Need ideas for Best Decorated House Winner Sign

The folks at Mill Creek Haunted Hallow have a nice PDF file on mounting printed signs to a wood backing. That might be a fun way to go because it allows you to create a graphic that is transferred to the wood rather than any actual painting or carving being needed. Take a look at http://www.millcreekhauntedhollow.com/images/MCHH_mounting_signs.pdf to see if it might inspire you.

Thanks for the link Chubstuff!

Wow that’s really nice tutorial on that sign Chubstuff! I was just going to suggest a silhouette haunted house design on a post with “Winner— Best Haunted House” across the bottom of the house or across a bit of lawn area on the sign design.

BTW if you’re not up to cutting a scroll-y designed sign, check out some of the stores like Michaels or Hobby Lobby for their decorative wooden “frames” that you could adapt for your use. Not very expensive. These are just cutout wood designs, not real frames ready to hang. Comes with a cut out in the middle of frame so the frame could be layered on a solid board beneath and you could add text/image in the middle portion similar to the above sign tutorial.

Here’s a couple of designs at Michaels for example:

https://www.michaels.com/fancy-oval-laser-cut-wood-frame-by-artminds-11inx14in/10471314.html

https://www.michaels.com/artminds-wooden-laser-cut-frame/M10239301.html

You can find simplier frame designs as well.

Since it's featuring nighttime displays, I'd suggest a small, portable, box, anchored into the ground. The street side has a "Return tonight to see this year's winner," while the side facing the house projects a simple "This year's #1 HOA Winner!" powered by a 12vdc car battery and, if needed, a power converter. Basic, simple, elegant, and understated. ? Reusable, portable, cheap.

Perhaps you could design it to be a tombstone. I made a Halloween countdown tombstone that people seem to enjoy. Dense core foam where all the lettering is carved in except the numbers, they are changeable. Perhaps you could do the same and just leave the year to be changed. I put it out 30 days in advance with a skeleton dressed in shorts, tropical shirt and sunglasses. He holds a leash and skeletal dog. It has lasted for years.