Make a DIY Name Board

What can we use instead of cardboard, a stencil, or acrylic paint if those are hard to find?

Use a flattened cereal or shipping box for the board, trace letters freehand onto construction paper or thin craft foam instead of a stencil, and substitute washable tempera paint or permanent markers for acrylics while attaching letters with white school glue or a glue stick.

My letters won't stay glued or the paint keeps smudging—what should I try?

If letters lift, apply more white school glue to the back, press them onto the marked spots and cover with a clean sheet of scrap paper and a weight for several hours as the instructions say, and if paint smudges let the board background dry longer or use a low hairdryer to speed drying before placing letters.

How can we adapt the difficulty for toddlers, school-age kids, and teens?

For toddlers, skip tracing and cutting by using pre-cut foam letters or stickers and washable markers on a small cardboard rectangle; for school-age kids, follow the full steps including ruler measurements, stenciling, cutting, and painting; and for teens, add precise measurements, layered 3D letters, or mixed-media details like washi tape and small LEDs.

What are some ways to extend or personalize the finished name board after gluing and drying?

After painting and gluing as instructed, personalize by adding photos or small trinkets around the letters, sealing the surface with clear craft varnish, attaching a ribbon or sawtooth hanger to the back for display, or creating a themed board with glitter, stickers, and layered paper for extra dimension.