DIY PROJECT

These names are displayed in a variety of materials and designs in both traditional and creative styles. Earlier, people used skilled workers and dollops of cement to engrave the names and the date of construction. Then these nameplates were painted in bright and contrasting colours to draw attention. Later, home owners started to use different materials to engrave names. Twisted electric bulbs which represent the alphabets are used in a coherent manner and are placed on top of high rise buildings. Some people also illuminate the names of homes by fixing tiny colourful, shimmering zero-watt bulbs in the aspect of the alphabet. The digital era has meant names are displayed on electronic screens. There are options such as the use of  brass and stainless steel for the engravings. These letters are nailed in or screwed on to boards and are placed in strategic spots on the frontage or on the terraces of constructions. Material like wood, wrought iron, pebbles, marbles and even gravel have been used ingeniously to highlight names in a creative manner.

Here is a suggestion to make a nameplate for your home or office which will appear like designer’s stuff basically because you have crafted it yourself. For doing so, you’ll need a random plank of wood which is at least two feet in width and a foot in height, two or three tubes of m-seal, some fabric paints in metallic shades, carpenter’s wax, varnish, one round and one flat brush numbered six and a meter of brass chain or a meter of strong nylon cord in a colour of your choice.  Get the edges of the plank rounded and the surface smoothened on either side by a carpenter if you cannot do it yourself.  Get two holes drilled at comfortable intervals at least two inches below the top edge to facilitate a metallic or an acrylic cord to pass through it. The geometrical shape of the wooden plank is of no essence because the base of the name plate needs to be unique in a natural base of its own. Do not bother to correct the shape or arrive at some symmetry.

In fact, if the edges are awry the effect will be better. Once the base is cut out, apply carpenter’s wax wherever you see fissures and apply a coat of pesticide followed by a coat of varnish on both sides of the wooden base.

Use a light pencil to write out the name in the given space. This way you could correct, adjust and alter to the desired effect. Once you are satisfied with the lettering and the spacing of the name, you can knead m-seal and draw it into a thick cord. Then firmly hold the m-seal cord with one hand and twist it in such a way that the net result appears to be uniform. Then place the length of the m- seal on the lettering. Once the letters are fashioned on the wooden base. If you have a penchant for art you could fashion little flowers, birds, geometrical shapes or spiritual symbols in m-seal and place them around the name in order to embellish it further.

When the m-seal dries, bring out your favourite metallic colours and paint them gaily. This board can be used on either side of the name plate. You could use English lettering on one side and the local language on the other.  Pass the brass chain or the plastic cord through the drilled holes and hang the customised nameplate.