HOME Decal, Flower Boxes and Signs

I designed this decal recently and I have fallen in love with it.  We've mostly used it for flower boxes but this last week I made it into a sign.

The inspiration for it was from a few different crafts I've done. I've been making a lot of these home tiles and love the substitute of Washington state for the O. I also really love this new font I got so I was hoping to combine the two and in such a way I could do it on the flower boxes.

It looked good but not completed. I had created this wheat wreath last Christmas for a wooden box. I had tried a few different borders with the HOME decal but this one had the 'farm house' feel I was going for and was simple but decorative.

I made the first box, which is approx 5x5" and sized the decal. I used Oracal 651 which should hold permanently to the stained box. Making one for myself helps so I can see how well it holds up.

Once I got going, it was easier to make more and I got a lot of positive feedback from them.

I have pictures where my "photo bomber" isn't so apparent but I love this one!

I was really hoping to make one for myself once things slowed down but we already have a lot of table decor so I decided to try the sign route. The sign is about 9x13". The wheat was MUCH easier to weed, making it even more desirable to make. I'm really happy with how it turned out. When I open my Etsy shop (plan is for this summer), I'm debating on selling just the decal in the two different sizes or selling the sign itself. I wonder what else I could make with the decal?

Stocking Hanger Plaque

I wanted to use our fireplace for our banner and I didn't want to nail the stockings into the wall, so I created a stocking hanger plaque for the wall. I also love the antique look so it allowed me the flexibility to create the look I wanted. You can find these knobs at various places including Home Goods and Pier 1. 

After my sweet husband, with his assistant, cut it, I painted the board, this one was pine, since it is a lighter wood. Once it was dry, I sanded down the edges with a courser sand paper.

I measured 5 inches between each knob (the board was 30" total)

I then cut vinyl and place it above the pencil points for the knobs.

My husband used his dremel to drill holes and screwed the knobs in and then shortened the backs to the edge of the wood. He then nailed on mounting brackets.

Our stockings are now ready to go! One for each of us and for our dog Willa too!

Scrabble Family Names

I saw these scrabble tiles on a google search last fall and fell in love. My husband ordered and cut the wood last October but time got a head of me and I didn't get a chance to finish it till this last week. I am in love. I am so happy that we did it. Below are some of the steps it took to complete it.

The first step was to decide what we wanted it to look like including what words to use. I choose the names of our immediate family members. I used this generator to try different combinations to find the one I found most aesthetically pleasing:

Scrabble Puzzle Generator

I then sketched it out to determine how many of which letters were needed.

My husband cut the wood. We use reclaimed rail road wood that's approximately 3"x3" and Derek, my husband, has cut them approximately .33" thick.

Next, I sanded the wood and designed and cut the 'Scrabble' style letters and corresponding numbers on my silhouette. Then I cut and weeded the vinyl. The hardest part was setting it down in between 'crafting sessions' and not continuing on all night.

The second to final step was applying the vinyl to the wood. I use Oracal Vinyl. So far it has been my favorite brand and seems to hold and transfer the best.

 The final step was mounting it to the wall. I found these removable mounting circles with a level and a measuring tape to be the best way to do it. I used the measuring tape to mark the center of where I wanted my display to be and worked my way out from there. So far, these mounting circles have been quite successful. As you can see on the picture below, I originally mounted the "E" a little high and had to move the entire row down, they all peeled off and remounted and have successfully held since.

I am very happy with these and it was well worth the wait and anticipation.