How to make an Easel

I started with some scrap plywood.
Marked out a rectangle, the
size I wanted the sign.
Clamped down a straight edge.
(in my case, an old paling)
Run the circular saw along
the straight edge.
Gave it a light sand.
I used 120 grit.
I used pallet palings for the
frame of the sign.

Ran them through the table saw,
so they where all the same width.
Marked a 50mm reference line,
around the inside of the whole edge.
Held the first paling against that line.
Lightly mark where the vertical palings
will be matching up.
Grab the speed square
and draw a 45° angle from that point.
Cut along the line.
Flip it over and cut the
other angle.
When you have all the pieces
of the frame cut.
Gentle lay them in potion,
to check that they fit.
Then mark where you want
the screws to go.
Pre-drill all the holes.
Clamp down the frame,
to prevent it from moving around.
I used 20mm chip board screws.
And attached it from the back side.
Moving onto the stand of the easel.
I used lengths of 35x70
non-structural pine,
that I ripped down the center
using the table saw.
Ran those through the
thicknesser to clean up all the faces.
These clean up really nicely.
Flip the sign over,
so the back is facing you.
Mark in 340mm from either side
of the top edge.
And 200mm from either side
of the bottom edge.
Grab a straight edge,
to connect the dots.
These will be the guide lines for
attaching the two front legs of the stand.
Mark and pre-drill the holes.
Give all the holes a chamfer.
Now we are making the short horizontal
piece at the top of the easel.
I drilled two pocket holes at the back,
to give it a cleaner looking finish
on the front.
Moving onto the bottom horizontal rails.
I hold a length of 35x35mm
at my chosen height.
Mark that angle with a pencil.
Do the same for the other end.
Then cut and drill pocket holes on the back side.
Add a second rail in the same manner.
Lean everything up against a chair,
to get the tilt that you are looking for.
Cut the angle for the back leg.
Take up the space,
with an off cut of plywood.
I was loosing light,
but I had to get this build done.
The last piece goes on the same way
as the front rails.
Moving onto the font and painting.
I took my sign measurements into Photoshop
and marked out 'A4' grids.
Decided on the fonts and placement.
Crop and save each individual section.
Lay them out and tape them together.
Tape them to the frame.

I notched out some spots from the paper so
I had a better surface to attach them to.
Place carbon paper between the
plywood and the printed paper.

And neatly trace around the letters.
I add a fair bit of drying retarder
to the acrylic paint.

This allows me to go back and forth on this job, throughout the day. Without it drying out on me.
Very gently, paint between the lines.
My mum is a florist.
So she added the fig leaves and fake flowers,
to bring this whole thing together.
If you like building with pallets,
or other cheaper materials.
Then you might want to check out some of my YouTube Videos.