Friday, February 11, 2011

Lost Socks Tutorial

We always have at least 3 socks that don't end up having matches after doing the laundry. It drives my husband crazy. He was thrilled when I decided to make a "home" for these lost socks until they find their mate.

For this tutorial I am going to do something a little different, I am going to feature TIPS! along the way so that your project turns out better/easier than mine did. :)


First I started out with a little board I got at Hobby Lobby for a little over a $1.00, it's about 12 by 6 inches. (This was before I knew about Habitat for Humanity Stores where wood is 50 cents or less)
I thought at first I would paint it....

But then I thought it needed something else. Oh and please know the yellow wasn't that bright but I cannot figure out my camera settings to save my life, keep this in mind throughout all the other photos...



So I modge podged my favorite paper onto the board,
right over the paint. It's called Bo Bunny Double Dot Paper, Sunflower. You may not be able to see, but there are cute little dots on the paper.

How to Modge Podge:

  1. Apply a medium amount of modge podge with a brush (i use those super cheap foam ones) to the board. Make sure that the board is COMPLETELY covered. But don't take so long that the modge podge starts to dry.
  2. Put paper on top of modge podge. Use an old credit card or bone folder to smooth down all of the paper. You may have some modge podge come out on the sides, that's okay, just wipe down with a paper towel. Keep smoothing until there are no bubbles.
  3. Let dry for approx. 10 minutes. Then you can put vinyl on top of the paper.
  4. If you are going to "ink" the edges, this is the time to do so.
  5. After applying the vinyl, put a very thin layer of modge podge on top of the vinyl
  6. Let dry 15 minutes before handling again.
I "inked" my edges with Tim Holtz' brown ink. All you do is hold the ink pad at an angle and go along the sides of your sign. You will get a thin layer of brown on the edges. Depending on how you tilt the ink pad, you can get more or less ink around the edges. If you don't have an ink pad, you can use a brown marker!


I used the program SCAL and my Cricut to cut the brown vinyl. Click HERE if you would like to download my SCAL file to use for your own sign.

After modge podging, inking and putting the vinyl on the sign, I whipped out my hot glue gun to attach the clothespins.

TIP! Measure the distance between clothespins before you hot glue them so you don't end up with some being closer than others and being super annoyed.

While you have your hot glue gun out, use it to attach the picture hanger to the back of your piece of wood.

TIP! Do not use the little nails they give you on this thin of a board, they will go through the board.

(btw, this is the real coloring of the sign and my laundry room walls)
Your done! Now go collect your lost socks and give them a new home. They (and your husband) will be thrilled!

(see the difference in coloring? crazy camera!)



post signature

18 comments:

  1. What a great idea. Doesn't everyone have lost socks?
    I am a new follower please check out my blog and follow back at funkymomcards.blogspot.com

    I also wanted to let you know I gave you the Stylish Blogger award go check out the post here http://funkymomcards.blogspot.com/2011/02/stylish-blogger-award.html

    Have a great weekend

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  2. This IS a great idea! We always have lonely socks lying around after doing laundry. I need to make one of these! Thanks so much for sharing!

    Lisa
    prettypaperprettyribbons.blogspot.com

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  3. Such a great idea, thanks for sharing the tutorial

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  4. I really love this idea - I love your yellow!... I keep seeing versions of 'lost sock boards' and thinking I should get around to making one - but am thinking I would need a REALLY big board and a lot of pegs! ... but your board really does look so cute! (and yep that camera colouring is CRAZY)
    Visiting via Its a Hodgepodge Life linky party!
    Have a great weekend!
    Cheers
    The Spangler @
    The Quick Unpick

    ReplyDelete
  5. LOVE this! We have a big basket that we sometime dive into and fold after days or weeks of socks that don't have matches that all end up in the basket. My sign would need about 5 more clothes pins, lol!

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  6. What a FANTASTIC idea, I am with Spangler, I would need a lot more pegs, tell your hubby your doing pretty good if you only loose 2-3 each time! Thanks for sharing!

    ladybirdln.blogspot.com

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  7. Such a cute idea!!! It's a reason to celebrate in my house when all the socks match in a load.

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  8. Really cute idea! I have a lost sock jar, but I like this idea much better. I'll have to think on it a bit and see how I can adapt it for myself. Great job!

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  9. Very cute! I think I would need about 20 clothespins attached to mine!

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  10. Fun idea! Makes lost socks lok cute! Glad to have found your blog via Funky Junk & happy to be a new follower. Please consider sharing your great idea with my followers, link to my blog bash K.I.S.S. :)

    http://thetatteredtag.blogspot.com

    ReplyDelete
  11. The Treasurista said...
    Hop on over to the Party! Would love for you to link-up @

    http://thetreasurista.blogspot.com/p/treasuristas-thursday-treasures-come.html

    The Treasurista
    Finding and Creating FUN things...

    ReplyDelete
  12. This is such a great idea! I think I will link to this in our next weekly newsletter. Would you mind if I used your picure? I would of course put you down for the photo credit.

    Blessings,
    Molly
    www.econobusters.com

    ReplyDelete
  13. love the idea. my lost socks end up finding a home on the dresser or night stand until the mate is found. i definately need to make 1 of these. thanks for the tutorial.

    lisa @
    lisasalwayshomemade.blogspot.com

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  14. Brilliant idea! Love it! I’m a new follower Happy Thursday!! I would love for you to stop and take a look at my blog as well! Thanks!
    http://heavenlysavings.blogspot.com

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  15. this is SERIOUSLY the cutest thing I have seen in a REALLY long time.
    Something outside of the "box"
    which I ADORE...

    I WANT

    xoxo
    bB

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  16. I had to laugh because we were just talking about how the drier eats our socks. Love this idea!! Need to make me one soon!!

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  17. I think this is just about the most clever, and cutest thing I've ever seen! LOVE!

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  18. Smart Idea..........Love It !!!

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