Foam Board Signs

Glen Ellyn pair create unique sign for Habitat store

Vanessa’s challenge was to creatively design a welcome sign for the ReStore grand opening July 23. Other ReStores in the Chicago area have used doorknobs, paint and donated printed signs to welcome shoppers.

Determined to create a welcome sign different from the rest, Vanessa called on her mother, Linda DiStefano, an established seamstress and home decorative guru with a passion for art, design and unique displays.

Having designed her own home interior, Linda consistently looks for new ways to be inspired. When approached by her daughter for help with the welcome sign, Linda uncovered a new inspiration.

“I encouraged Vanessa to create the sign out of items found at the ReStore. This way, homeowners could see how to take something previously used and give it their own twist,” Linda said.

Together, mom and daughter scoured the ReStore in search of material. Toward the end of their visit, Linda noticed a pile of donated tile. Although the colors were not what Linda and Vanessa had in mind, it sparked an idea.

“We decided that making the welcome sign out of tile would be the best way to communicate ReStore’s overall theme of re-purposing. At the same time, we knew that tile would be durable enough to last a long time,” Vanessa said.

Since the tile wasn’t exactly what they wanted, they came up with another idea. The women decided to use the Habitat colors of blue and green to create the sign. Linda then approached her bosses at Century Tile of Lombard with a special request.

Keith Carlson, the company’s general manager and material management director, agreed to donate blue and green mosaic tiles imported from Italy for the display. Although the tile would not be directly from ReStore, it would still represent the reusable items shoppers may find at ReStore locations.

Using silicone, the team worked together to glue each individual tile to form letters. After the silicone dried for 24 hours, they grouted the letters to give it a finished appearance. Additionally, to give the sign a 3-D effect, Linda and Vanessa set the tiles atop foam board.

How Foam Board Is Beneficial

There are tons of uses for foam board. This is a sheet of foam core, similar to poster board, but thicker. It is durable, but lightweight, so it can be transported and worked with easily, without breaking down or creasing like paper. There are several uses for the materials and whether you are looking for a material that will work great for a craft or a lightweight option that can help with home repairs, foam core might be the right option for you. It is inexpensive and easy to find, so if you think you want to try foam core, you can give it a shot without making a big investment.

Foam core is great for framing photos. It can be used for mat boards, as well as for the frame itself. The mat board will be thick and sturdy, so you will not be placing cardboard behind the photo itself for support. If you want to mount a photo on a foam core piece, use an acid free adhesive spray. You can center the photo and then spray the back. Place it gently on the foam core piece and smooth it out. You can then place the piece inside of the frame or hang it on the wall without a frame. The foam core is sturdy enough to support the photo hanging on the wall without a frame.

You can also make a frame out of foam core. Choose the photo you want to frame and measure as space slightly smaller than the photo on the foam core. Cut out the space using a craft knife. The photo can then be mounted behind the piece of foam core with the photo facing out through the hole. You can cut out shapes like ovals to highlight a photo in a different manner. After the cutting is done, decorate the framed space surrounding the photo.

If you need a sign, foam core works great. It is sturdier than a piece of poster board, so you can display the sign without worrying about it folding or bending. It can also stand up light rain and wind, unlike traditional poster board. This works great if you are posting information about a yard sale or directions to an event.

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