Make this Welcome Sign with Shelf to Display Gnomes and More!

I adore this easy welcome sign with shelf to display gnomes in my entryway. The floating shelf sign was so easy to make and the little shelf is perfect!

how to make a shelf to display a gnome
Make this easy sign and shelf to display a gnome or Christmas craft!

Welcome Sign with Shelf to Display Gnomes

Here at Ruffles and Rain Boots, I am loving the gnome trend. I needed a way to show off some of my gnomes, because, well, I was running out of space on my tiered tray and I just needed a new “home” for a gnome. So, I whipped up this awesome welcome sign with shelf to display gnomes!

RELATED READING: HOME GNOME CHANGEABLE SEASON SIGN

It’s super sturdy and really pretty. I am particularly in love with the little bit of sparkle from the glitter. Super cute. Now if I could just figure out a permanent home for the sign and shelf to display a gnome, that would be nice. LOL!

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collage of diy gnomes teaching how to make a gnome with or without legs and with or without sewing

If you’re ready to make a display shelf and sign for your gnome (or Christmas crafts, or anything), let’s get started.

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You’re busy, I get it. Pin this to your favorite DIY farmhouse ideas board on Pinterest and it’ll be here for when you’re ready.

photo collage of floating shelf with a sign to show off gnomes with text which reads nisse display shelf and welcome sign

Tips to Make this Display Shelf and Sign

  • I used hot glue to hold the shelf in place on the sign long enough to get the screws into the back. I picked hot glue because it dries fast and I could keep moving. If you use wood glue, be sure to let it dry completely before flipping the sign over to drive in your screws.
  • When I made this fun floating shelf sign, I was seeing if there was a way to make a sign without using my Cricut. I have included a cut file you can download here, to put vinyl on your sign, but I wanted to see what I could do. You know, experimentation.
how to make a shelf for christmas decorations

How Do I Make this Welcome Sign with Shelf to Display Gnomes?

I’m so glad you asked. Below is our written tutorial.

Yield: 1

Welcome Sign with Shelf

how to make a shelf for christmas decorations

I adore this easy welcome sign with shelf to display gnomes in my entryway. The floating shelf sign was so easy to make and the little shelf is perfect!

Prep Time 5 minutes
Active Time 25 minutes
Total Time 30 minutes
Difficulty Easy
Estimated Cost $5

Materials

  • 1 8x3 piece of wood, 3-foot long
  • 1 6x3 piece of wood, 1-foot long
  • Black Craft Paint
  • Glitter (I used silver, but white would be beautiful, too)
  • White Chalkboard Paint
  • Wipe-on Polyurethane to Seal (optional)
  • Pattern for “Welcome”
  • 2 Small “L” Brackets and 4 screws
  • 2 4-inch long screws

Tools

  • Sand Paper
  • Pencil
  • Hot Glue Gun and Glue
  • Screw Driver
  • Paintbrush
  • Exacto Knife
  • Screwdriver
  • Wall Anchors

Instructions

  1. Start by lightly sanding the wood.
  2. Using ample hot glue, glue the 1-foot long piece of wood to the 3-foot long piece of wood, horizontally, about 2-inches from the bottom of the 3-foot long piece and about 2-inches from the right side of the 3-foot long piece. 
  3. Paint the wooden sign, including the shelf you just made, on the facing side and all edges, with the white chalkboard paint.
  4. Before the paint dries, sprinkle with the glitter.
  5. Allow paint to dry fully. how to make a gnome shelf welcome sign
  6. If you have a Circut machine, download the “Welcome” file, upload to Circut Design Space, weld the word, and cut it. If using vinyl, apply to the wood as desired.
  7. If you do not have a Circut machine, download the two welcome file pages and, using painter’s tape, tape these pages to the wood, aligned correctly. Using the exacto knife, cut out the letters, then trace with a pencil. Paint the letters as traced.
  8. Allow paint to dry fully. photo collage of how to make a sign with a display shelf for gnomes
  9. Seal with wipe-on polyurethane, if desired (I didn’t desire).
  10. Drive the two 4-inch long screws through the back of the 3-foot long piece into the side of the 1-foot long piece to add stability. The hot glue is only to hold the shelf in place while you put the screws into the back.
  11. Place wall anchors into the wall, level to each other, where you’d like the top edge of the sign to be, about 10-20 -inches apart. I like to pre-drill holes for wall anchors, but that’s just me--the directions on the box say that you don’t need to, but I like do it anyway.
  12. Screw the “L” brackets into the wall anchors. 
  13. Hold the sign up and screw the top side of the “L” bracket into the top edge of the sign. photo collage tutorial of how to make a sign with a shelf to display gnomes
  14. Place gnomes on the shelf immediately!

Notes

For more awesome gnome tutorials, visit rufflesandrainboots.com

Did you make this?

Please leave a comment or share a photo and tag me @rufflesandrain

More Gnome Tutorials You Might Like

  • Home Gnome Interchangeable Season Sign – You will absolutely adore making and displaying easy interchangeable gnomes on this seasonal sign.
  • Lumberjack Christmas Gnome – Loving that slouchy buffalo check hat gnome on the shelf in my photos above? You definitely have to check him out here.
  • Mermaid Hat Gnome – Oh, is the mermaid gnome more your style? Cool! She’s so easy to make and that tail is just GORGEOUS!
  • Christmas Cowboy Gnome – Ok, so, a confession: this little Christmas cowboy gnome has been out on my shelf for about a month already. LOL!
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photo collage of floating shelf to display christmas crafts with text which reads tomten display shelf and welcome sign

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