Want to make your Christmas movie night extra special? This DIY movie marquee sign will definitely take it to the next level! We created this sign for our "Flapjacks and a Flick" Christmas Movie Night and it elevated the entire look of our space. It does require a drill to make, but don't let that intimidate you! It's really very easy to put together, and so incredibly satisfying to see when it's all done! Follow the simple steps below to recreate one for your own celebration.
To begin, lay the Chalkboard on a flat surface and remove the hangers from the back. Using a T-square or ruler, find the center between the chalkboard edge and the outside edge of each piece of wood in the frame and make a pencil line down the center of each piece. Next, make pencil marks on the center lines to mark where you'd like your lights to be positioned in the chalkboard frame. For best results, measure the distance between the bulbs on your string lights, then make your marks about a 1/2" closer together on the frame. We used these Clear White Wire String Lights. The bulbs were 2 inches apart, so we marked our frame for holes every 1.5 inches.
Fit your drill with a 5/16 drill bit. On a sturdy surface, preferably outside, drill holes into the frame using your marks as a guideline.
Once all of your holes are drilled, use a piece of sandpaper to soften the rough edges around each hole.
Next, use painter's tape to cover the entire surface of the chalkboard, being careful not to cover up any of the wood frame.
Using Crayola® Washable Acrylic Paint and a Paintbrush, paint the wooden frame white. After our frame was painted, we also used a smaller paintbrush to brush some white paint into the tops of the holes to prevent any wood color from showing through once the lights were installed. Allow the paint to dry completely, then peel away the painter's tape.
Turn the chalkboard over so that the bottom is facing up. Determine which corner you'd like your power cord to hang from. You will want the holes in that corner to be the last ones filled. Beginning with the end of the string lights that does not plug into the wall, start inserting the bulbs into the holes.
Using heavy duty duct tape, tape the lights and wires into place. If you will be hanging your sign on a wall, tape the plug so that it hangs to the outside of the frame as shown in the picture, which will allow the frame to hang flat against the wall. If you will be propping the sign on a table and don't need the frame to lay flat, you can tape the plug to the back of the frame so it can't be seen.
If you plan to hang your sign on a wall, cut a piece of Red Satin Ribbon to your desired length, then secure it down using the heavy duty duct tape. Be sure to cover all of the exposed ribbon.
Now it's time to make your marquee sign come to life! Download our printable marquee sign PDF, then click on the text box to enter the name of the movie you'll be featuring. Save the PDF and print it onto 11"x17" paper; trim to size. Use tape to attach the sign to chalkboard. Cut two pieces of fringe from a Red Metallic Fringe Plastic Table Skirt and fold each piece to create two "curtains." Secure the top seams together with tape, then attach them to the wall on either side of the sign. This will hide the exposed plug on your lights, as well as give the sign an authentic "movie curtain" feeling. If desired, top the ribbon with a Gold Glitter Star. See the entire Christmas Movie Party, get the tutorial for a DIY Christmas Pancake Bar and download all of the free Movie Night Printables!