15 Clever and Creative DIY Graduation Poster Ideas

The Tassel Was Worth the Hassle Sign

Not too confident in your ability to hand-paint a cute sign? Try a clever print-out instead. This one can be resized to fit any poster, and its cute saying is a sure win with graduates of any age. A standard 8 1/2 by 11 print looks super cute framed and placed on a gift table, too. 

Pro tip: Use washable markers or metallic paint pens to outline each bold letter after the ink has dried to introduce a little color to your design. 

The Tassel Was Worth the Hassle Sign from The Well Dressed Table

Dr. Seuss Sign

Take your cue from your graduate’s favorite childhood storybook. With its focus on a positive future, Dr. Seuss’s Oh, the Places You’ll Go makes for the perfect inspiration for your homemade poster. Don’t forget the curlicue letters and bright colors to truly manifest the famous author. 

Dr. Seuss Sign from Invitation Celebration

Directional Road Sign

For a whimsical way to show your support for your student, craft a multi-directional road sign from sturdy cardstock. Colorful paper and a balsa wood pole work well for this one, as do lines from a favorite poem or sentimental song lyrics. 

Directional Road Sign from Ben Franklin Crafts & Frame Shop

School Colors Sign

Perfect for a college graduate, this stylish, well-designed sign oozes with school pride. Stick to your student’s alma mater’s colors, and embellish with a touch of gold leaf or glitter. Print one off to stick to this exact design, or use masking tape, a steady hand, and paint for a more homemade version. 

School Colors Sign from Two Sisters DIY

Hashtag Party Sign

Be sure to collect every single one of those precious graduation celebration photos by keeping guests informed of your party’s hashtag with these clever table-top signs. Be sure to print a sign for each area of your party so you won’t miss a single snapshot. 

Hashtag Party Sign from Oh My! Creative

Faux Chalkboard Sign

To thoroughly capture this moment in time, write your little one’s favorites onto a chalkboard-style poster. Section the sign off using cute dashed lines, fill each section with a few select memories, and don’t forget to finish everything off with a crisp graduation photo. 

Faux Chalkboard Sign from Bailey Bunch Designs

Go Be Amazing Sign

A prettily designed inspirational quote is perfect for the classier graduation soiree. Looking to stay within budget? Visit a secondhand store for vintage photo frames, then spray paint them all gold for a quick facelift. Even if your finds are different sizes and shapes, they’ll look cohesive when sprayed in the same hue. 

Go Be Amazing Sign from Made in a Day

Graduation Year Number Sign

Demonstrate a bit of class pride with a welcoming, oversized, graduation year display. This tutorial uses dried beans to anchor foam numbers into clear glass bottles, but you could easily swap those for iridescent beads, colored sand, or any other vase filler. 

Graduation Year Number Sign from Sugar Bee Crafts

Money Wreath

For a congratulatory sign that doubles as a graduation gift, consider making a money wreath. This version cleverly incorporates the grad’s school colors by securing each bill to the wreath form with bits of colorful yarn. This pretty present is the perfect adornment to the graduate’s card table (and if you want to add your own card with a note, select one of the infinite free printable options available online).

Money Wreath from Crazy Little Projects

Photo Collage Letters

If you consider yourself a crafter, this photo collage table decor is the perfect option. While you can definitely use color-printed photos to collage a set of letters, black-and-white looks more cohesive (and will leave more room in your budget for other party fun). G-R-A-D looks great when collaged with special photos, but your graduate’s name or future school are fantastic ideas, too. 

Photo Collage Letters from Michelle’s Party Plan-It

Photo Corkboard

It’s especially fun for guests to gush over your graduate’s childhood photos, so put a select few on display with the help of a framed corkboard. For a more interactive display, encourage party guests to jot down a few words of advice to pin to the board, too—then your student can take the finished board with them on the next step of their journey. 

Photo Corkboard from Joyful Scribblings

Interactive Memory Sharing Sign

Whether you’re throwing a big open-house or just hosting a few key supportive family members for your graduate, consider setting up a station for each person to share a personal memory with the student-of-honor. Wooden game blocks are the perfect vehicles for a customized keepsake; the graduate can take the completed game with them without feeling too sentimental. 

Interactive Memory Sharing Sign from Must Have Mom

Unicorn Sign

For those with a more playful approach to education, a rainbow-maned unicorn dabbing in a mortarboard is absolutely the way to go. Bonus points if your graduate dabs across the stage!

Unicorn Sign from Redbubble

Glass Case Sign

Another piece that doubles as a clever addition to a tablescape and a gift for the graduate, this clear class case is sure to be a hit with your guests and the grad alike. Simply source an extra-deep photo frame or shadow box, then stencil your letters on carefully with acrylic paint.

Glass Case Sign from Country Chic Cottage

Sweet Beginnings Sign

A dessert table is absolutely a treat in and of itself, but when accompanied by a cute, handwritten sign that toasts the future, it’s 100 percent perfect for a graduation party. Don’t forget to fill the table with all of your grad’s favorite sweets!

Sweet Beginnings Sign from I Heart Naptime