Usually I’m showing you how to paint different projects. Sometimes I show you some of the insider tips for running a paint party business. Today I’m touching on the business side of things to show you how I do my porch leaner sign prep.
The key to any successful event lies in the planning and prep work. The same is true for hosting paint parties, which are short events where you want to maximize your customers’ enjoyment.
Why do people pay for and come to paint parties?
Hint: it’s NOT about painting! People pay you to come to paint parties so they can relax and have a good time with their friends. That’s how it starts, and, if you do it well, painting becomes an outlet for life.
This means you have the potential to create repeat customers from every event you host!
Why is porch leaner sign prep work important?
For most people, the fun part is in the creativity. Painting is the fun part! Preparing to paint…well, that’s work. But it has to be done so that the painting can happen in a short window of time.
Paint parties are short events that usually only last an hour or two. Prep work takes time and there’s no way that your customers will have enough time to do the prep work AND paint and enjoy drinks (and snacks) in that kind of time.
Since the appeal of paint parties for people is the fun part, I do a lot of prep work before my parties in order to let my customers do what they came to do: enjoy the evening.
Prep work is involved for every kind of paint party that I hold. When we do canvases, I take the time to prep canvases.
And when we make leaner signs, I prep those. If I leave that work to the customers, it eats up their paint party time and they don’t have time to do the actual painting.
What Porch Leaner Sign Prep Looks Like
Part of my prep work for a porch leaner sign paint party is to stain my porch leaners. The reason I do that is two-fold:
- it gives your customers an option to use the stained board or to paint over it for a rustic look
- doing the staining ahead of time saves your customers about 30-45 minutes so that they can finish their painting on time
Seeing all the smiles on your customers’ faces makes the prep work totally worth it!
Tips For Good Porch Leaner Sign Prep
- Use a paintbrush to get stain onto your sign. Spread it out a little bit.
- Grab baby wipes and use them to spread the stain around. They help the stain go on faster and smoother so that you can use less stain.
- Embrace the prep work – put some inspiring music on and enjoy the process.
- Get excited! It’s up to you to provide a fun event – getting into an excited mindset starts the party off on the right foot.
Leaner Designs You Can Make
- Easy Summer Porch Decor (DIY Porch Leaner)
- Sunflower Porch Leaner
- Paint A Sunflower Fall Porch Leaner
- Watermelon GLITTER Summertime Porch Leaner
Do you know what to prepare ahead of time? If you need help with doing prep work like a champ, Paint Party Headquarters is the perfect place for you!
What wood and stain do you use?
Hi Denita! On these porch leaners I used General Finishes Glaze Effect water based stain in Van Dyke Brown. But, you can use any water based stain 💜
Hi! I was wondering if you could tell me if I am able to use rough cut dried fir with live edges to make porch leaners? Someone gave me a bunch of these boards and I thought they might be beautiful if prepared properly.
Hi Nancy!
Possibly! I would try one first and see. 💕
Where do you get te wood for the signs
Hi Cynthia!
I get them at my local Home Improvement Store, like a Lowe’s or Home Depot.
-Heidi
Just starting out making porch signs.
I have used chalk paint to cover the boards & to stencil with. My main problem is when I go to seal with a brush on sealer. The letters or design streak. I have tried waxing before applying sealer & sometimes it helps. Its hard yo use spray sealer because uneven coverage & the fumes,vif doing indoors. Should I use acrylic paint or mineral paint instead?
That’s such a great question. Sealing porch signs can definitely be tricky! Chalk paint tends to reactivate when you brush over it with a liquid sealer, which causes the letters or designs to streak.
You might try using acrylic paint for your stencils and lettering since it’s a bit tougher and less likely to smear. You can still use chalk paint for your background if you like that matte look.
For sealing, I recommend a clear, water-based polyurethane in matte or satin finish. Apply it with a foam or soft brush using long, gentle strokes, and avoid going over the same spot too many times. Let your paint dry a full 24–48 hours before sealing to keep it from lifting.
If you prefer spray sealers, go with light coats outdoors or in a ventilated space. Several light layers give a smoother finish than one heavy coat. Also, skip the wax before sealing because it can keep the sealer from sticking properly.
Acrylic paint plus a gentle water-based sealer usually gives the best streak-free results for porch signs.