class="tag"Posts Tagged ‘outdoor’
No Comments This Restaurant Sign Needed a Passport Stamp of Approval
Dimensional Restaurant Signs
Last year the owner of PASSPORT SIPS + TAPAS contacted us after being inspired by our barn board signs post and wanted something similar but with a few minor changes to fit their brand. Their visual marketing strategy is to connect their branding to the “passport stamp” within their logo using a dimensional restaurant sign to make it very eye-catching. In order to accomplish this, the sign makers here at The Sign Depot created this exterior sign from two different materials to create the style that Passport Sips + Tapas was looking for.
Creating the Passport Sips + Tapas Custom Sign
This sign was mix of pine wood and outdoor PVC. The first step was to create a pine wood backer, then distress the wood. Two different hues were used when finishing the wood to give it more dimension. Next the individual PVC letters and logo were cut out on our CNC router table and given an outdoor paint finish with minor distressing done to the paint. As you can see in the image below the letters were prepared for pin mount installation on to the wood sign backer.
The last part of the sign project was to insert the passport stamp image into the letter “O” in the word passport to make it the focal point of the sign.
Next the sign was assembled and prepped for shipping, which included a custom made wood case to ensure the sign arrived safely.
The Passport That Crossed The Border
Here at The Sign Depot, we manufacture many signs that are shipped into the United States. We just thought it was such a fun play on words that we were fabricating a sign with the word PASSPORT that would be crossing border. Now it is great to see from their Instagram page that their restaurant is in full swing and the sign provides a welcoming entrance-way to the establishment.
With more that 25 years experience creating custom restaurant signs, we look forward to assisting with your upcoming sign projects. Visit our CONTACT US page to connect with us!
DIY Backyard Games – Great Ideas For Your Cottage or Cabin
Crafty Ideas For Your Cottage / Cabin Life
Here at The Sign Depot we have become fast fans of Amy Poehler and Nick Offerman’s Making It competition TV show. Each week the show’s crafters, known as the makers, take on challenges to create unique items for each competition.
In essence, that is what our signmakers do here on a day to day basis when they are creating custom cottage signs and other unique structures. This show has inspired us to connect with some bloggers about their DIY projects that can add some family fun to your cottage, cabin or even your backyard. Below is a list of do it yourself backyard games that we think you will enjoy making and playing in the great outdoors.
DIY Backyard Games
DIY Nerf Target
See how to tackle this target at https://the-gingerbread-house.co.uk/2018/04/23/how-to-make-a-diy-nerf-target
Outdoor Patio DIY Tic-Tac-Toe Game
Learn how to put this together at http://juliemeasures.com/outdoor-diy-tic-tac-toe
Ring Toss and other Carnival Themed Games
Check out this list of outdoor games like Ring Toss and Balloon Down at https://www.playpartyplan.com/fun-outdoor-games
More Outdoor Fun This Summer
For those that want to mix it up without too much crafting, check out these lists of outdoor games at https://www.onecrazymom.com/20-forgotten-summer-games-for-kids and https://www.playpartyplan.com/camping-games-for-kids-and-adults and https://thesoccermomblog.com/outdoor-games-for-kids
Even those with little ones can enjoy some outdoor activities with ideas from https://www.whatsupfagans.com/top-backyard-activities-for-four-year-olds
Many people can be put these games together with household items like tin cans, string, disposable cups, t-shirts, sidewalk chalk or even pool noodles to create obstacle courses.
We have been known to put together some fun games as well. We have made CUSTOM CORNHOLE BOARDS and even some BRANDED PLINKO GAMES for businesses.
Getting Crafty at The Cottage
Is there a backyard game you have made for your cottage, cabin or backyard? Post about it in the comments! We love to get inspired by our readers’ crafting abilities. Don’t have a unique backyard game? That’s okay. Try one of the ones above and tell us how it turned out. Let us know if you invited extended family or neighbours to try them out too. To ensure they find your cottage with ease you should consider an address/lot marker or a sandblasted cottage sign like the ones pictured below. To learn more visit our CONTACT US page and send us a note!
What To Do With Storm Damaged Exterior Signs
Custom Signs That Weathered The Storm
The past few winter storms managed to cause quite a bit of damage. Some from high winds and others from ice.
If there is a lot of property damage we suggest putting your signage through your insurance claim, but if only your exterior signs need repair and no other property damage was done, then we think your best bet it to contact a sign company that specializes in SIGN REFURBISHING. This will save you the cost of your deductible and the sign company can let you know if you are better off repairing or replacing the broken outdoor signage.
Exterior Sign Refurbishing
Many of our custom wood exterior signs show signs of finishing damage after seven to ten years because of winter storm damage. When that happens, visit our CONTACT US page and let our sign-makers know what needs repaired. We are able to sand down most cedar signs, repair any checks in the wood and refinish the sign to “like-new” condition. This means that the fixed sign receives a new life and it keeps another damaged sign out of the landfill. The longevity of sandblasted cedar signs make them a great choice as they provide dimensional signage that can stand the test of time, with very little upkeep required.
Signs That Are Damaged Beyond Repair
When a sign broken to the point of no repair, we suggest taking pictures of the broken sign and where it was placed and sending them to sales@sign-depot.on.ca to request a quote for a sign replacement. Your estimate will come with suggestions for the new sign and new fasteners that will stabilize the sign going forward. This will assist you with your decisions about that sign and other signage for your establishment.
Once you have decided which option works best for your exterior signs and the signs are placed back on your building, your curbside appeal with rise significantly.
Custom Golf Course Signs Get You Into The Swing Of Things
Getting Golf Courses Set For The Season
If you read our post last month, about THE SIGNS OF SPRING, then you know we’re getting ready for our busy signage season. With the golf season about to be in full swing, now is the time that golf courses need to look at their signage. Whether it is time to refresh entrance signs, re-brand club house signs, design new tee signs or install course wayfinding signage, having high quality custom golf course signs shows the golfers that their course of choice is committed to serving their needs. This is very important to businesses that often bring clients for a round of golf. The golf course they choose is often a reflection of the companies they represent.
Golf Course Sign Substrates
Golf course signs can be made from a variety of materials. Often western red cedar sandblasted signs are the of choice for many golf courses, because of their traditional look, but there other material choices as well. When it comes to custom golf course signs, we manufacture them from kiln dried wood, weathered barn-board, metals, stone and slate. Each choice gives the golf course a distinct look that best represents their course and it’s surroundings.
Bringing The Great Outdoors Inside
While many golf courses think only of their landscape signs, there are also opportunities to brand their golf course inside their facilities as well. Signs are needed for pro shops, event facilities, administration offices and sponsored tournaments. As golfers wander their, halls they often look for directories and course layouts to ensure they are headed to the proper areas.
Tee Time Tips
We’re looking for your best golf tips. Where to golf, what to bring, how to choose a course etc. Leave them in the comments below. Your “pro tip” may just make it into our next post and help some of our readers get into the swing of things for the upcoming spring golf season.
Did You Notice The Signs Of Spring?
Spring Has Sprung At The Sign Depot
Have you noticed the signs of spring? While many look for robins and tulip blooms we have a whole different set of spring occurrences here at The Sign Depot. It begins with a plethora of phone calls and emails related to these topics
- Spring Trade Show Signs – see how unique your booth can look by visiting our CUSTOM SIGNS AND BOOTHS FOR TRADE SHOW SEASON post.
- Weathered Signs In Need Of Repair – learn how quickly a damaged sign can be replaces on our DAMAGE CONTROL post.
- Mother’s Day Gifts – whether you are looking for a stone garden sign or a cedar residential sign, we can personalize it to your Mom’s liking. Read more at MOTHER’S DAY ENGRAVED SIGNS.
- Cleaning An Exterior Sign – we have complied a great list of ways to spring clean your outdoor signs. Take a look at HOW TO SPRING CLEAN YOUR CUSTOM EXTERIOR SIGNS for some tips and tricks.
After the spring basics listed above are in place our next steps usually involve preparing for the summer season. What that means is we assist many golf courses and seasonal venues with their preparations for their busy season.
The last sign of spring we see is when we begin receiving requests for quotes on custom cedar cottage signs. Whether your cottage is a summer vacation home in Muskoka, or a cabin on the Grand River we can customize our wood signs to match your style and taste.
We are very happy to say we are ready for spring here at The Sign Depot no matter what Mother Nature sends our way over the next few weeks. Are you ready for spring? Take a look at your signs. Could they use a spring refresh? If so, be sure to visit our CONTACT US page to see how we can help.
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, 2014Cheers To A Custom Wood Projecting Sign
Innocente Brewing Company Makes Their Mark
Now that Innocente Brewing Company has announced their location opening in Waterloo Ontario they decided to mark their territory. They chose to brand their building with a custom wood projecting sign. The idea behind a projecting sign/projection sign is that the double sided sign stands off the building to where it is affixed. The reason is to catch the attention of passers-by. This type of eye-catching sign is often used in the beer and liquor industry, so it was a good fit for a new brewery.
Creating The Custom Wood Sign
The Innocente Brewing Company sign was crafted from western red cedar. Known for it’s rot-resistant properties, cedar is the best choice for outdoor wood signs. The first step was to sandblast the company name and logo into the wood to give it dimension.
After the sandblasting step had carved the image and text into the custom sign, it was treated with an outdoor grade cetol finish to enhance the wood grain of the sign. Next it was primed to ready for the gold leaf and paint finish.
23K Gold Leaf was applied to give the sign luster and shine. The gold leaf finish is suitable for interior signs as well, but it really stands out when it glistens in the sun.
A custom paint finish complete with premium vinyl graphics were applied to the cedar sign to complete the sign making process.
Look what @TheSignDepot dropped off earlier today…what great work! Thanks Peter! pic.twitter.com/Xy5wJBClge
— Steve Innocente (@Innocente_Brew) February 14, 2014Landing On The Mark
Once the weather co-operated our install crew headed to Innocente Brewing Company to attach the projecting sign to their establishment. We think it serves as a great landmark for this new brewing business
Look what the fine folks @TheSignDepot installed today…looks da schnizzle! pic.twitter.com/yYDaQ8f1nW
— Steve Innocente (@Innocente_Brew) March 28, 2014Customer 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!
Custom Wood Signs Created To Weather The Outdoors
When The Weather Outside Is Frightful, Your Custom Wood Sign Can Still Be Delightful
Depending on where you live you may see a lot of ice in your community. The wintery scenes we are seeing all over the internet made us pause for a moment to see just how wonderful a winter wonderland can look. Being purveryors of custom wood signs we took a look at how our wood signs stood up to the icy elements over the last few days.
Here’s a close up look at our address sign.
As you can see it the ice ads an extra layer of texture to our dimensional letters on the wood sign. Once the ice is melted the sign will still be in great condition, as it was given an outdoor finish meant to stand up to changing weather conditions. Knowing what your custom sign will look in all kinds of weather is another way for your sign to stand out from its surroundings.
Glisten And Shine
Another outdoor finish the sign making experts here at The Sign Depot like to use is gold leaf. As you can see in the image below, the gold leaf finish on the sandblasted cedar sign still shines through despite the frost buildup and lack of sunshine.
Infact the layer of ice makes the gold leaf glisten. This sign has been outdoors for several years but is still in great shape. Custom cedar signs are made to withstand the elements and are a great choice if you are looking for a sign with longevity. Finding what works best for the conditions your sign will face is our specialty. Feel free to visit our Contact Us page for more information and be sure to leave a comment on how your outdoor space looks during these icy days!
3 Dimensional Signs, Movie Pirates, Props And Creating A Pirate Crew
3 Dimensional Sign Props Can Create Quite A Stir
If you attended ComicCon this year you know that Pirates Of The Carribean franchaise is creating quite a stir. This fascination for pirates has become a newest attraction at Dave and Buster’s Niagara Falls. Captain Jack’s Mini Putt will be debuting on Clifton Hill and through the use of 3 dimensional signs it will make quite an impact on this high traffic area.
We heard Captain Jack Sparrow is in need of a new crew. I wonder if our Captain Jack and his pirate crew would be willing to partake in this new voyage?
Demonstrating The Art Of 3 Dimensional Signs
In the pictures featured below you can see that 3 dimensional signs are really artistic signs created through sculptural sign making techniques. From prototype to custom paint finishes these sign structures will become a landmark sign for the Clifton Hill area of Niagara Falls Ontario Canada.
Ask The Sign Experts At The Sign Depot
Wondering how 3 dimensional signs could work for you? Contact our professional sign makers here at The Sign Depot for a free estimate. They are experts in the field of sign design and are well know in the sign industry. They can supply you with several sign solutions for your custom business signs. They will consider what is best for your company while keeping within your budget. To see more example of our sculptural signs make sure to visit Gallery Page portion of our Sign Depot Website Portfolio and let us know what caught your eye.
Update
To see the fully assembled and installed exterior sign display, make sure to take a look at the 3 Dimensional Signs – Proportion Is Everything post. There you will see how all these scuptural signs came together to create an artistic outdoors sign solution for Dave And Busters restaurant.
