The ideas for these signs have been stewing around in my brain for a while. The girls love to imagine. They are entrepreneurs: opening their own coffee shop and cheffing up dirt pancakes and sandy teas. Lucy is an animal doctor; she diligently checks the pulse of all stuffed arms that live in our house. And the cash registers (yes – we need two – it’s to avoid bloodshed), are constantly ringing up purchases.
And so I thought: why not run with it? Why not make them signs to hang on their house of play?
I started with these wooden signs that I purchased at a dollar store. They were $2 each. A steal!
I used my handiest and craftiest tool – spray paint – to prep the signs.
And then I broke out my Silhouette cameo and my outdoor vinyl and got to work.
The awkward piece of wood gained purpose! With two hooks, he is suddenly important. He’s Mr. Sign Hanger!
I created a Princess Cafe sign for Lila’s culinary experiments. She adores all thing princess-y – I couldn’t help myself.
Lila insisted that this sign not be hung. I love how she thinks out of the box sometimes (it reminds me to try it myself). The words “grocery store” are accompanied by an apple. I chose the “Minnie” font because I’ve always thought it was cute, and never had an excuse to use it!
The animal hospital sign is my favourite – I think it’s because of the stethoscope!
Dr. Lila’s clinic is open for business! Any stuffies that need some snuggles?
Each sign is able to be hung or propped up, depending on the mood of the girls. And if that girl feels like being a multi-tasking business woman, then she can use all three signs. Come for a dirt coffee, some rock and pebble groceries and get your stuffed rabbit his annual check-up all at the same time! It’s a winning business plan!
This month I’m participating in the Silhouette Challenge.
Check out some of these other incredible projects created with the Silhouette cutter:
DIY Paper Star Lanterns by Me & My DIY
A Jar of Gratefulness by We 
Cards
Adding Easy Sketch Pen Detail to Silhouette Cuts by It Happens in a Blink
Laundry Room Labels by Unoriginal Mom
Kids Step Stool with Sass by Joy & Gladness of Heart
Magnetic Perpetual Calendar by Everydaypaper
Silhouette Fabric Ink {An Experiment} by Create & Babble
Playhouse Signs: Who Will We Be Today? by Suburble
How to Get a Second Wind Out of Your Gel Manicure by The Thinking Closet
DIY Graduation Gift by Super Sweet Life
A Silhouette Challenge by Home at Eight
Oval Coffee Table Reveal & More! by Give Me a Paintbrush
Stamped Gift Boxes by Coley’s Corner
Travel Accessories for Vacation Mementos & Business by An Elegant Touch
Want to join in on the fun? Check out The Thinking Closet for more details!
Keep up with the Playhouse Project! Follow along!
53 comments
Bev
Now this is adorable! What a fantastic way to indulge your daughter’s imagination and create at the same time 🙂 Love it!
Bev @ Give me a paintbrush
Tara
Oh thank you, Bev! It was a lot of fun making them. I hope that it’s just as much fun playing with them! 🙂
Kara
Very fun idea!
Tara
Thank you, Kara! It’s proving to be fun so far! 🙂
Tanya
Adorable. Wish I had my silhouette when my kiddos were smaller
Tara
That’s so funny – don’t we all wish we had our Silhouettes sooner? I wish that I had it when I was planning my wedding. I would have gone cra-zy with the cut-outs! 🙂
mel mccarthy
This is just the sweetest thing ever. Love the idea to prompt make-believe & the shapes are adorable with all the details you’ve added!
Tara
Thank you so much, Mel! I had a lot of fun making them – I guess I was living vicariously! 🙂
Kenz @ Interiors By Kenz
THIS! I love it. I feel like you should have a career in marketing/branding! Your designs are quality!
Tara
Oh Kenzie, you’re sweeter than condensed milk. I don’t know if there’s a career there, but it’s definitely an all-consuming hobby!
Melanie
Great projects!!
Tara
Thank you so much, Melanie!
Lindsay Faber
LOVE this!!! Now poor Paul will have to build our girls a play house…chop chop…oh and poor aunty Tara will be coerced into helping craft challenged me make rad decals for signs. Such a good idea!!
Tara
Yep, get Paul on it ASAP! I’ll definitely help with the decals/signs. We’ll have to start brainstorming! 🙂
Jeanie @ create&babble
Oh wow, I love this idea!
Tara
Thank you so much, Jeanie! 🙂
kelly thompson
those tags are adorable and very fitting! so sweet you can make great, memorable things for your kiddos
Tara
I love making stuff for the girls – I often think of them before I think of making things for myself!
Lauren @ The Thinking Closet
Oh my gosh, I want to come over and play with you and your girls! I can tell they have such vivid imaginations and a wealth of creativity (hmmm…wonder where they get that from?). In fact, I think I’m coming down with the stuffies right now. Might be time for a road trip up north! Ha ha. But seriously, how wonderful that you have really celebrated that in them by taking the time to create these professional looking signs! Mom of the Year goes to…Tara!
Tara
Oh, we’d definitely welcome you right into the Suburble Veterinary Clinic! If only Canada wasn’t so far away for you! 😉 Thank you so much for the compliments. It’s a lot of fun to create these things for the girls. And the expressions on Lila’s face during her first time playing with the signs was worth all of the effort of making them!
Amy of while wearing heels
This is so adorable. What a great use for that strange board. I think you’ve inspired 100s to add a strange board to their own playhouse. Really brilliant!
Tara
Wouldn’t that be hilarious, if people started adding rogue pieces of wood to their playhouses!?!? (Who knows? Maybe I’ll end up adding another? 😉 )
Debbie
That is WAY too darn cute Tara! I LOVE it!! And I’m sure your girls do too. What a cute little house, and now it has the perfect signs to go with it. Our girls also liked playing Library and School. The great thing is, it’s so easy and inexpensive to add more signs if they think of other things. And boy, do I know what you mean about the cash register….we had to have two as well!! Such a cute post and a great project. Thanks for sharing in the Silhouette Challenge!
Debbie
Tara
Oh, thank you so much Debbie! The Library and School ideas are fantastic! I’m going to pick up a few more signs the next time I’m lurking around Dollarama. I know that Lila would LOVE a school sign!
Kelly @ A Swell Place to Dwell
so. darn. cute. Seriously, what lucky girls you have!
Tara
Oh, thank you, Kelly! They’ve been having a lot of fun with the signs so far.
Mel
Oh that’s so adorable, I’d totally send my softies for snuggles 🙂
Tara
Oh, and these girls would take them with open arms. Even though I’m not a huge fan of stuffed animals, for some reason, my girls adore them.
Valerie
This is way too cute! The animal hospital sign is my favorite!
Tara
Thank you so much, Valerie! It’s my favourite too!
Inspire Me Heather
Oh my gosh – too cute! From probably the only blogger left without a Silhouette….
Tara
Heather – You have to get one! Start entering some giveaways! (And if you need some ideas of where giveaways may be, let me know – I know of quite a few affiliates that are regularly giving them away!)
Melissa
Super cute and fun idea, Tara!!! Your girls must have been thrilled. 🙂 I’m loving your little playhouse. Thanks for sharing!
Tara
Thank you so much, Melissa! The playhouse is a huge hit at our house. I’m wondering when I’ll feel like it’s finished… I just can’t help but add more to it!
Krista @thehappyhousie
Totally cute Tara! I saw these at our local dollar store too – bought three flowers for my friend’s daughters room… Adorable little project!
Tara
I can’t wait to see what you do with them, Krista! You’re a genius with signs!
Annie @ It’s just my life…
The signs are so sweet … what a great idea for imaginative play. I love the playhouse!
Tara
Thank you so much, Annie! Our playhouse has been the epicenter of backyard play this year!
Jenn
What an inspiring idea! I bet it helps to encourage your children to use their imagination!
Tara
They have been having lots of fun with the signs. I think that they’re getting the most use out of the cafe sign so far – lots of dirt dinners have been served to me! 😉
Kathryn
These are adorable! they totally make the space!
Tara
Thank you so much, Kathryn! I’m pretty happy with how they turned out!
Marilyn
Tara, these signs are simply adorable! I can’t wait until I get my silhouette so I can make super cool things like these
Tara
Marilyn, you are going to become an addict! It’s such a fun machine! 🙂
Emily
These are wonderful! I remember loving to play school, and doctor’s office (not being doctors but the office receptionists).
Tara
I’m totally convinced now: the girls need to have a ‘School” sign. They would LOVE it! (Especially Lila – she got a pair of bossy britches from her mother!)
Marilyn
Tara I can’t wait for my portrait to arrive so I can make cool things like these!
Tara
I can’t wait to see what you create! You’re going to have so much fun!
Lynden Blossom
Nice to ‘meet’ you, Tara! (My Favorite ‘place’ in literary history!) We had a Playhouse for my children on our huge property in MI and it looked quite similar to yours, only white… I hope they remember the good, creative times there – and that Yours do, also! Lovely idea for the signs – ;-}
Lynden
http://aneleganttouch-lynden.blogspot.com
https://www.facebook.com/Lynden.AnElegantTouch
https://www.facebook.com/Lynden.CookieLeeJewelry
Tara
It’s just as nice to meet you too, Lynden! Lots of people remember “Tara” from Gone With The Wind when they read my name. I pronounce it with a hard “a” though, and most people read my name and say “Tah-rah” before I correct them. So funny how it stays in peoples’ minds!
The girls have been loving the playhouse – I love hearing about other children having years of play from their playhouses of yesteryear. It reinforces my desire to jazz up the playhouse with even more projects!
Angela (shewanders)
What an inventive idea! Pinned to my “Kidlets” board
Tara
Thank you so much for the pin, Angela! (They’re the true “kudos” of the internet!)
Shelly
We actually just added boards to our daughters play house. This was a really good idea. Thank you.