How to Make Signs With Christmas Lights

Cover a work surface in a well-ventilated area -- you may want to work outdoors -- with newspaper. Set the shadowbox atop the paper, upside down. If the shadowbox has a glass cover, remove the glass first.

Sketch the outline of the text or graphic layout for your outdoor Christmas light-up sign on the back of the shadowbox, taking up most of the available space to make the sign as visible as possible. Use a pencil or chalk to sketch the basic design, or print out your idea, enlarged to actual size, at a print shop.

Determine how far away you'd like each LED light within your sign, such as 2 inches from one bulb to the next -- the closer the lights are together, the more obvious your design will be, and the more strands of lights it will take. Mark the light bulb layout by making a dot every 2 inches -- or another designated distance -- over the entire design. Use a ruler to keep the distances consistent.

Drill out holes for the lights at each marked dot using a drill bit slightly wider than the light sockets on the light strands. Use a bit as close as possible to the actual socket size for a snug fit.

Sand the shadowbox sides and back gently with a fine-grit sanding block to smooth it, removing any splinters or snags made from drilling. Flip the shadowbox over to sand any splintered wood visible on the inside as well. Remove all the dust with a rag, then flip the shadowbox back over so the back is on top.

Shake a can of spray paint for a minute or two, then paint the back and sides of the shadowbox, keeping your arm in continual motion. Paint parallel overlapping lines while holding the can 12 inches or so from the shadowbox. Start each burst of paint before the shadowbox and end slightly after to avoid blobs of paint. Allow the paint to dry completely, then apply a second coat for better coverage. Paint it a third time, if desired.

Plug light strands into one another if your sign design requires more than one strand.

Prop the shadowbox up vertically so your design is aligned correctly. Determine if you want the plug end to dangle from the left or right side of the sign, and then position the plug in the chosen area. Press the light bulb nearest the plug through the back of the sign, which is the front of the shadowbox, through the drilled hole nearest the plug. The bulb end should be sticking out of the front of the sign.

Push the bulb next on the light strand into the second hole in your design, next to the first. Continue pressing bulbs in consecutive order through their respective holes on the sign until all the holes are filled.

Test the sign by plugging it into a nearby outlet. If any of the bulbs or an entire strand aren't working, replace the bulb -- if possible -- or the entire strand, until all lights illuminate. Unplug the sign.

Position the sign so the back is exposed, showing all the cords. Tape the cords to the sign back using small strips of duct tape or clear packaging tape, keeping the tape away from the bulbs. Align the extra cord near the plug end so it travels along the bottom inside edge of the sign and then dangles from a corner. Tape the cord inside the back of the sign so it stays in this position.