Holiday Sayings on Wood

A while back I made a double sided 2x8 with  a Christmas/Halloween theme. Well this week I was back at working with 2x8's only this time they had Thanksgiving or Christmas sayings. Locally there is a Facebook group where people can list items for sale (kind of like Craigslist, but on Facebook). I posted these two images and got lots of positive feedback (and sales!).


A few people requested different sayings and I made these:


It was fun to make and sell completed projects rather than just the vinyl and it will help us with our upcoming trip to Disneyland!

Simple Vinyl Nativity on Wood

I know it's the middle of October but I'm always in the mood for Christmas crafts and I have a pile of wood calling my name. Every time I go to Home Depot I check out their cull wood section to see what's there. A few weeks ago I went and hit the jackpot! There was a stack of end cuts from 2x6's that weren't marked. I went and asked an employee and he said they were free for the taking. So I took them away!

I was pinned my inspiration a while ago, but it was still in my mind. I knew I wanted to make my own (and maybe make a few as gifts for Christmas!).

Source: classyclutter.blogspot.com via Rachel on Pinterest

Mine is a smaller version, but I love how the 2 I made turned out.

I did one with a red/maroon paint and one with a creamy paint:

I love that since it's on thicker wood it will stand on it's own. Perfect for a mantel or bookcase this Christmastime!

Scrapped Wood Tree Puzzle

I love puzzles and have really enjoyed using my scroll saw to create puzzles. I thought a tree would be a fun addition to my "Family" sign sitting on my piano. I began with a piece of 1x8 and just sketched out the puzzle directly on the wood. Here it is cut out and sanded:

After cutting it out and sanding the edges I chose scrapbook paper that  coordinated

The using spray adhesive I sprayed the backs of the paper and adhered the paper and let dry.

Then lots of sanding

and sanding

another piece down!

And the finished product!

I love it with my Family letters! (Done the same way, with spray adhesive and sanding the edges)

I just used cheap dollartree sandpaper 150 grit torn into small pieces to sand down the edges. Once the edge is sanded you sometime have to tear away some of the paper. You can also use modge podge rather than spray adhesive, but I tend to have problems with bubbling when I use modge podge.

Enjoy!

Double sided 2x8

I have high hopes that Fall will be hitting my part of the country soon. We're still hitting triple digits each day, but our evenings are just barely making it to bearable.

So on the thoughts of Fall I decided to make a new Halloween craft. I had some scrap 2x8 that I white washed with watered down craft paint and made a festive Halloween design. Who doesn't like a cute skeleton!

But there is a backside to the wood that is just a great as the front. Why leave it blank when I can just as easily make it a Christmas decoration? I love the Hymn "I Heard the Bells on Christmas Day" and decided to put part of that hymn on the back.

Happy Fall decorating!

Laminate Cabinet Redo

I've been looking for a shoe storage solution for right next to our door leading out the the garage. Everything I was seeing was more than I was willing to spend. On a local "For Sale" facebook page last week I saw this cabinet and decided this might fit the bill. It was in poor condition, but I thought I could get it new life:

I started by lightly standing it all (except for the spots that had stickers, those I sanded a lot to get the sticker residue off).

Then it was a coat of primer and some  paint. I had the primer and I bought 2 sample jars of paint and that covered it. I had a little help!

After it was all painted I did a coat of poly on the top and sides (where I figured it would get the more wear and tear).



So far it's working great and I'm the only one that doesn't put my shoes in it. Strange I know, but I'm in and out of my flip flops all day they stay in a corner!

Christmas: Stained Wooden Nativity

I posted my original nativity puzzle back at the end of September. I have since done a LOT of cutting and am happy with the results. These nativities were cut with a scroll saw out of 1/2 pine purchased off the scrap bin for $.50 at Home Depot. The stain was borrowed from my cousin. All in all I'm very happy with the results! While cutting the puzzles out of MDF is easier the end result with wood makes the effort more worth it in the end.

Here they are. I had my kids put them all back together after they finished drying!

Be sure to check out where the idea came from over at La Paz Home Learning.

Christmas: Small Wooden Nativity Puzzle

I feel like I have been living and breathing cutting, sanding and painting the last few days. I really should have started all of this earlier!


But here is a small version of a wooden Nativity puzzle. This puzzle has only 4 pieces and is about 6 inches tall and 4 inches wide. It was cut on a scroll saw out of 1/2 inch MDF (check the scrap bin at your local Home Depot, I have spent no more that $1 on the wood for about 20 nativities).

I used the same paint be Martha Stewart as I used for my stocking hangers.

Here's is an image of the basic pattern. The pattern does not have the star. I "eye-balled" each star as I cut them.

 

Enjoy!