How to Make Highway Signs and Logo Cards

Logo Cards and Highway Signs

The Genesis

When Dr Texas was younger, he developed a passion for these YouTube videos with just company logos. I wanted to support his interest and the videos bored me. So I took some excess cardboard I pulled out of the recycling at work and drew a logo on a card. It was fun for me because creating and it took a little selling but once he got the idea, he was on board. After the logo videos, he got interested in FreewayJim videos which are just a guy driving on highways and freeways. Then the logo cards gave way to highway signs. Here I am a few years later and we have a bucket full of the cards. They are story telling, they are inspiring to him and I will keep making them until he moves onto something else. Then I'll hold onto a few in my personal keepsake box.

Logo Cards

The cards can teach kids to be literate of the world around them. It can even help them learn to literate. The car logos were Dr Texas's favorites. I know what little I know about cars from looking at a website of car logos with him.

Materials

Cardboard - Whatever is available. Delivery boxes, cereal boxes, and anything else free. These are played with and sometimes wrecked by happenstance or act of cat. Don't be precious because they're better if they can be guiltlessly wrecked.

Markers - Whatever colors you need. Sharpies and White Uni-ball work best. Waterbased markers will bleed and smear.

Steps

1. Ask the "client" what logo they want.

2. Draw it on the card.

Tips: If you are unconfident in your skill as an artist, remember most kids don't judge too hard. Also, there are many logos that are simple like the Nike swoop.

Highway Signs

My nephew can navigate better than I can. That's not huge given my ability to get lost anywhere but still an accomplishment.

Materials

Cardboard

Green Bottled Ink (And brush)

White Uni-ball signo UM-153

Black Pen

Red Gel Pen

Blue Gel Pen

Steps

1. Paint the cardboard with green ink.

2. Let the cardboard dry overnight.

3. Pick out an exit sign image.

4. Draw the sign to match the source image.

5. Be enthusiastic. 

Unsolicited Advice

I think it's important to foster their passion. If a kid hears someone isn't interested and doesn't like what matters to them, they'll eventually stop trying to share their interests because they'll assume that's going to be the response every time. They might even stop being interested in things and that would suck. Maybe it's just my perspective as an artist but that's my two cents.