Even though it seems like a foolproof way of foiling Girl Scouts and magazine subscription* salesfolk, failing to label your domicile with the proper numbers just doesn't work unless you can convince all of your neighbors to do the same. Otherwise, even a dull Brownie can tell that the house in between 80 and 84 is 82.

So you might as well jazz your house up a bit by making a sweet custom address marker. It's easier than community organizing, especially if you have some extra Loctite Power Grab on hand.

*Kids, ask your parents about magazines. They used to be a big deal.

Step 1: Gather Materials

Materials:

Redwood board ($1 from the scrap pile at Big Orange)
Metal or plastic numbers
Loctite Power Grab Heavy Duty
Sandpaper
Stain or shellac

Tools:

caulking gun
sponge
measuring tape
something flat and heavy

Step 2: Prep the Wood

Because my scrap piece of redwood was pretty good-looking to begin with, I just used a little bit of clear shellac to coat it. It brought out some of the grain and gave it a little bit of shine, not to mention some important protection from the elements.

Before shellacking, I sanded the edges to remove the milling marks and the jagged saw marks that Big Orange left behind. Then I just dipped my sponge into the shellac and brushed it along the grain of the wood. I covered the top and sides and back as well. When you've finished with those steps, lean your board against something to dry.

Step 3: Stick on the Numbers

Line up where you want your numbers to go by using a tape measure. Mark the positions of the numbers with a small pencil mark so everything goes smoothly when you glue.

The gluing part was more fun than it should have been.

Using the caulking gun, squeeze out the glue into the hollow spots on the back of your numbers. I tried to fill mine all the way up without overflowing. Good practice for future caulking jobs. When your numbers are backed with glue, stick them in place. Push down firmly to ensure that everything sticks.

Step 4: Attach to Your House

Once the glue on the numbers has cured, it's time to stick this address marker onto the house. Using some more of our glue, put a bunch on the back of the board and stick it against the wall. Remove it once then stick it back on with some pressure. (This should help spread the glue around a bit more and make it stick faster.) Hold the marker against the house for a bit longer than feels comfortable to ensure that it stays there long after you have moved.

Now invite some friends over and watch how quickly they find your home. Unless it's nighttime, in which case you should add some LEDs and a solar panel. (Future project idea: wink wink nudge nudge.)