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No Comments 3 Dimensional Signs Now Shipping To Las Vegas
Sending Signs To Las Vegas For The First Time
It often seen as a pinnacle in a signmaker’s career to have one of their signs installed in Las Vegas. After 20 years in business The Sign Depot is thrilled to announce we now have reached that goal. Last month we created a vintage-look 3 dimensional sign for Hearthstone Kitchen & Cellar Restaurant located at the Red Rock Casino Resort.
Our Work Is A Reflection Of Your Business And Of Our Craftsmanship
Peter Moir, owner here at Sign Depot always states that the signs we make are a reflection of the business we develop it for, and shows just how talented our expert signmakers are. This often results in calls from companies saying they saw a sign they liked and asked the owner where they got it made and are contacting us to see if we could make a similar one for them. That is the way this signage project for Hearthstone came about. The design team from Munge Leung contacted us about a client of theirs that wanted a sign like the one we created for Gusto 101. That phone call led to the 3 dimensional sign for Hearthstone Kitchen & Cellar.
Finding The Right Fit With Custom Fabrication And Finishes
Creating this vintage looking sign had multiple steps.
1. Custom cut script was created and finished
2. Cut out individual letters were also part of the business name on the sign
3. The letters were affixed to a custom crafted backer
4. Faux rust finish was applied
5. The sign was fitted with LEDs
This is how it looks now that it has been installed in Las Vegas.
This project became quite a grand showpiece for the restaurant, which opened just recently, and we anticipate it will be successful addition to this travel destination.
For more information on how we can work with your on a custom 3 dimensional sign, sure to visit our CONTACT US page, and if you happen to find yourself in Las Vegas be sure to tweet us a pic of you with the Hearthtone Kitchen & Cellar sign!
Gold Leaf Gilding Gilt
Although the above terms are the same by definition according to Wikipedia
The term gilding covers a number of decorative techniques for applying fine gold leaf or powder to solid surfaces such as wood, stone, or metal to give a thin coating of gold. A gilded object is described as “gilt”.
Here at The Sign Depot it meant we would be Gilding a Sign for Gilt Restaurant with Gold Leaf.
Getting Ready To Glisten
The dimensional sign for Gilt Restaurant began with CNC cutting the structure for the custom sign
and then the gilded finish was applied to the sign give it the shine that can only be acheived by 23 karat gold leaf.
Not only does gold leaf attract the attention of passers-by, it is an finish that withstand the elements which makes it a great choice for an outdoor sign.
Additionally the custom sign for Gilt Restaurant was equiped with LEDs to ensure that the sign would glisten both day an night.
Once assembled the exterior sign was prepped for installation
After the sign was affixed to the building exterior, temporary signage was displayed in the window to build buzz about the restaurant for downtown core.
For more examples of the types of signs we make for dining establishements, be sure to visit our Restaurant Signs gallery. If you are looking for gold leaf sign then contact us first! I think you’ll take a shine to us!
Thanks @TheSignDepot we absolutely love our sign! #amazing #kwawesome #openingsoon pic.twitter.com/zxbavv6mVq
— Gilt Restaurant (@giltrestaurant) August 26, 2014Signs That Cottage Season Is Over For Another Year
Signing Off On Cottage Season
Being a company that makes custom cottage signs, we thought this news may come easier from us. We wanted to let you know that cottage season is once again coming to close. While you may not want to believe it, we have proof.
Signs That Cottage Season Is Over For Another Year
Normally the signs that cottage season is ending and fall is beginning include leaves turning red
and geese flying south for the winter.
This is not the case this year. In case you missed it, The Weather Network posted this image on their facebook page yesterday (Sept 10 2014) of the conditions happening in Calgary.
We think this is one of the biggest warning signs we have that it is time to prepare the cottage for the winter. Last year we provided you 5 Websites To Help You Close Your Cottage For The Winter and with the unpredictable weather we thought it would be best to give you some more places to look for information on winterizing your cottage.
More Websites To Help You Close Your Cottage For The Winter
- Cottage Closing Electrical Safety Tips
- Cottage Closing Checklist From Hydro One
- Seasons from The Practical Cottager
- Winterizing Your Cottage from Trusted Pros
- Winterizing Your Summer Cabin Or Vacation Home
The tips above are give you a good idea about the workload ahead of you when prep your family cottage for the winter season. Our tip is to protect your exterior custom cottage sign from winter damage by following these steps
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Wash it with soap and water. A mild liquid dish detergent will do the trick
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Let it dry
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Give it a polish with a spray car wax (ie Turtle Wax)
This will add luster to the wood sign and serve as a protectant against the winter elements.
So while we have you thinking of winter, we just want to remind you that Personalized Cottage Signs make great Christmas Gifts and it’s never too early to CONTACT US and get your order in!
Custom Crafted Beer Signs – International Beer Day
The First Friday In August Is International Beer Day
Being located in Canada’s Home of Oktoberfest, we know how popular beer is in Canada. With Oktoberfest just being a few months away, International Beer Day is a great way to gear up for our local Bavarian festival. Here at The Sign Depot we are very familar with lots of Canadian breweries both big companies and small local crafted beer, along with the restaurants that serve their beverages. We decided today would be a great day to display some of the custom crafted beer signs we have created over the years.
Crafted Beer Signs
When it come to the big beer brewers in Canada the most well know brand is Molson Canadian.
We have crafted several beer signs for Molsons over the years, but one of the most recognizable one would be the one situated in Air Canada Centre.
Smaller craft breweries also come to us for signs that will help then stand out from their competitors. Recently Innocente Brewing Company opened it’s doors in Waterloo Ontario and a custom wood sign was one of the tools they used to brand this new beer company.
Restaurant and Pub Signs
When it comes to establishments that serve ale and lager, there is quite a variety of crafted beer signs that fit the bill.
To learn more be sure to read our post Custom Pub Signs – Traditional VS Modern. There you will learn why custom crafted and personalization of pub signs is of tremendous importance.
How You Celebrate International Beer Day
Do you have plans for International Beer Day? Celebrating could mean checking out a local patio or gathering friends at the cottage! Grabbing a pint is custom on long weekends and being that International Beer Day falls on the Civic Holiday Long weekend here in Ontario Canada we raise a glass to you, however you choose to celebrate. Cheers everyone!
An Artistic Sign For Director Ivan Reitman’s Montecito Restaurant
Need An Artistic Sign? Who You Gonna Call?
We were thrilled to get the call that we had been chosen to manufacture an artistic sign for Ghostbusters director Ivan Reitman’s Montecito Restaurant in Toronto Ontario.
As mentioned in the Ottawa Citizen article Montecito, it is named after his production company, and can be found in the heart of Toronto’s entertainment district. It will be located close to the Toronto International Film Festival hub the TIFF Bell Lightbox. With TIFF releasing their 2014 film lineup earlier today the timing is just right for the opening of Montecito.
Bringing Something Unique To The Area
Restaurant co-owner Jonathan Waxman took a unique approach to the fare being served and will focus the menu around Canadian sourced ingredients. We also took a creative approach and created a sign as unique as the restaurant itself. Finding a way to bring artistic elements to a metal sign can be quite a challenge, but by using a few creative sign-making techniques the project came together nicely. It began with a metal sign with a dark distressed-look finish to resemble patina (otherwise know as a weathered material).
The restaurant’s graphic logo resembles the trees in this ariel shot of Montecito California
and in order to make it a focal point for the sign the image was hand engraved into the metal sign.
Additionally the name Montecito was cut out of the sign to leave room for the amber lit LEDs to shine through. The sign was then installed on the exterior of the building to let customers know that they are now open for business.
Recipe For Success
The upscale atmosphere for the restaurant in the artistic entertainment distric of Toronto will be a great fit, but they aren’t taking themselves too seriously. See what we mean in the Toronto Star article where you can see a Ghostbusters inspired recipe for a Staypuff dessert.
Looking for an artisitc sign for your business? Be sure to visit our CONTACT US page and let us know we have peaked your interest! By sending us the size, shape, text you require we can get a custom sign quote off to you right away!
Customer Referrals And Custom Business Signs
Why Waterloo Smiles Custom Business Sign Makes Us So Enthusiastic
Last month we installed the custom business sign for Robins Goldsmithing. During this process Waterloo Smiles was in the midst of moving in to the same building. They spoke with Robins Goldsmithing in regards to who was creating their signs and Robins Goldsmithing gave them our name. We often have companies let us know they were referred to us by others who said they had a great experience working with us. We here at The Sign Depot think that is the best testimonial we can receive. We take pride in creating custom signs that exceed our clients’ expectations, and knowing they passing the word on about our work to others brings our enthusiasm about signs to a whole new level.
Putting A Smile On The Face Of A Sign
The exterior sign for Waterloo Smiles was mix of sign manufacturing techniques. Acrylic push through letters were lit with white LEDs to stand out from the black finished sign face. This mix of materials created contrast for this eye-catching outdoor sign which was then installed on the front of the building to create an inviting entrance-way.
As you can see by the comments in post from Waterloo Smiles facebook page, we aren’t the only ones excited about this custom business sign going up!
As you can tell the Waterloo Smiles sign put a big smile on our faces! We want to know what puts a smile on your face? What are you most proud of? Let us know! Leave a comment below, send us a tweet or post on our facebook page. We always enjoy connecting! Go ahead show us that smile again!
Great Custom Signs Get To Share The Spotlight
Creating A Custom Sign For A Vintage Landmark
It’s hard to believe that 2 years have already gone by from when we created the custom sign for the exterior of Gusto101 in Toronto. The Going For The Gusto post was a step by step look at how the sign was created and given a custom faux rust finish to match the vintage building it where it would be situated, but there is much more to the story of Gusto101.
Adding To The Atmosphere
When it comes to custom restaurant signs we know that signage plays a big part in creating an atmosphere around a location from the exterior of the building to the architectural interior. Gusto101 took it one step further and made their vintage look sign part of their brand. They choose to celebrate the former car garage location and keep reminders of days gone by while adding modern day touches like a retractable patio roof. The mix of traditional vs modern works in there favour and they chose to celebrate their unique establishment with a video.
I’m sure you can see why we really like this video. Seeing the Gusto101 sign go from day to night gives a great representation of how important your custom sign is. It is a 24 hour advertisment for your business and it can elevate your company’s brand.
Finding The Right Fit
When it comes to finding the right sign to fit both your business and your budget , our professional sign makers can assist you with several choices to streamline the sign design, permit, manufacturing and installation processes. Being a full service sign shop our sign experts can suggest ways to customize the look of your sign and give it the unique style your business deserves. Be sure to visit our Contact Us page to request your quote for your own custom crafted sign.
Top Ten Picks For Custom Wood Signs And Personalized Christmas Gifts
Be Prepared For The Holiday Season With Custom Signs And Personalized Gifts
Even though we are still far from the winter season, always have the gift giving season in mind. We thought we would give you some ideas for those on your shopping list. Sending a custom sign or personalized gift can be a great way to do your Christmas shopping without ever having to step into mall.
Top 10 Picks For This Christmas
Because all of our signs are custom built in our workshop, the possibilities are almost endless. Here are our top picks for the upcoming Christmas season.
1. Custom Wood Cottage Signs – Our custom sandblasted cedar signs are always a great choice for the cottagers on your Christmas list. You choose the size, shape, colour, text and graphics. We have requests for scenery, pets and even unicorns!
2. Stone Garden Signs – If you know someone with a green thumb, then you know how much they would appreciate a stone garden sign or a granite path marker. These items have the choice of text and graphic with one paint colour choice
3. Residential Welcome Signs – Always ensure your are welcome to great holiday events! Welcome signs and address numbers are fantastic presents for new home owners and also great hostess gifts
4. Interior Bar and Pub Signs – Do you know someone who takes pride in their bar, den or “man cave”? Perhaps a pub-style sign of their favorite beverage company would that finishing touch.
5. Family Heirlooms – Looking for something to pass down from generation to generation? A Moirs Toboggan may do the trick! Add a family crest to your Moirs Toboggan to personalize this winter themed gift.
6. Handcrafted Games – If you are looking for one of kind gift, we have our new toss games added to our lineup of custom wood gifts. These can be manufactured with any graphic which makes them great for corporate gifts and organization fundraising games.
7. Wall Decals – Our vinyl wall decals can easily transform any room. Why not give the recipient the gift of their favorite quote? They are easy to ship and can be applied without any hardware required.
8. Interior Decor Items – Big or small we can create 3 dimensional decor items and artistic signs that fit the bill. Whether it is natural stained wood or a custom finished ornamental piece our designers will find what fits with your decorating scheme.
9. Personalized Chalkboards – These make great kitchen gifts for aspiring chefs and creative cooks! They are also fantastic for kids. You never know what the little aspiring artists will come up with. With two options of handpainted chalkboards and projects with chalkboard vinyl we are sure you will find something that meets your needs and your budget.
10. Recognition Awards – Need gifts for your corporate donors, staff or maybe your sports team? Our custom recognition awards are always well received and show how much you appreciate receipients.
Have another idea in mind? Visit our Contact Us page and connect with one of our expert signmakers. As you can see by the image below we can create any Holly Jolly Christmas gifts to fit your gift-giving style and even some that may have trouble fitting under the tree!
Christmas Is Coming!
Are you wondering why we are talking about Christmas already? We want to ensure your order is completed and arrives in time. Custom signs require a lot of detail and we want to exceed your expectations when it comes to our craftsmanship, so be sure to order early and make this a holiday season to remember.
Custom Vehicle Graphics Are Not Just For Cars
Promotional Graphics For A Custom Food Festival Vehicle
Is your promotional vehicle giving your brand all the credit it deserves? David from Bread Heads decided very quickly that his Wood Fired Pizza Trailer needed to be branded better. He was already creating a lot of buzz at outdoor festivals with his unique trailer but quickly realized that highway travelers were taking a second look as he was towing it to or from the festival site.
Big Branding Design Decisions
David came to The Sign Depot for assistance in branding his promotional vehicle as well as his company Bread Heads. Without having a true logo for his business, Adam (Sign Depot Designer) was able to come up with a concept that would work as vehicle graphics and transfer well into custom business signage for David.
A Fully Customized Festival Vehicle
When we say fully customized we mean it featured custom designed vinyl vehicle decals and a custom paint finish achieved by Ben otherwise know as our Vinyl Master.
With the large white decal text on the red vehicle the info stands out very well.
For the upper part of the vehicle a vinyl stencil was layed down and painted over to use the negative space as a way to highlight the designed logo.
Following?
Are you following them on the road or following them on twitter? Either way the info relayed on this promotional vehicle will help you find out where Bread Heads is heading to next.
Having a clear message that can be relayed through signs gives passers-by a way to contact or connect with your business. If you wish to connect with us, leave a comment below, follow us on twitter or post on our facebook page.
Thanks to The Sign Depot for doing a great job on the trailer! Look for us on the road to Simcoe tomorrow. pic.twitter.com/evAO6iYf9d
— Bread Heads (@heybreadheads) August 22, 2013
We would love to help you with your vehicle graphics whether it be for one car, or a fleet of busineess vehicles. We think you’ll be happy with the results too!
Custom City Signs Reflect An Area’s Best Attributes
City Branding and Custom Signs
This week I noticed a lively conversation on facebook regarding City Signs. The conversation began with Chris Farais of Kitestring‘s status about Hamilton Ontario and the CBC Post about City Signs. The CBC Show Me A Sign post talks about one person’s plight to have a Welcome sign created for Hamilton. Chris, being a strategic branding brings, up the question about what would best represent Hamilton Ontario on a city welcome sign? Should it reflect the historic attractions of the city or highlight things to come.
Our answer would be a long one which is what inspired me to write this post about custom signs in regards to welcome signs for communities and attractions.
Over the years we have created many custom signs for cities, attractions and heritage sites. Each one is very unique as the location itself. It serves the purpose of wayfinding but also foreshadows what people can expect from the locale. The graphics, text, font and choice of colours indicate what the sign is representing and in turn becomes a reflection of the site. In other words it serves as a first impression for that area’s brand.
Custom Sign Creations
The Clappinson Corner sign features a wagon wheel with spokes representing all the different areas that converge on one hub which is a reflection of their historic geographical area.
Tillsonburg’s Downtown combination of custom cedar and digital signage serves as an information centre while letting passersby know about the architecture of the area. This gives it both a traditional and modern feel.
Quinte West chose to focus their custom sign around their natural areas and that it why it is framed with log posts
New Dundee Ontario chose to mark the Doug Fischer Park with landmark sign that includes donor recognition
The Welcome To Dundas sign features the establishment of the area while not intruding on the surroundings, but instead complementing the garden where it resides.
While the Puslinch sign was created as a very tall pylon sign to capture the attention of the highway traffic and let them know about the local area.
As you can see there are several options when it comes to creating custom city signs. The city signs vaired by location, sign permit regulations and industrial locates. They are highly visiable without becoming an eye sore for the area. It is important to think about the surroundings when you decide on a permanent location for custom created sign. A great background can bring a sign to the forefront and be a great addition to a community.
Thanks to Chris for getting this conversation started and getting the residents in Hamilton engaged on the topic of their city signs. We look forward to seeing where this discussion leads.
What are some of your favorite City Signs? Let us know in the comments below or better yet post a picture of it on our facebook page! If we get enough we will dedicate a Pinterest Board to the images that are sent in.
