends to go.     We were all excited.    Well our excitement turned to disappointment when we learned at the workshop that you didn't get to make the project just watch an associate make it.  We were told that we could spend 100s on supplies and tools and do it ourself.     Well we along with most of the other ladies that were there left the store once we realized that we in fact were not making the sign.   I was hugely disappointed that we didn't make it that night and that I probably wasn't going to make it cause I didn't have the tools or was not going to purchase them either.  

I thought about it and made up my mind that wasn't going to happen.  Not this crafty girl!!!!   I put my thinking cap on and thought how to "do this" without all those tools. 

  I came up with the idea to use a premade chalk board from Hobby Lobby.  It was already framed and the background was there to hold the letters for marquee.   It was $7.99 reg price.    I left mine the original chalkboard on my finished project but you can paint it if you would like.    I used the cardboard and chipboard letters from Hobby Lobby too.  

All supplies that I used to make mine.  The 

Chalkboard 

J and Y cardboard letter 

O chipboard  letter

Marquee lights 

Mod podge 

Glitter extra fine gold/silver mix

Foam Brushes

Red paint 

Hot glue

Drill 

Ink pad

Small wooden block

Ducktape 

I seperated the balls from the lights so I could figure out the placement on the "O".  Once I had them laid out how I wanted them to look and spaced on the "o".  I stamped the end of the bulb with ink to make a mark for drilling the holes.  

My husband drilled the holes for me.   He doesn't want me to play with his "toys".   so I let him do it.    When you drill the holes...don't panic the holes aren't pretty.   It doesn't matter cause the holes will be behind the light bulbs and no one can see them anyways.   It will be our secret.    

Told ya... Not pretty!!!!

One the holes are drilled.     Glitter the letters.  I used the Modge Podge to glue the glitter on the letters.     

*****warning glitter is so sparkly and pretty but it is the herpes of crafty supplies and you will have sparkles EVERYWHERE!!!!***** 

   Place the lights through the holes and hot glue the bulbs in place over the lights.     You will have to ducktape the cord in place on the backside of the letter like this so you can't see it once glued down to the board.    

Next you have to drill a hole in the chalkboard for your lights to go through the board.      You want to line the hole behind the "o" so you don't see it.   The hole should be at the bottom so you can plug it in.   When I assembled it I thought I could hot glue it to the board and it would stay.   It didn't.    I used a small wood block at the top of the "o" and hot glued that to the "o" and the chalkboard.     

Next just glue the J and Y to the board and you are done.   

  

I was going to leave it like this and be done but it just didn't seem finished to me.   I pained the trim with some red acrylic paint.  

Close up of the Marquee and lights.  

I love how it turned out.    It only cost me less than $20 to make it.    Take that big Hardware store!!!!!!   I did it myself!!!!

May you find JOY this holiday season.   

Love, Andrea & Tia