Valentine Decor

This little sign came together really quickly- gotta love projects like that! I started with a scrap of 1x4, then painted it white. I cut out vinyl with my Cricut, stuck it on, then painted red over that. When the red paint was almost dry, I peeled the vinyl off with my little Cricut pick tool (you could use anything- a pin, etc.) When it was completely dry, I distresssed it just a bit. That's all there was to it! I love the pop of red that this little sign gives- I think I like it the best in this little easel.

Ho Ho Ho Wood blocks

Oh, how I love wood blocks! These were just 4" blocks cut from a 2 x 4 piece of wood. Painted and crackled- and ho, ho, ho added. The bummer: I just made them. After Christmas. And my decorations are put away. Bummer. They get to go in the box of decorations that I'm adding to- either by finding randomly around the house, or making. It's never too late or too early to make decorations, is it? I hope not. It's almost more relaxing now when there isn't the pressure of everything else to do. Have I mentioned how much I love blocks already? (Just kidding :) ).

Fun with a 2 x 4- Fall Wood Blocks

I've been itching to make some Fall blocks for a while now, and finally painted some of my 2x4x4 blocks in Fall-ish colors to make it happen. I sat brainstorming words or phrases that emboddied the Fall feeling to me (took a while...don't you hate it when you know that they're right there but can't think of words when you actually want them?) The first set I painted with a base coat of dark brown, then after it dried, painted a nice dark orangey color - I actually didn't have the right color in my paint stash, so I combined a couple of colors.. who knew that neon orange with a brick red would create this pretty dark pumpkinny color? The second set, I painted with various colors that reminded me of the leaves turning color this time of year. I was able to use supplies that I already have, always a plus! I then sanded away to distress the blocks, for once I'm actually pleased with how it turned out. And I didn't even CRACKLE anything, quite rare.. though they would be pretty crackled instead. As an aside, I used my Cricut (the Plantin Schoolbook cartridge- using a combination of the Tall Ball, Roly Poly, and regular font to change the look up)

Valentine's wood projects

I found these wood Valentine's projects while perusing my blog reader... the conversation block idea I found from Brown Paper Packages, and I can't remember where the stacked lengths idea was from... so if you come across it and it was your idea- for the record, I'm not claiming it as my own, but thanking you for a cute idea! :) In the Brown Paper Packages project, she used fence posts, but I had 2 x 4 blocks, so I just used those. I painted 2 different colors on the blocks, then sanded to show the bottom color. I did the same thing on the other project too. I cut out the letters out of vinyl with my Cricut- Alphalicious font. I'm thinking the "love, kisses, Valentine wishes" project might look more "complete" with some ribbon, but I need to find some first... so we'll see. The conversation hearts are fun because you can arrange them however you want. So thanks to the ladies in "blog-land" for the cute ideas! :)

First project using my miter saw

This is my first project using my miter saw that I asked for (and received) for Christmas. Woohoo!!!!! Once I got headphones so the sound wouldn't make me completely weenie out from using it, the task was a lot easier to stand. I cut 8, 7, 6, 5, and 4 inch pieces of wood from a 2 x 4, then set to sanding and painting. I considered crackling, but figured with the patterned paper (and asking my best buddy who also is crafty), decided to go with painting 2 colors on the wood and distressing to show the bottom layer of paint. After that, I just used Mod Podge to glue strips of paper on, and cut names out with my Cricut and vinyl- I borrowed my best friend's Alphalicious cartridge for the font, and added shadow on some. I (literally) wrapped up the project with some wired ribbon. Pretty simple, once I had the means to cut the wood. Speaking of wood, have any of you seen that Geico commercial with the woodchucks? "Hey you dang woodchucks! You quit chucking my wood!!!"... sorry, I really get a kick out of that. Oh, I found the idea for this project from http://www.howdoesshe.com/- fabulous site!!!