(Video unavailable for display in this format, but a visual guide is highly recommended for clarity.)

Time needed: 4 hours

This project is designed to be completed in approximately 4 hours, making it an ideal beginner-friendly weekend activity. Gather your materials, clear your workspace, and get ready to create!

1. 1. Cut your plywood to size.

   Begin by cutting your chosen 1/2-inch plywood to the desired dimensions for your light-up wall art. The beauty of this project is that it can be as big or as small as you like. We were fortunate to have a scrap piece that was already 52″ x 48″, perfectly suiting our vision without requiring any cuts. This saved us valuable time and effort! PRO TIP: If you don’t own a table saw or circular saw, most hardware stores offer cutting services for plywood at a minimal charge. Simply provide them with your exact measurements, and they’ll handle the precision cuts for you.

2. 2. Paint your plywood.

   Once your plywood is cut to size and sanded smooth, it’s time to apply your background color. Select a paint color that complements your home decor or the theme of your art. I opted for this lovely green shade, which created a deep, rich backdrop for our “Rejoice” design. Apply an even coat, allowing it to dry completely according to the paint manufacturer’s instructions. Depending on your paint’s coverage and the finish you desire, you may need to apply a second coat.

   

3. 3. Sketch out your design with chalk.

   With your background paint fully dry, it’s time for the creative magic to begin! Use a piece of chalk to lightly sketch your desired design onto the painted plywood. Whether it’s a word, a phrase, a silhouette, or an abstract pattern, chalk allows for easy adjustments. I carefully drew “Rejoice” onto our board, refining the lettering until I was completely satisfied with its appearance. Chalk is an excellent choice for this step because it wipes off effortlessly, unlike pencil marks which can sometimes remain visible even after being painted over. This forgiving nature means you can make as many changes or corrections as needed without any fuss.

   

4. 4. Paint your design.

   Once your chalk sketch is perfect, carefully trace and fill in your design using an artist’s brush and your chosen accent paint. I used a readily available leftover white paint we had on hand. Due to its slightly lower quality, I needed to apply three coats to achieve a vibrant, opaque finish for “Rejoice.” However, the process was quick and straightforward, and the end result was exactly what I envisioned. The photo below shows the art after just one coat of white paint, demonstrating how the initial coverage looks.

   

5. 5. Attach your frame.

   After all the paint has thoroughly dried, it’s time to give your DIY art a finished, polished look by adding a frame. Use the wood lattice strips, cutting them precisely to the length of each side of your plywood. We chose to embrace the natural beauty of the pine wood for our frame, but you can certainly paint or stain them to match your aesthetic if you prefer. For simplicity, we opted for a straightforward butt joint to connect the frame pieces at the corners.

   Crucially, position the strips so that they sit flush with the front surface of your plywood. This clever technique ensures that the strips will slightly overhang the back of the plywood, creating a discreet cavity perfect for concealing the battery packs of your lights. We secured our frame using a brad nailer, providing a strong and clean attachment.

   

6. 6. Fill any nail holes with wood filler.

   To achieve a professional, flawless finish on your newly framed art, it’s important to address any visible nail holes. We used DAP Plastic Wood X to meticulously fill in each tiny indentation. Once the wood filler had completely dried and hardened, we gently sanded it smooth, ensuring that the surface of the frame was perfectly even and ready for display. This step makes a significant difference in the overall appearance of your finished piece.

   

7. 7. Prepare your fairy or dewdrop lights.

   Now for the truly transformative step: integrating the lights! To begin, select a discreet spot near the beginning or end of your design and drill a small, clean hole through the plywood. Carefully thread the dewdrop light strand through this hole, ensuring that the battery pack remains on the backside of your art piece. This strategic placement keeps the battery pack hidden, maintaining the clean aesthetic of your illuminated design. Secure the battery pack to the back of the art using a hot glue gun or strong tape, preventing it from shifting or becoming visible.

   

8. 8. Attach the lights.

   Carefully position your dewdrop lights along the precise center of your painted design. For each individual light, apply a small, discrete drop of DAP RapidFuse Ultra Clear directly underneath, then gently press the light into place. The use of this specific glue is crucial as it dries perfectly clear, ensuring no unsightly glue residue detracts from your artwork. Once a light is positioned, use masking tape to secure the wire on either side of the light. This holds it firmly in place while the adhesive fully cures. Continue this process, meticulously attaching each light along your design until the entire word or pattern is illuminated. Due to the large scale of our artwork, we needed to drill two additional small holes to accommodate three separate light strands, resulting in three battery packs neatly glued to the back. A fantastic feature of the lights we selected is their built-in timer, allowing them to automatically glow for 6 hours daily without any manual intervention, a huge convenience given the art piece’s substantial size and weight.

   

Other posts you may enjoy for more DIY inspiration:

• DIY Magical Christmas Lanterns
• DIY Advent Calendars
• 6 Secrets to Elevate Your Christmas Aesthetic

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