Teacher Poster Maker Carnival: DIY Booth Signs

Whether you’re organizing your first school carnival or you’re a seasoned PTA pro, creating eye-catching signage can make or break your event’s success. Moreover, with the right tools and techniques, you can design professional-looking booth signs and prize displays that withstand weather, excited kids, and multiple uses. Best of all, when you have access to poster printers for schools, you can produce everything in-house at a fraction of the cost!

Picture this: You’ve spent weeks preparing beautiful carnival signs, only to watch them curl, fade, or tear within the first hour. Unfortunately, outdoor events present unique challenges—morning dew, afternoon sun, sticky fingers, and unexpected wind gusts all threaten your displays. That’s why investing in proper materials and techniques isn’t just smart; it’s essential for maximizing your fundraising potential.

When we switched to using our school’s poster maker with weather-resistant materials, our carnival revenue jumped 35% because clear, durable signage helped families understand game rules and prize values instantly. Furthermore, we could reuse the same signs year after year, turning a one-time investment into long-term savings!

Clear game instructions prevent bottlenecks and frustrated families. Additionally, when volunteers can point to visual rules, they spend less time explaining and more time facilitating fun. Here’s what every game booth needs:

Nothing creates excitement like a well-organized prize display! Subsequently, strategic signage here reduces wait times and helps children make confident choices. Essential prize booth elements include:

After losing those hand-painted signs to rain, I became obsessed with weatherproofing techniques. Consequently, I discovered that proper lamination transforms ordinary poster prints into durable outdoor displays. The key lies in choosing the right materials and application methods.

Cold lamination works perfectly for most carnival signs because it preserves color vibrancy without heat damage. For instance, our PSE Cool 25″ Cold Laminator handles everything from small prize labels to full-size booth banners. Here’s our proven process:

First, ensure your printed signs are completely dry—wait at least 30 minutes after printing. Next, trim any excess white space to minimize lamination waste. Then, feed your sign through the laminator slowly and evenly to prevent bubbles. Finally, leave a quarter-inch sealed border around all edges for maximum protection.

For extra durability on high-touch surfaces like game instruction boards, consider double lamination or using thicker coated poster paper as your base material. This combination has survived three years of carnivals at our school!

This crowd favorite needs crystal-clear instructions to keep lines moving. Therefore, your sign should feature:

Pro tip: Add numbered spots on the ground with matching numbers on your sign. Subsequently, this prevents disputes about throwing distance!

Perfect for younger children, this game needs extra-friendly signage. Additionally, consider these elements:

Your prize booth signage sets expectations and prevents disappointment. Hence, include these crucial components:

Remember to create “SOLD OUT” overlays you can quickly attach when prizes run low!