Cabinet Sign

One of my new favorite stores is The Habitat for Humanity Thrift Store! Have you guys ever heard of it? I hadn't until I moved back to Florida and was suffering from major thrift store withdrawals. Don't get me wrong, we have TONS of Goodwill's here but they are wayyyyyy overpriced. At least in my town. I have been to Goodwill's in other Florida towns and their prices are normal. Anywho. I love Habitat for Humanity! My favorite thing to buy there is Cabinet Doors. Most of the ones I buy are old showroom cabinet doors and are $1.00. Some of the cabinets doors came from real cabinets and are old and full of character. I love those too. You may remember, I made THIS and THIS last year with them.

This weekend I decided to make a sign for my Aunt's Cake Shop that I work at. I think she's going to love it!

Here is how I made it...

First, I started out with my $1.00 cabinet door

Here is what the back looks like...

It was attached to a larger frame and I just un-screwed the hardware, it was super easy.

I probably should have sanded it first but I'm lazy, so I didn't :) I decided to paint the outside square my favorite paint color, Mediterranean Teal from Glidden. But before I did that I taped off the inside square until it was all dry. I think it took about 3 coats. Then I painted the inside white.

I apologize for the crappy photos, when I am painting I use my cell phone camera.

I didn't have an svg of a cake so I googled "svg cake" and found THIS. Perfect! I then used my SCAL software to design  the wording. And of course I used my fabulous Cricut to cut it all out in black vinyl.

I think it turned out so cute and I can't wait to put it in the cake shop!

I am linking this project up to THESE fantastic parties!

One Month To Win It - Week One Project Reveal

Thank you so much for voting for my project! I made it to week 2 and I'm so excited! Now that the voting for this week is over, I can share my project!

I loved this week's theme of "Preserving a Memory". When I first found out I was chosen and what the first theme was, my mind literally went BLANK. I couldn't think of a single memory I had ever had! I had crafter's block and I had it bad. I decided to leave my house and go visit my sister before I completely lost my mind. On the way to her house I started thinking about a family tree of some sort on wood. Then we went to an antique store because that's where my mind is happiest! There I found beautiful old windows and my crafter's block vanished. Yes, this was exactly what I needed to preserve my memory!  But instead of a family tree, it became a date tree for my husband and I. It's filled will all the important dates we've had so far and we have more leaves and limbs that we can add on for future dates. 

Here's how I made it. 

#1) I painted the opposite side of the window pane a beautiful blue gray. I did two coats, kept them imperfect so that you could see subtle brush strokes and light through the window pane. 

#2) I measured the window pane to see how large to make my vinyl tree. I found the center and marked it using a dry erase marker. 

#3) I designed the tree on SCAL and used my "baby bug" Cricut to cut it out. That's right ladies, I used the 6x12 inch Cricut to cut this huge tree out! It can be done! Just in sections. It really didn't take very long. 

#4) I added very very tiny dates and words to the branches, for example "First Kiss June 5, 2001" The hardest part of the  project was this step. Because the letters and numbers were so small, they were pretty hard to cut out and place on the glass but it was worth it!

I am thrilled with how it turned out and how easy it was! It's something I will keep forever and can't wait to add more dates to it!

Spring Sign

Back when we lived in Texas I was at my favorite thrift store and found 2 oval frames for only $1.99 each. It felt like I had won the lottery! I made THIS with the first one and I have been waiting to think of a cute idea for the second one.

Finally inspiration hit! Here is what I made....

I used a gorgeous blue and white dot paper for the background and then picked out really cute bright colors out of my cardstock scraps. I used SCAL to design and cut it out on my Cricut then simply used my glue pen to make the letters say on. I have been dying to try out Kiki's tutorial on fabric roses and finally I had a chance. While they do not look like hers, I am very happy with mine! If you make one be sure to email me a photo, I love to see your projects!

I will be linking this project up to THESE parties

Iron On Vinyl T-Shirts

Thank you to everyone who entered the giveaway! I will be posting the winner shortly.

I have also been working on Cricut 101: Lesson 2 and will be posting that this week. I had no idea how long it would take the videos to upload to You Tube!

Until then, I will show you some T-shirts I made recently that I forgot to post about. I tried iron on vinyl for the first time and it was SO easy and fun!

I ordered the vinyl from Expressions Vinyl and used SCAL to design what I wanted to cut out on my Cricut. Expressions Vinyl even has a video on their website to teach you how to use the iron on vinyl. It was SUPER helpful!

My 10 year old nephew asked me to make him a "panther shirt". I didn't know what that meant so we went searching for panther images on google until we found one he liked. He requested an orange shirt. I got all the shirts at Hobby Lobby for 1/2 off. I think the kids shirts were a total of $2.00. 

It turned out great except for the fact that I forgot to take the eye out of the panther before ironing it on. Oh well :)

Of course I couldn't just make one nephew a shirt and not make one for his brother. Here's the batman shirt I made for my 3 year old nephew.

I then became slightly obsessed with iron on vinyl and made my sister a t-shirt that I've been thinking about making for a while now. She had a brain tumor over a year ago that was succesfully removed (thank goodness), then they found tumors all up and down her back and now she has 18 tumors in her neck. So this shirt fits perfectly :)

I hope you will all try the iron on vinyl!

Family Name Board

I have wanted one of these Family Name boards for years!

 I am way too cheap to buy one though. Finally I figured out how to make one and I'm in love with it!! It was very easy and I will be making more. When I do, I'll take photos so I can make a full tutorial. But until then, here's a short tutorial:

Step 1: Pick out a piece of wood.
Mine was 50 cents at Habitat for Humanity.

Step 2: Paint the board what color you want your letters to be. I think I did 2-3 coats. Let dry completely,
if it's even a little wet, it will mess everything up.

Step 3: Cut your wording out of vinyl.
 I used the program SCAL and my cricut.

Step 4: After smoothing down the vinyl on the piece of wood, I mean really making sure every little piece is stuck down, paint the board a different color. I used 2 coats.

Step 5: Once completely dry, peel vinyl letters off the board.

Step 6: Sand the edges of the board and top.

Step 7: All Done!

HERE are the linky parties I will be joining!



St. Patrick's Day Frame Tutorial

I had so much fun making THIS Valentine's Frame I decided to make another one for St. Patrick's Day. The total cost for the project was $1.50, love that! I purchased the wood frame at Michael's for $1.00 (they are always this price) and the scrapbook paper at Hobby Lobby for 50 cents.

Here is a tutorial so that you can make it too: 

Step 1: Trace the outside and inside of the frame on the scrapbook paper of our choice. I did this on the back so that I didn't have pencil lines. Cut out paper and set aside.

Step 2: Apply a thin layer of Modge Podge to entire

 top of the frame. The trick is not to wait too long to

put the paper on top of the modge podge and not to

put too much modge podge on the frame.

The photo above is what your frame should look like when the modge podge is applied correctly.

Step 3: Apply the paper you cut earlier to the top of the frame, use something (an old credit card, etc) to smooth the paper down onto the frame, working from the inside out. This will ensure that you don't have bubbles. If you have bubbles then you either put way too much modge podge or not enough. Let dry approx. 10 minutes.

Optional Step 4: Take a black marker and outline your frame. Let marker dry for 10 minutes before going to next step.

Step 5: Apply a thin layer a modge podge on top of the paper, in the photo above you can see what it should look like. If any bubbles appear, you can try to smooth them down but be careful not to rip your paper.

Step 6: While your frame is trying, glue a piece of cardstock on top of the square that came in the middle of the frame.

Step 7: Put something in the middle of the frame.

I chose to cut "Luck O' the Irish" out of the cricut

cartridge "Celebrate with Flourish". If you don't have

 a Cricut or this cartridge, anything St. Patty's Day

 related would be cute inside the frame!

Step 8: Your Done! Drink a diet coke (or your favorite drink) to celebrate! :)

HERE are the Linky Parties I will be joining!

St. Patty's Day Wood Block

Can you tell I am loving these wood blocks that my Aunt and I cut? :) This is my 3rd project with them and I have already done another one that I will share next week.

This time I took pictures for you along the way!

 I downloaded the Shamrock image for free HERE

 and cut it out using SCAL on my Cricut.

HERE are the Linky Parties I will be joining!



Lucky Plate with Free SCAL File

I found this little white square plate while cleaning my craft area on Saturday that I forgot I had :)
It's good to clean!

I decided to make a St. Patrick's Day decoration out of it because really I have very few. I used SCAL and my Cricut to design and cut THIS file that you can download for free.

I used the shamrock from The Free SVG Blog.  

Here is the finished product, super quick and easy!

HERE are the Link Parties I will be joining

Onesies

I love making onesies a little cuter with some fabric and thread. It's really easy and very inexpensive as well. Here are a few I made for a special little lady being born next month.

 I can't wait to see pictures of her in them!

The Squirrel was cut from the Cricut Cartridge "Give A Hoot", The Whale and the Pig are just clip art I printed off online and then traced onto the fabric.

The bunny and bird are also clip art images. Yes the bunny onesie is super small compared to the others because I wanted my friends little baby girl to have something to wear right away from "Auntie Lolo".

These are a surprise for the Mom and Dad. I used iron on vinyl for the first time and it was super easy! I ordered it from Expressions Vinyl and used the program SCAL to cut them out on my Cricut. The new Dad to be is a total math nerd (i say this with love) and the new Mommy is an accomplished violinist. I hope they like them!

Here are some upclose photos....

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!)