DIY Lighted Christmas Signs | DIY lighted reindeer decoration | DIY Christmas tree sign | Quick and easy DIY Christmas decoration with lights | Free printable reindeer template | #TheNavagePatch #DIY #freeprintable #Christmas #Holidaydecor #DIYChristmas #Christmascrafts #easydiy #Christmaslights #DIYHomedecor #Holidays #starrylights | TheNavagePatch.com

DIY Lighted Christmas Signs

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Our DIY Lighted Christmas Signs combine the three best parts of the holiday season: Christmas trees, reindeer and starry lights. What more could you want?

The Season of Joy is upon us.

Well, really it’s been upon us for quite some time now, hasn’t it?

And it seems like they’re shoving it on us earlier and earlier with each passing year!

Handan and I walked into Hobby Lobby in the beginning of August, and the Christmas decor was already on display.

August!!

It was still summer vacation, for crying out loud!

Gah!

Anyway, we gotta start clobbering you with Christmas now, because if we wait too long, not only would we be rushed, but you guys would never have enough time to build all of the cool Christmas crap crafts we’re going to show you!

Yep, the Season of Joy is upon us.

Now plaster a big phony smile on your face, and let’s get our Christmas on!

Not feeling joyous yet? Missing the the colors of fall? Then check out Handan’s DIY sisal twine pumpkins, and table the Christmas crafts for a while.

DIY Sisal Twine Pumpkins | How to make dual colored twine pumpkins | DIY fall decoration | Dollar store crafts | #TheNavagePatch #DollarTree #easydiy #Falldecorideas #pumpkin #falldecor #diy #diypumpkin #thanksgiving #DollarStore #fall #pumpkineverything | TheNavagePatch.com

Oh, you’ve decided to stay?

Brava, madam. You are braver than I gave you credit for. I’ll give you a shiny red candy cane at the end of the post!*

Today, I’m going to show you how to make lighted reindeer & Christmas tree signs. These DIY lighted Christmas signs are perfect in our simple DIY picture frames, so if you haven’t made some yet, now’s the time! (I told you we’d be using them again and again!) But don’t worry – if you haven’t made any frames, there’s a dead-simple cheat that looks just as good!

DIY Lighted Christmas Signs SUPPLIES LIST

Affiliate links are provided below. Full disclosure here.

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DIY Lighted Christmas Signs Tutorial

The two panels I chose to use came from a simple industrial utility cart I made for Handan back in The Great Before, when the Navage Patch only existed in the unknown Far Future.

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Here is one of the only know photographs of that pre-Navage-Patch creation.

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You may be tempted to think that the photo above was taken on Halloween, but honestly, we just like to have shrouded heads plopped into our candy bowl. Oh, The Book of Shadows? Yeah, that’s just some light, bedtime reading 🙂

With the panels selected and measured, Handan printed out the reindeer head and Christmas tree I’d be using as a template for the nails.

I taped the printouts onto their respective boards.

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As you can see in the picture above, I penciled in circles where I would be placing the nails, along with a line depicting how I would wind the starry lights.

Then I hammered in the little copper nails, leaving about a quarter inch sticking up.

DIY Lighted Christmas Signs | DIY lighted reindeer decoration | DIY Christmas tree sign | Quick and easy DIY Christmas decoration with lights | Free printable reindeer template | #TheNavagePatch #DIY #freeprintable #Christmas #Holidaydecor #DIYChristmas #Christmascrafts #easydiy #Christmaslights #DIYHomedecor #Holidays #starrylights | TheNavagePatch.com

I then drilled a hole large enough to accommodate the string lights. For the reindeer, I positioned the hole just up from the bottom of the lights.

DIY Lighted Christmas Signs | DIY lighted reindeer decoration | DIY Christmas tree sign | Quick and easy DIY Christmas decoration with lights | Free printable reindeer template | #TheNavagePatch #DIY #freeprintable #Christmas #Holidaydecor #DIYChristmas #Christmascrafts #easydiy #Christmaslights #DIYHomedecor #Holidays #starrylights | TheNavagePatch.com

For the Christmas tree, I positioned the hole just below the top of the tree.

DIY Lighted Christmas Signs | DIY lighted reindeer decoration | DIY Christmas tree sign | Quick and easy DIY Christmas decoration with lights | Free printable reindeer template | #TheNavagePatch #DIY #freeprintable #Christmas #Holidaydecor #DIYChristmas #Christmascrafts #easydiy #Christmaslights #DIYHomedecor #Holidays #starrylights | TheNavagePatch.com

Next, I peeled off the paper.

DIY Lighted Christmas Signs | DIY lighted reindeer decoration | DIY Christmas tree sign | Quick and easy DIY Christmas decoration with lights | Free printable reindeer template | #TheNavagePatch #DIY #freeprintable #Christmas #Holidaydecor #DIYChristmas #Christmascrafts #easydiy #Christmaslights #DIYHomedecor #Holidays #starrylights | TheNavagePatch.com

This left a lot of little pieces of paper stuck into the nail holes. I plucked these out with a pair of tweezers. Imagine they’re rogue eyebrows or unsightly mustache hair, ladies, and you’ll have no problems! 😀

DIY Lighted Christmas Signs | DIY lighted reindeer decoration | DIY Christmas tree sign | Quick and easy DIY Christmas decoration with lights | Free printable reindeer template | #TheNavagePatch #DIY #freeprintable #Christmas #Holidaydecor #DIYChristmas #Christmascrafts #easydiy #Christmaslights #DIYHomedecor #Holidays #starrylights | TheNavagePatch.com

I then threaded the starry lights up through the back of the board until the whole length was pulled through.

DIY Lighted Christmas Signs | DIY lighted reindeer decoration | DIY Christmas tree sign | Quick and easy DIY Christmas decoration with lights | Free printable reindeer template | #TheNavagePatch #DIY #freeprintable #Christmas #Holidaydecor #DIYChristmas #Christmascrafts #easydiy #Christmaslights #DIYHomedecor #Holidays #starrylights | TheNavagePatch.com

And then I began the process of winding the string lights around my copper pegs. On a side note, I’m noticing that my hands are turning into “Old Man Hands,” with new brown spots showing up (uninvited, I might add) on weekly basis. Liver spots, anyone?

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Pro tip: take a picture of your board before you tear off the paper in case you need to refer to the printout to figure out where to wrap next.

Awwww, look at that crafty little man.

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“I used to be cool.”

I wrapped the deer head almost a full 5 times. The tree only took 3 and change.

DIY Lighted Christmas Signs | DIY lighted reindeer decoration | DIY Christmas tree sign | Quick and easy DIY Christmas decoration with lights | Free printable reindeer template | #TheNavagePatch #DIY #freeprintable #Christmas #Holidaydecor #DIYChristmas #Christmascrafts #easydiy #Christmaslights #DIYHomedecor #Holidays #starrylights | TheNavagePatch.com

Once I reached the end of the string, I tucked the nub under the wrapped wire, and I was nearly done.

Okay, fine. My fingers were too fat and full of liver spots to tuck that dinky little piece anywhere, so I asked Handan to do it for me.

Here’s a sneak peek.

DIY Lighted Christmas Signs | DIY lighted reindeer decoration | DIY Christmas tree sign | Quick and easy DIY Christmas decoration with lights | Free printable reindeer template | #TheNavagePatch #DIY #freeprintable #Christmas #Holidaydecor #DIYChristmas #Christmascrafts #easydiy #Christmaslights #DIYHomedecor #Holidays #starrylights | TheNavagePatch.com
DIY Lighted Christmas Signs | DIY lighted reindeer decoration | DIY Christmas tree sign | Quick and easy DIY Christmas decoration with lights | Free printable reindeer template | #TheNavagePatch #DIY #freeprintable #Christmas #Holidaydecor #DIYChristmas #Christmascrafts #easydiy #Christmaslights #DIYHomedecor #Holidays #starrylights | TheNavagePatch.com
DIY Lighted Christmas Signs | DIY lighted reindeer decoration | DIY Christmas tree sign | Quick and easy DIY Christmas decoration with lights | Free printable reindeer template | #TheNavagePatch #DIY #freeprintable #Christmas #Holidaydecor #DIYChristmas #Christmascrafts #easydiy #Christmaslights #DIYHomedecor #Holidays #starrylights | TheNavagePatch.com
DIY Lighted Christmas Signs | DIY lighted reindeer decoration | DIY Christmas tree sign | Quick and easy DIY Christmas decoration with lights | Free printable reindeer template | #TheNavagePatch #DIY #freeprintable #Christmas #Holidaydecor #DIYChristmas #Christmascrafts #easydiy #Christmaslights #DIYHomedecor #Holidays #starrylights | TheNavagePatch.com

Next up was framing.

Now I know I berated you in the beginning of the post for not having made any simple DIY frames. Well, here’s a confession:

Neither did I.

At least, not for this project.

I made a boatload of those suckers for Handan, but none in the exact size I needed for our DIY lighted Christmas signs.

But was I about to build another one?

Hell No!

I took the easy way out!

For each frame, I cut two small pieces of 1×3 to the exact width of the panel. I then cut two more pieces to the height of the panel + the two small pieces of 1×3. I simply tacked the frame together, piece-by-piece with brad nails – nailing the frame together at the same time I nailed it into the backing piece.

DIY Lighted Christmas Signs | DIY lighted reindeer decoration | DIY Christmas tree sign | Quick and easy DIY Christmas decoration with lights | Free printable reindeer template | #TheNavagePatch #DIY #freeprintable #Christmas #Holidaydecor #DIYChristmas #Christmascrafts #easydiy #Christmaslights #DIYHomedecor #Holidays #starrylights | TheNavagePatch.com
DIY Lighted Christmas Signs | DIY lighted reindeer decoration | DIY Christmas tree sign | Quick and easy DIY Christmas decoration with lights | Free printable reindeer template | #TheNavagePatch #DIY #freeprintable #Christmas #Holidaydecor #DIYChristmas #Christmascrafts #easydiy #Christmaslights #DIYHomedecor #Holidays #starrylights | TheNavagePatch.com

Presto! Instant frame!

I told you I’d show you a dead-simple cheat!

So now I present to you our DIY Lighted Christmas Signs – The First Christmas Post of the Season!

In October.

DIY Lighted Christmas Signs | DIY lighted reindeer decoration | DIY Christmas tree sign | Quick and easy DIY Christmas decoration with lights | Free printable reindeer template | #TheNavagePatch #DIY #freeprintable #Christmas #Holidaydecor #DIYChristmas #Christmascrafts #easydiy #Christmaslights #DIYHomedecor #Holidays #starrylights | TheNavagePatch.com
DIY Lighted Christmas Signs | DIY lighted reindeer decoration | DIY Christmas tree sign | Quick and easy DIY Christmas decoration with lights | Free printable reindeer template | #TheNavagePatch #DIY #freeprintable #Christmas #Holidaydecor #DIYChristmas #Christmascrafts #easydiy #Christmaslights #DIYHomedecor #Holidays #starrylights | TheNavagePatch.com
DIY Lighted Christmas Signs | DIY lighted reindeer decoration | DIY Christmas tree sign | Quick and easy DIY Christmas decoration with lights | Free printable reindeer template | #TheNavagePatch #DIY #freeprintable #Christmas #Holidaydecor #DIYChristmas #Christmascrafts #easydiy #Christmaslights #DIYHomedecor #Holidays #starrylights | TheNavagePatch.com
DIY Lighted Christmas Signs | DIY lighted reindeer decoration | DIY Christmas tree sign | Quick and easy DIY Christmas decoration with lights | Free printable reindeer template | #TheNavagePatch #DIY #freeprintable #Christmas #Holidaydecor #DIYChristmas #Christmascrafts #easydiy #Christmaslights #DIYHomedecor #Holidays #starrylights | TheNavagePatch.com
DIY Lighted Christmas Signs | DIY lighted reindeer decoration | DIY Christmas tree sign | Quick and easy DIY Christmas decoration with lights | Free printable reindeer template | #TheNavagePatch #DIY #freeprintable #Christmas #Holidaydecor #DIYChristmas #Christmascrafts #easydiy #Christmaslights #DIYHomedecor #Holidays #starrylights | TheNavagePatch.com
DIY Lighted Christmas Signs | DIY lighted reindeer decoration | DIY Christmas tree sign | Quick and easy DIY Christmas decoration with lights | Free printable reindeer template | #TheNavagePatch #DIY #freeprintable #Christmas #Holidaydecor #DIYChristmas #Christmascrafts #easydiy #Christmaslights #DIYHomedecor #Holidays #starrylights | TheNavagePatch.com

*No candy canes will be given out – neither during nor after this post.

*******

Now it’s time to click on the button below to download the templates for the DIY lighted Christmas signs – they are all in the “Christmas” and “Template – Cutsheet” sections of The VIP Patch.

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DIY Lighted Christmas Signs | DIY lighted reindeer decoration | DIY Christmas tree sign | Quick and easy DIY Christmas decoration with lights | Free printable reindeer template | #TheNavagePatch #DIY #freeprintable #Christmas #Holidaydecor #DIYChristmas #Christmascrafts #easydiy #Christmaslights #DIYHomedecor #Holidays #starrylights | TheNavagePatch.com
DIY Lighted Christmas Signs | DIY lighted reindeer decoration | DIY Christmas tree sign | Quick and easy DIY Christmas decoration with lights | Free printable reindeer template | #TheNavagePatch #DIY #freeprintable #Christmas #Holidaydecor #DIYChristmas #Christmascrafts #easydiy #Christmaslights #DIYHomedecor #Holidays #starrylights | TheNavagePatch.com

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29 Comments

  1. These are beautiful! 🙂 I have a question…the boards are placed along the back to have them recessed in the frame, right? But…where is the battery pack for the fairly lights? Can you show us the back of the frame? I thought that the boards would be towards the front of the frame, creating a little hidey hole for the batteries in the back.
    Thanks for a great craft…and the laughs too…Christmas in August?! Ack!

    1. Hi Claudine, I placed the board roughly in the middle of the frame, so there’s a recess in front and back. The lights are electric, so I’m just running the cable down to the floor and to the nearest outlet. See pic below.
      Back of DIY Lighted Christmas Signs

      1. So the “led fairy lights” takes me to a 100 light battery park. Where did the cord come from? Beautiful job!

  2. Oh, Dear, I think Handan has the “pretty” covered too! You are quite dishy, though. These are wonderful! I think either would be great as cabin decor too. Our minds often think alike so I have a question. Have you ever noticed that Christmas “reindeer” don’t look like real reindeer?

    1. Lol, that’s because everyone just uses real deer profiles for some reason. Handan and I debated which to use, and like all the others, we chose regular deer, as the antlers are more elegant.

  3. Avon sells Banishing Cream that will remove those spots. I may not be sure of the exact name but I promise it will work. It is amazing.

  4. Greg, If Handan didn’t do it, we would have to…and there’s a lot more of US than there is of HER! Be grateful! Another great project!

  5. Love, love, love these! Very rustic and chic! (and the’re not liver spots-they’re freckles-yup, freckles) 😉

    1. The disclaimer at the end of the post clearly absolved me of any obligation to furnish my readers with candy canes. Blech. Wretched things, anyway. Who likes those things??

  6. You are both so creative and funny! Love reading your post, always entertaining. LOL These Christmas panels both turned out so pretty. Their gonna look really pretty with the other Christmas decor, but ditch the shrouded head. ?

  7. First time here and I am impressed! These lighted signs very much called my name. I have made the Christmas tree sign and it looks amazing. One tip from a frustrated crafter: I followed your directions and removed the template after I was finished with putting all the nails in. Then the task of figuring out which nails to string the lights around was – to say the least- a challenge, even when looking at the picture as suggested. My husband was sitting next to me and casually mentioned that I should not have removed the paper template. So i pushed it all back over the nails, strung the lights and only then carefully removed the template. That did the trick and saved me countless minutes of mumbling swear words under my breath. Just wanted to share this with everyone here. If you make the deer, this is not an issue but the tree will test your patience.

    1. Oh my god, you are so right, Dorothee! We ran into the same exact problem! Thank god I had taken a picture on my phone of the template with the nails in it. I should probably update the post, right? Okay, tomorrow I’ll get right on that. Watching a movie right now with Handan, and I don’t want to interrupt it! 😀