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Looking for adorable Valentine’s Day lettering projects to create this season? This “Latte Love” mini sign is where it’s at! Whether you’re making personalized signs for friends, decorating your coffee bar, or creating hand lettered gifts for loved ones, this beginner-friendly tutorial walks you through every step.
Using hand lettering templates for door hangers and simple paint markers, you can create professional-looking results even if you’re new to sign painting. The best part? This technique works for any seasonal door hanger or wood sign project!
Complete Supply List
Most of the supplies I used can be found on my Amazon storefront, or at your local craft store!
Paint & Base Materials:
- A Latte Love door hanger template
- Waverly White acrylic chalk paint (best coverage for white)
- DecoArt or Folk Art acrylic paints: Lipstick Red, Cotton Candy pink
- Gray Sky (for background accents)
- Foam daubers or regular paintbrushes (variety of sizes)
- Matte fluid medium (optional, for thinning paint)
Lettering Tools:
- Gray graphite transfer paper
- Posca acrylic paint markers (white, black)
- Small liner brushes (sizes 2, 3, 4)
- Pencil
- Washi tape or clips
Embellishments:
- Opal glitter medium
- Folk Art Glitterific Pop (optional sparkle)
- Spray sealer
Step #1: Prepare Your Sign Base
Start by applying a base coat of warm white acrylic paint to your entire sign surface. This creates a smooth canvas for your design and prevents paint markers from bleeding onto the wood grain.
Then, use foam daubers for a thin, even coat with minimal brushstrokes. Dip the dauber in paint and work in smooth motions across the surface. Paint away from the edges (outward strokes) to prevent paint buildup on the blackened laser-cut sides.
Let the white base coat dry completely (10-15 minutes) before moving to the next step.
Step #2: Paint Your Design Elements
Work from color to color, painting all areas of one color before moving to the next. This prevents colors from mixing while wet.
Start with your red, and use a wider brush for larger areas and paint toward the outside edges to minimize mess. Then, mix Cotton Candy pink with a touch of Dragon Fruit for the perfect Valentine’s pink. Use a smaller brush for detailed heart shapes.
Need alternate colors? Try light pink and hot pink instead of red, add turquoise blue accents, or create a purple and pink combination!
Working with Multiple Coats
Most colors need 2-3 thin coats for solid coverage. If paint isn’t spreading smoothly, add a small amount of matte fluid medium to thin it without losing pigmentation.
Step #3: Transfer Your Lettering Template
Even experienced sign makers use templates! They allow you to focus on beautiful cursive hand lettering techniques instead of worrying about sizing, spacing, or running out of room.
The same traceable templates work for door hangers, wood signs, and other lettering projects.
How to transfer your design:
- Position your printed template on the painted, dry sign
- Secure with washi tape so it doesn’t shift while you’re working
- Slide gray graphite paper between template and sign (shiny side DOWN)
- Trace over the lettering firmly with a pencil
- Periodically check that the design is transferring
- Remove the template and graphite paper
Step #4: Hand Letter with Paint Markers
Working with White Lettering
White lettering is the most challenging color to work with, but these techniques make it manageable!
- Start thin, then build up: Begin with a thin line through the center of each traced letter, then gradually thicken to your desired width. This gives you more control than trying to fill in solid letters immediately.
- Use long, smooth strokes: Long strokes create less streaky results than short, choppy movements. Work slowly and deliberately.
- Make peace with imperfection: White paint markers will never be as opaque as black. Your letters will look slightly streaky up close but appear solid from normal viewing distance. This is normal for ALL white paint pens!
Pro Tips for Paint Pens
- Shake, don’t pump: Shaking mixes the paint; pumping causes paint floods that create blobs on your sign.
- Flip the tip: If one side gets worn or coated with graphite residue, flip it over (if the paint pen allows it).
- Lighten your pressure: If the pen is scratching off paint instead of flowing smoothly, you’re pressing too hard.
- Clean after each use: Wipe the tip of the paint pen with a baby wipe if waxy graphite buildup prevents smooth flow.
- Balance your letters: If one letter becomes too thick, make all the others match that thickness so nothing stands out awkwardly. Consistency matters more than perfection!
Step #5: Add Accent Lines and Details
Accent lines are the secret to hiding imperfect edges and making your script lettering pop!
I recommend doing white first, using a small liner brush (#2 or #3), and add thin white accent lines:
- Along color transition edges (pink to white, red to white)
- This camouflages any wobbly lines where colors meet
- Use very little paint and light pressure for delicate lines
You can also add thin black accent lines to create depth and make your design stand out. Work with longer strokes rather than short, choppy ones to avoid a busy appearance.
Or, add decorative swooshes in Gray Sky mixed with a touch of white around design elements. This fills empty space and adds visual interest.
Step #6: Finishing Touches with Glitter
Opal glitter medium is perfect for Valentine’s Day signs! It adds a subtle sparkle that works on any color. You can apply it to:
- Heart shapes
- Inside letter strokes
- Background accents
- Anywhere you want a hint of shimmer!
You could also use Folk Art Glitterific Pop, which creates bolder sparkle with larger glitter flecks. Let the first layer dry completely before adding more to areas that need extra coverage.
And for the final step…spray seal your completed sign to protect the paint and prevent smudging. This is especially important for lettering with white on top of a darker color!
More Tips for Lettering Your Latte Love Valentine’s Day Sign
Q: Do I need good handwriting for this project?
No! Hand lettering is different from handwriting. And using hand lettering templates for door hangers lets you trace professional designs regardless of your natural handwriting, so things stay super easy!
Q: Why is white lettering so difficult?
White paint markers are less opaque than other colors. They’ll always appear slightly streaky up close but look solid from normal viewing distance. Use 2-3 thin coats and long strokes for best results.
Also keep in mind that photos make white lettering appear more solid than it looks in person!
Q: Can I use these techniques on other Valentine’s Day lettering projects?
Absolutely! These methods work for any wood sign, door hanger, or painted surface. The template transfer technique, paint pen tips, and accent strategies apply to all seasonal door hanger lettering templates and personalized signs.
Q: What if my paint pen scratches the base coat?
If your paint pen scratches/smears the base coat, then you may be pressing your lettering pen too hard. Lighten your pressure and let the pen glide across the surface. If scratching continues, let everything dry completely and try again with an even lighter touch.
Q: Where can I find more Valentine’s Day hand lettering templates?
Look for downloadable door hanger templates for painting and hand lettered sign templates instant download options. The Template Library offers 450+ designs with commercial licensing included!
More Valentine’s Day Lettering Inspiration
Ready to create even more Valentine’s Day lettering projects? Check out our complete guide to Creative Hand Lettering Ideas for Valentine’s Day for additional design ideas, color combinations, and lettering techniques perfect for the season of love!
You’ll discover:
- Multiple Valentine’s phrase ideas
- Color palette inspiration
- Different lettering styles to try
- Project ideas beyond door hangers
