How would you stain this sign?

[maryamick]

I'm not sure this is the right place for this post, but wanted to pick your brains and ask how you would stain this sign. I've been using a water based stain through a sprayer, then sanding off the raised areas. This gets a little tricky with 2 raised areas (the names). I would like for the background to be a prettypecan color, amick to be a darker pecan and bruce and missy to be sanded off. Does anyone have suggestions? I love this sign and used cross pattern from the pattern depot.

p.s. if this is the wrong place for this post, someone please point me to the section I should post it in.

Thanks,
Connie B.