Perfect for every runner in your life, this simple race bib display tutorial will have you making unique race bib displays for every runner on your gift list. At less than $5 per bib display, this is a unique way for your runner friends to showcase their race bibs and for you to create a personalized gift your friend will treasure for years to come. All you need are scrap wood, cup hooks, paint, vinyl, and race bibs!
I am a runner. Like most runners, I love to talk about running. One key component to a great running program is balancing your family, work, and life goals in a way that works best for you. In December of 2015, I set a goal to complete a half marathon. By focusing on my goal, and making small adjustments to my schedule, I completed my first half marathon in February of 2015 and went on to run two more!
There is more to training for a half marathon than simply running a lot of miles. You need to get a lot of sleep. Hydration is key and you probably aren’t drinking enough water; aim for drinking at least half of your body weight in ounces each day. You must fuel your body well. MorningStar Farms® Veggie Bowls are a great choice for runners and non-runners alike! Veggie Bowls are quick, easy and help me stay on my healthier lifestyle journey.
MorningStar Farms Veggie Bowls are not only for vegetarians—they are for everyone! Available in five delicious varieties, there is a different cuisine for every night of the week. Be sure to look for Chik’n Pot Pie, Chik’n Tikka Masala, Italian Sausage Bake, Japanese Soba Noodles, and Moroccan Medley in the freezer section of your neighborhood Walmart.
During my half marathon training, I also ran 5K and 10K races. With each race, I accumulated another race bib. On the back of each race bib, I would write the date and my time in permanent marker. The only problem was I didn’t have a place to store show off my race bibs. That’s where this easy race bib tutorial comes in!
If you’re a runner, or know someone who is a runner, they will love this gift! It’s a thoughtful way to let them know you appreciate their commitment to a healthy lifestyle; and provides them with a useful gift. So, whether you need a Christmas gift, a hostess gift, or a birthday gift for your favorite runner, you can’t go wrong with a race bib display!
Supplies needed to make a race bib display:
1 piece of wood cut to 1 X 10 X 12, lightly sanded
2 cup hooks, 3/4 of an inch
Saw Tooth Hanger(s)
Vinyl design, you can create your own using an electronic cutting machine or purchase pre-cut vinyl designs from the craft section
Transfer paper
Burnishing tool, such as a credit card
Two coordinating paint colors
Foam paint brushes
Race bib(s)
Electronic die-cutting machine
Tweezers
Decoupage Medium, optional
Making a Race Bib Display
If you haven’t already, cut your wood to size and pre-drill the holes for the cup hooks.
The first step to making a race bib display is to paint your background color. I want my sign to have white letters on a blue background.
While the paint was drying, I designed the phrase I wanted to put on my sign. Then, I cut out the phrase using the Silhouette electronic cutting machine. If you do not have an electronic cutting machine, you may carefully cut your phrase out using a sharp crafting knife. Please, please be very careful as those blades are extremely sharp. After the phrase is cut, remove the unwanted vinyl from the design. This process is called weeding.
This next step can be a little tricky, so take your time. Place Place a piece of transfer paper on top of the vinyl phrase. Using your burnishing tool, smooth it out. Use light pressure, you want to ensure the transfer paper adheres to the vinyl well. Then, gently pull the transfer paper up at a 45 degree angle to remove the adhesive vinyl from the backing.
Affix the vinyl to the wood board you painted earlier. Smooth out the edge and rub them well to ensure they are sealed. Grab your burnishing tool again and rub well to ensure a smooth seal.
I like to seal the edges of my vinyl with a thin coat of the background color. Doing this helps to prevent the majority of bleeding of the second color if your vinyl isn’t well attached to the wood board. Let the paint dry before moving on to the next step.
Using long strokes and a clean foam brush, apply the second color of paint to your sign. Don’t be afraid to paint over your vinyl design. Remember, that’s your stencil. You want the lettering of the phrase to pop. In order for that to happen, you need to paint over the vinyl design. Paint the second coat as dark as you’d like. You could start with one lighter coat and add a second coat if you’d like. Either way, let it dry compeltely before moving on to the next step.
Peel the vinyl design from your sign. I like to use tweezers for this step.
Attach the cup holders to the pre-drilled holes.
The last step is to attach saw tooth hangers to the back. [Optional: If you’d like, paint a thin layer of decoupage medium over your sign to seal it before attaching the saw tooth hangers. Typically, I only seal designs that are intended to be hung outside. If you do seal it with decoupage medium, be sure that it is compeltely dry before attaching the saw tooth hangers to the back.]
I’d love to hear about your healthy lifestyle goals for 2017. Will you be incorporating a Meatless Monday into your meal plan? Let me know your goals for 2017 by leaving a comment below!
