Fun Wall Art & The Sale!

Happy Tuesday guys!!

I want to share a fun wall art project with you guys!  I made these for the older girls' room but I think I may be making some more for mine as well... I love them.

I have 2 blank spaces next to their window that were begging for some love.  I found the branches and birds and that became my inspiration for this project.

I started with some scrap 1x12 I had from some of my latest projects.  These were about 24" long.

I'm kind of into stain at the moment so that's just what I did... Dark Mahogany.

While those were drying I started working on the cute stuff.

I used my Silhouette to cut shapes out.  I found the birds and branches on the Silhouette software and cut it out using the machine.  There is nothing better than shopping from the comfort of my computer chair.

I used Silhouette's Premium Vinyl for these birdies and branches.

Once the machine cut it, I peeled the extras off first.

Then, I used the transfer paper to attach it to my wood.  This is my first time to use the transfer paper and I LOVE it.  I usually try the old peel and stick method but I knew that wouldn't work with all the details.  

You just peel the transfer paper off.... So easy!

I had originally planned on being done at this point but I thought it needed a little extra something.  I remembered some cream flowers I had from making the baby some headbands. 

Pulled out the glue gun...

And started attaching.

I had to cover up my holes so I used some extra pearly buttons and hot glued them too.

I found these great hooks in the garden section at Hobby Lobby for 1/2 off... Whoop!

I drilled a couple holes in each one, added some twine, and hung them up.... Well, actually I only got one up.

The babies were not enjoying this project as much as I was.  I did manage to get one up to show you though :-)

Hope you like it!

For those of you that stuck with me through those 348 pictures.... Here is this month's sale!

Shanty Silhouette Sale is running from 2/23 - 2/28

Use the code SHANTY at checkout to receive...

Silhouette SD Machine

1 Roll of Black Premium Vinyl

1 Roll of Frosted Vinyl

1 Roll of Transfer Paper

Home Decor CD

All for $225!!

ALSO!!

All Premium Vinyl is 25% off!!

Make sure to use the code SHANTY at checkout!

Thanks so much for stopping by! Let me know if you have any questions!

~Whitney

Big Sale & Frosted Mason Candles!!

UPDATE! The SHANTY code is now up and working!!

Yeah!!!

It's time for another Silhouette Sale!!

This one is great!

We have something for you guys looking to buy the machine and for those of you that already have one!

So what's the deal??

Starting tomorrow the 17th through the 22nd when you use this code at checkout...

SHANTY

You can get the Silhouette machine, 2 rolls of premium vinyl, a roll of transfer paper and the Home Decor CD for only $225!!  That is almost half off girls!!

Plus...

You can also use the code

SHANTY

to get 25% off all premium vinyl!

Want to see what I did with my vinyl??

They have this awesome vinyl as you know and now they have frosted vinyl!!

LOVE it!!

I decided to use it in my living room.  I have some mason jars I use as candle holders on this great old chippy stool.  I thought that I could shanty them up a bit using my new frosted vinyl!!

I used a frame shape and added a number to each of them using the Silhouette software.  You can easily download the software...Whoop!!

Then I let the machine do just about everything else!

My only job was peeling and sticking.  Here are the results!

Oooh!  I LOVE it :-)

So simple!  And the best part is that you totally avoid all the etching creams and paints you use to get the same look!

So... I think it's time to wink at Cupid and ask for a Silhouette or at least a few rolls of this amazing vinyl!! :-)

And make sure you use the code SHANTY when you checkout!

Photo Block Tutorial ~ Great Gift!!

Hey guys!!

We are gearing up to spend Christmas with my in-laws.  I love spending Christmas with them.  They are the most creative people I know and I hardly ever make them anything... Why make them something that I know they could make better :))??

But... I decided to brave it this year and make them some family photo blocks.  They love receiving new pictures of my kiddos and if you know me at all, you know that I love photo art!  Here is what I made them...

Want to make your own?  Here is how I did it...

I started with my wood.  I purchased a 2x4x8 and a 2x6x8 from Lowe's.

You could just stick with one size but I liked the variation.  

I cut my wood using my saw into squares.  Since the 2x4x8 is actually 3.5" wide I cut each those 3.5".

The 2x6x8 is actually 5.5" so I cut those 5.5". 

I also cut a long piece of the 2x6 about 20" long.

Then everything received a coat of my very favorite...

Rust-Oleum Painter's Touch in Heirloom White 

After spraying each of the blocks and letting them dry I used an 80 grit sanding block on the edges to shanty it up a bit.

Then I used some dark walnut stain on a sponge brush to darken my sanded edges.  I just barely painted it on like below...

And then used an old t-shirt to wipe all of my excess off.  This left my edges perfectly shanty.

Here they are ready for my next step!

I used a trimmer to cut my pictures down to size.  For my little blocks I do 4x6 photos and my larger ones I like to use 5x7 but I only had 4x6 so I used those for this project.  I cut each picture about 1/2" smaller than the blocks.

I then used some 3M photo safe spray adhesive to attach my photos to my blocks.

This stuff is great! You can leave your blocks like that or add a little Mod Podge like I did.

I like to use Matte Mod Podge.

I used a paint brush to put a thin layer over each block.  I only did the side with the picture. It goes on white and dries clear.

Now I used my very favorite new tool for my next step!

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I know I have shown you lots of things my Silhouette Machine can do.  Here is another!

I used Silhouette's Brown Vinyl to cut out the word Blessings on my machine.

Here is what my computer looked like.  I spaced the letters to get the most letters in the smallest space.

I then let the machine cut it out for me while I burped the baby :-)

I peeled the letters up from the sheet...

And attached them to my wood block.  Cute... But missing a little something!

So I added a scrolly!

Yep... Much better!

After my photo blocks were all dry I stacked them on top and took a picture for you guys!

Another fun thing is that you can arrange the blocks however you want. 

That makes them perfect for a fickle decorator like myself!  

Hope you liked them!!  These were so fun to make!!  I can't wait to make some for myself that I don't have to wrap up.  I am excited to see their reaction when they receive it though.

So... If you haven't jumped on the bandwagon yet it's time!  Go wink at Santa and tell him you need one :-)

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Have a great weekend!

~Whitney