The Barn Journal
Kit or Ready to Gift? How to Choose
Paint it yourself or let us do it? Here’s an easy way to decide, no overthinking required.
Every laser cut kit starts the same way. Most of our laser-cut signs and ornaments come two ways: as a Kit or Ready to Gift. Same design, same real wood, same personalization. The only question is who holds the paintbrush.
What You Get With a Laser Cut Kit
A Kit is the laser-cut wood pieces, cut in the Barn and ready for you. Paint, brushes and glue are yours, and that’s the fun part. You paint it, put it together and make it exactly your own.
What You Get With Ready to Gift
Ready to Gift means we paint it and put it together in the Barn. It arrives looking like the picture, ready to wrap, hang or hand over with a smile.
Choose a Kit If…
• You love a cozy craft night, with or without a glass of something nice.
• You’re planning a family paint night, and the children want in on it.
• You want to pick your own colours to match your home.
• You’d like to spend a little less (Kits cost less than Ready to Gift).
• You’d rather make it at a class with friends. Ask us about classes.
Choose Ready to Gift If…
• It’s a gift and you want it looking its best, no paint smudges involved.
• You’re short on time (or patience, we don’t judge).
• You want it to look just like the photo.
• You’re sending it straight to someone who lives far away.
Still Can’t Decide?
Here’s our rule of thumb: if the making is part of the gift, choose a Kit. If the gift is the finished piece, choose Ready to Gift. And if you want something in between, like custom colours, just add a note when you order and tell us what you’re picturing.
Either Way, It’s Personal
Kit or Ready to Gift, every piece starts the same way: cut to order in the Loft, with the name or words you choose. The rest is up to you.
Tips for Painting Your Laser Cut Kit
If you go with a Kit, a few simple habits make a big difference. Lay everything out before you start, so you can see how the pieces fit together. Test your colours on the back of a piece first. Let each coat dry before adding the next, and keep a small brush handy for the fine details.
Most of all, don’t rush it. Put on some music, make a cup of something warm and enjoy the process. A laser cut kit is meant to be fun, and the little quirks in your painting are exactly what make it yours. When you’re done, we’d love to see a photo of how it turned out.
Which Pieces Come as a Laser Cut Kit?
Most of our laser-cut signs and ornaments, and the sets that bundle them together, come as a Kit or Ready to Gift. On each product page, look for the two buttons under “Kit or Ready to Gift” and pick the one that suits you. Personalization works the same way on both, so the name or words you choose go on either version.
If you’re buying several pieces for a group, a family or a classroom project, Kits are a great way to keep everyone busy and happy. And if you’d like help choosing, our Gift Finder can point you in the right direction in a minute or two.
