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!

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. 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!)

Valentine's Block

A few weeks ago my Aunt Tanis and I had a Craft Day. I recently introduced her to the world of craft blogs and her head almost exploded. She runs her own cake shop and makes AMAZING cakes! Just because I like to brag, go HERE to take a look.

Back to the point, On our Craft Day we made lots of fun wood blocks. Here is what I did with a few of them....

Recipe:

1. Cut a piece of 4x4 wood from the hardware store

 (approx. $10) into lots of 4 inch blocks.

2. Sand your blocks

3. Paint your blocks (we painted our several different colors)

4. Decorate! I added a pink vinyl heart and a ribbon (from Hobby Lobby)

It was really easy to make and a great inexpensive decoration for Valentine's Day! Come back next week to see what else I made with my wood blocks!

Please click HERE to see what parties I am linking this project up to!

Conversation Heart Banner

I was inspired to make this Conversation Heart Banner after seeing THIS. I have a mirror right inside our front door and I thought it would look great on it.

If you would like to make one, here is what I did.....

Keep in mind if you don't have a cricut, you could easily do this without one!

I cut six hearts out on my Cricut at 5 inches in different colored cardstock. I used the program SCAL to make the phrases and then cut them out using my Cricut as well. To stick the letters to the hearts I used my Zig two way glue pen. Then, I punched holes in the hearts and tied pink polka dot ribbon through the holes. That's it! It was a really easy project and I love how it looks on my mirror.  

Click HERE to see what parties I am linking this project to.

LOVE Frame with Tutorial!

I have been sick in bed with a cold for a few days but my mind has been going full speed thinking of cute Valentine's Day decorations! Here's a little tutorial (my first) on how to make this craft from a Michael's $1.00 Frame. This is a perfect project if you have never modge podged before!

 

Step One: Pick a cute paper to modge podge onto your frame. The thicker your paper is, the easier it is to modge podge.

Step Two: Gather supplies.

Modge Podge, Paper, Paint Brush, Bone Folder (or old credit card), Exacto Knife, Scissors, Pencil, Wood Frame

Step Three: Trace around frame and cut paper out.

Step Four: Apply thin coat of modge podge all over frame

Step Five: Line up the edges of the paper and the frame, when straight, put paper down and smooth onto frame with bone folder or old credit card.

Step Six: After letting dry for 3-5 minutes, take exacto knife and trim any paper that is hanging over the edges.

Step Seven: Color in edges and sides of frame with black marker (I used a Martha Stewart marker) or paint the sides. Oh, and I've used a sharpie before and it works great too!

Step Eight: While waiting for your marker or paint to dry, cut out 6 hearts. I did mine in a program called SCAL (then later cut with my cricut) starting at 2.5 inches and going smaller. But if you don't have a Cricut, you can use Word or just free hand it! That's what I used to do. I cut 2 red, 2 with vellum and 2 with pink.

Step Nine: Your marker should be dry now. Put a THIN layer of modge podge over your paper that is now attached to your frame. Put frame somewhere you won't touch it.

Step Ten: Glue paper hearts together. I did 2 at a time with zig glue, straight down the middle. Then after they were dry I attached all of them together.

Step Eleven: Plug hot glue gun in.

 Step Twelve: "Fluff" the heart layers up.

Step Thirteen: Remember the frame you put out of your reach? Well your allowed to touch it now that it's dry. Take your hot glue gun and attach your heart to the frame with it.

Step Fourteen: Cut a piece of pink (or color of your choice) card stock into a 3.5 x 3.5 square to cover the opening in the frame. I used my big-bad-ATG gun (but a glue stick will work too!) to attach the card stock right to the square piece of cardboard Michael's already put in the frame.

Step Fifteen: Are you still awake?! Good. Now, cut out the letters L-O-V-E. I did this in SCAL. But if you don't have that program, don't fret! Use Word or free hand it! The font I used was Bookman Old Style. Tilt the "O" and glue your letters down on the pink square you just made.

Step Sixteen: Put pink square into frame and your done!

I hope that you will try this project, especially if you are a beginner and don't modge podge often. It's incredibly inexpensive and if you follow the steps it should only take 30-1 hour to complete. If you make one, please let me know,

 I would love to see it!