Hi tcpodzon. I used a diamond drill bit, the type used for drilling glass or ceramics and drilled one small hole in the top 1/3 of the plates. This way when they were nailed to the board they hung in the right spot. I put them where the letters would cover the small hole left by the nail. I used E-6000 glue on the back of each piece and glued it to the board, then put the small nail through the hole. and the nail had a head just a little larger than the hole that I drilled. The board was already old and distressed and i did not do a thing to the board. I hope you have success making one. One thing to know is that all plates do not drill. I actually broke one when drilling. The pieces i have found that do not drill well are the ones like Corelle, or the older glass plates made with white or colored glass. I have had no problem drilling ceramic plates. Good luck.

Hi Tuckshop Gardner. I used vinyl letters to put my name on the plates. If you do not have a cricut machine to cut your own, check with a local sign company and see if they would be willing to cut the letters for you. Once they are cut out they are peel and stick I have had them on this sign for over a year and they show no sign of turning loose or fading. If you can’t get the letters then you could use a stencil or paint freehand with an enamel paint such as they use to paint car and plane models. good luck with making a sign.

Myra