FAQ
Answers to the questions we hear most about My Custom Idea: personalized wood signs, pet name signs and leash holders, handmade to order in our workshop in Hillsborough, New Jersey. Can't find your answer? Chat with us, or email info@mycustomidea.com and we reply within 24 hours.
Ordering and personalization
How do I order a personalized sign?
Open the product page, enter your names or text, choose the stain color and lettering color (and the size, if the product has sizes), then add it to your cart and check out. Every sign is made to order after you place your order.
Can I see my sign before I order?
Yes, on most of our personalized signs. The live preview on the product page updates as you type the names and choose your stain and lettering colors, so you can see how your sign will look before you add it to the cart.
Will my text be used exactly as I type it?
Yes. Your personalization is used exactly as you enter it, including spelling, capital letters and punctuation. Please double-check names and dates before you order, because that is the text that goes on your sign.
Do you send a proof or mock-up before making my sign?
For standard personalized signs we do not send a mock-up; the live preview shows your design. For custom design requests we email you a mock-up and wait up to 24 hours for your approval. If we do not hear back within 24 hours, we continue production as ordered so your order is not delayed.
How long can the names be?
It depends on the sign. The Personalized Pet Name Sign (3.5 x 11.5 in) fits one name of up to 14 characters. The Dad Wood Sign with Kids' Names fits up to 5 names, 30 characters in total. On signs with a live preview, the preview shows how your text fits as you type. If you are unsure, email us before ordering.
Can you make a custom design?
Yes, custom ideas are welcome. Email info@mycustomidea.com with a short description (names, layout, size if you know it) and any reference image. Extra design fees may apply. We send you a mock-up to approve before we make it.
Can I order several signs with different names?
Yes. Add each sign to your cart separately with its own personalization. Every sign is made individually to order.
Which payment methods do you accept?
Major credit and debit cards (Visa, Mastercard, American Express, Discover, Diners Club), PayPal, Apple Pay, Google Pay, Shop Pay and Venmo. The available options are shown at checkout.
Products, sizes and materials
What does My Custom Idea make?
Personalized wood signs and gifts, including:
- Couple name signs (slim, with an established date, or with the names inside a heart)
- Family last name signs
- Signs for Dad and Papa with the kids' names
- Workshop, garage and man cave signs
- Pet name signs for dogs, cats, rabbits and other pets
- Dog leash holders and key and leash holders
We also offer personalized charcuterie boards, ornaments and a few other gifts.
What are the signs made of?
Our signs are made from premium pine boards with 3D birch plywood lettering. Our couple name signs are cut from 1/2 inch thick pine. The lettering is raised, so it stands off the board.
How is each sign made?
Only the lettering is laser cut. Everything after that is done by hand in our Hillsborough, New Jersey workshop. Every board is hand sanded and hand stained in the color you choose, and every letter is set by hand. Our signs are handmade in the USA.
What sizes are your signs?
- Personalized Couple Name Sign (slim): 3.5 x 24 in
- Couple Name Sign with Established Date: 5.5 x 24 in
- Couple Name Sign with Heart: 5.5 x 18 in
- Family Last Name Sign: 3.5 x 24 in
- Dad Wood Sign with Kids' Names: 5.5 x 18 in
- PAPA Sign with Kids' Names: 5.5 x 18 in
- Engraved Dad Sign with Kids' Names: 5.5 x 18 in or 5.5 x 24 in
- Workshop, Garage or Man Cave Sign: 5.5 x 16 in, 5.5 x 24 in or 11.25 x 24 in
- Personalized Pet Name Sign: 3.5 x 11.5 in
- Pet Name Sign with 3D Lettering: 5.5 x 11.5 in
- Cat Name Sign: 5.5 x 11.5 in
- Dog Butt Leash Holder: 5.5 x 8 in (1 dog), 5.5 x 11.5 in (2 dogs), 5.5 x 18 in (3 dogs), 5.5 x 24 in (4 dogs)
- Key and Leash Holders (Home Sweet Home, Mr & Mrs, His & Hers): Small 5.5 x 11.5 in, Medium 5.5 x 18 in, Large 5.5 x 24 in on most models
The exact size options for every product are listed on its product page.
Will my sign look exactly like the photos?
Very close, but not identical. Each sign is made to order from natural wood, so the grain, knots and small cracks vary from board to board, and the stain can look slightly different on the finished sign. That is what makes every sign one of a kind.
Can I hang my sign outside?
No. Our signs and leash holders are made for indoor use only.
Does the sign come ready to hang?
Yes. Our signs come with a sawtooth hanger attached to the back. The Dog Butt Leash Holder comes with two D-type hangers attached to the back. Some pet signs hang from natural jute twine, as shown on the product page.
Colors and design options
Which stain colors can I choose?
We offer nine wood stains: Natural (no stain, the bare wood finish), Mocha, Walnut, Slate, Navy, True Black, Barn Red, Pink and White. The colors available for each sign are shown on its product page.
Which lettering colors can I choose?
Three lettering colors: Natural wood, White and Black. Some products offer two of them.
How do I choose a stain and lettering color that look good together?
White lettering stands out on dark stains like Mocha, Walnut, Navy, True Black and Slate. Black lettering works well on light stains like Natural and White. Natural wood lettering gives a softer, warm look. Use the live preview on the product page to compare combinations before you order.
Which designs can I choose on the pet name signs?
Our dog and pet name signs come with a paw and bone or a paw and paw design. The Pet Name Sign with 3D Lettering and the Cat Name Sign also offer a shiplap look. The Cat Name Sign has a paw print and a fish bone.
Can I add a date to a couple sign?
Yes. The Couple Name Sign with Established Date adds a date under the names, ideal for weddings and anniversaries. You can choose to include or leave out the EST. abbreviation.
Which word can go at the top of the dad sign?
On the Engraved Dad Sign with Kids' Names you can choose DAD, PAPA, DADDY or a custom word: up to 10 characters on the 18 inch size and 12 characters on the 24 inch size.
Pet signs and leash holders
Are your pet signs only for dogs?
No. Our pet name signs are made for dogs, cats, rabbits and other pets. The Cat Name Sign is designed especially for cats. Our leash holders are made for dog owners.
How many dogs can a leash holder hold?
Our dog leash holders come in sizes for 1 to 4 dogs, depending on the model. The Dog Butt Leash Holder fits 1 to 4 dogs, with one dog silhouette per leash hook.
How many hooks does the Dog Butt Leash Holder have?
The one-dog size has 2 hooks, the two-dog size has 3, and the larger sizes include extra hooks for more leashes.
Can I pick my dog's breed?
Yes. On the Dog Butt Leash Holder you choose each dog's breed silhouette and enter their name, and the live preview shows the whole row before you order.
Is a pet name sign a good gift?
Yes. A pet name sign is a popular gift for new pet owners, adoption days, pet birthdays and anyone who loves their dog, cat or rabbit. It is a nice way to mark a feeding area, a pet bed or a pet's room.
Production and shipping
How long does it take to make my order?
Production takes 2 to 3 days, and we usually finish faster than that. Every sign is made to order after you place your order.
I need my order fast. Is there a rush option?
Yes. A rush option is available on our signs; add it to your order and we move it to the front of the queue. Choose express shipping at checkout for the fastest delivery.
How long does shipping take?
Ground shipping takes 1 to 5 days depending on your location. Express shipping has a 2-day option. Delivery time is added to the 2 to 3 days of production.
How much is shipping?
Orders over $99 ship free. For other orders, the ground and express rates are shown at checkout.
Which carriers do you use?
We ship mainly with FedEx, with UPS as an alternative.
Do you ship outside the United States?
No. We ship within the United States only.
Can you ship to a PO Box?
No. Please enter a valid street address at checkout, because we cannot ship to PO Box addresses.
Can I ship a sign directly to the person I am gifting it to?
Yes. Enter the recipient's street address as the shipping address at checkout.
How do I track my order?
When your order ships, you receive a shipping confirmation by email. If you have a question about your order, email info@mycustomidea.com with your order number.
Local pickup and delivery
Can I pick up my order?
Yes. Local pickup from our workshop in Hillsborough, New Jersey is free. Choose pickup at checkout.
Do you offer local delivery?
Yes, within 10 miles of Hillsborough, NJ. Local delivery costs $5.99 within 5 miles and $9.99 for 5 to 10 miles. Choose local delivery at checkout.
Where is your workshop?
Our workshop is at 120 Stryker Ln, Ste 208, Hillsborough Township, NJ 08844. Every sign is made there.
Changes, cancellations and returns
Can I cancel or change my order?
Yes, within 3 hours of ordering. After that, email us as soon as possible at info@mycustomidea.com: if production has not started yet, we may still be able to change or cancel it.
Can I return a personalized item?
No. Every item is made to order and personalized for you, so returns are not accepted on custom items.
What if my order arrives damaged or wrong?
Email info@mycustomidea.com with photos of the item and the packaging. If it arrived damaged or was made incorrectly, we send a replacement or a refund.
How are refunds paid?
Refunds go back to your original payment method.
What if there is a typo on my sign?
If we made a mistake, we replace the sign. Because your text is used exactly as you enter it (or as you approved it in a custom mock-up), please check spelling, capital letters and dates carefully before you order.
Gifts and occasions
What occasions are your signs good for?
Weddings, engagements, anniversaries, Valentine's Day, housewarmings and new homes, bridal showers, Father's Day and birthdays for Dad or Grandpa, Christmas, and new pets or pet birthdays.
Which sign makes a good wedding or anniversary gift?
The Couple Name Sign with Established Date (5.5 x 24 in) is a customer favorite, because it shows the couple's names and their wedding or established date. The Couple Name Sign with Heart and the Family Last Name Sign are also popular wedding and housewarming gifts.
What is a good personalized gift for Dad or Grandpa?
Our Dad and PAPA signs with the kids' names are made for Father's Day, birthdays and holidays. For a dad who loves his tools, the Workshop, Garage or Man Cave Sign is personalized with his name.
When should I order for a holiday or event?
Allow 2 to 3 days for production plus shipping time (ground 1 to 5 days, or express with a 2-day option). Order early for holidays. If you are on a deadline, add the rush option and choose express shipping, or email us before ordering.
Care
How do I take care of my wood sign?
Keep it indoors. Our signs are made for indoor use only.
How do I take care of a charcuterie board?
Keep it away from water and wipe it with a soft, dry cloth.
About My Custom Idea
Who is My Custom Idea?
My Custom Idea is a small workshop in Hillsborough, New Jersey that has made personalized wood signs since 2020. Every sign is made to order and finished by hand. Read more on our About Us page.
Are your signs handmade in the USA?
Yes. Every sign is handmade in the USA, in our Hillsborough, New Jersey workshop.
How can I contact you?
Chat with us online with the Chat button at the bottom right of any page, email info@mycustomidea.com or call 908-548-6822. We reply to emails and messages within 24 hours. You can also use the form on our Contact page.
Can I chat with you online?
Yes. Click the Chat button at the bottom right of any page on mycustomidea.com, or start a chat here. Ask about our products, personalization, colors, shipping or your order. If you need more help, our team follows up by email within 24 hours.