Friday, August 23, 2013

Dollar Tree Fall letter fun

I wanted to post a really quick project I did in record time... ( like 5 minutes) seriously... CUTE!

Dollar Tree had these cute little pumpkin magnets that I thought would be adorable for Hudson to play with on our entry way door.

 I thought I would add his name on them for a little letter recognition fun. I realize he is not quite 2 but I think starting early never hurts :)

I think my local DT just started to put out our fall stuff so check yours soon if you don't see them quite yet.

 
They are about 3 inches tall and maybe 2 inches wide, the picture makes them look really small but they are super cute!
 
Then I just took a black Sharpie and wrote his name on each letter.  I tore one by accident so I pitched it, you might have to purchase more than one package depending on the length of your child's name.  You could have a lot of fun with these and write the alphabet, numbers, etc.  Older kids could even build up sight words!
 
 
*Here is a little tip too- I didn't like the way I wrote my U so I took some Isopropyl Alcohol and a cotton pad and wiped off the Sharpie and it came right off for me to start again!  Pretty sweet!!  All the more reason I "need" a vinyl cutting machine :) LOL
 
Have fun!!
 
 

Monday, August 12, 2013

My very un-wreath door wreath

So I was surfing Pinterest and I liked this post that showed a burlap fabric stretched in a embroidery loom and then a letter painted on the inside and I thought I would like to switch mine up a bit ( that and I can't leave anything alone).

 I like the look of the burlap one too, so I may still try this for my Fall door.  Here is the post for that if you would like to take a look http://lifeasathrifter.blogspot.com/2012/09/favorite-fall-decor-from-past.html?m=1

Here is my version :)

Supplies you will need

*Large Embroidery Loom or Hoop ( I don't know the technical term) haha! I got mine for $8.99 with 50% off at Hancock Fabric

*white or cream neutral canvas fabric or heavy duck cotton cloth (had mine at home in my stash) leftover Ikea curtains!

* any fun colored fabric for your letter , a scrap will do

* Heat and Bond- this is a paper type product for those who have not used it, comes in a package or by the yard
 ( found even at Walmart $2.99 pkg) or even cheaper by the yard at JoAnn or Hancock

* Iron

*Ironing Board

*Scissors

*printer, computer, and paper to print your large letter onto ( I just Googled the letter M and it came up with a ton of free images and I picked my favorite and printed it in an 8x10)



Now that you have your supplies, let's do this thing!!

Take your cream colored fabric and stretch it across your hoop and pull tight, put the other hoop over top and tighten the top of the hoop to stretch the fabric across.
Once it is tight and smooth across the top, go ahead and cut off the extra fabric hanging off the sides.


The finished top will look like this baby!

Go ahead and Google search your letter and print it out in the 8x10.  Since my letter was an M, I didn't need to trace mine in reverse onto the Heat and Bond paper.

 If you have a letter that needs to be reversed just turn your print out over and trace it in the mirror image so that when you go to iron your fabric letter on, your letter won't be backwards.

If you have never used Heat and Bond paper it is an applique paper that you will trace onto the paper side and then on the rough tacky side you will iron onto the WRONG side of your fabric.

Let me repeat... iron onto the WRONG side of your fabric ( the side without the print ) there have been many coffee deprived days where I have gone to iron an applique and I have ironed the right side of the fabric and it will ruin EVERYTHING!!

And you will have to start over :) So... grab your coffee, chug it like a champ, and iron the WRONG side of the fabric:)


Trace your letter to the Heat and Bond

Iron onto the WRONG SIDE of your fabric ( the side without print) I use the cotton setting on my iron (check the Heat and Bond directions)
Cut out your letter, and remove the paper backing and center into the cream hoop and iron onto the fabric
 

 
 
 
 So simple, so pretty, and so EASY!!  From my nest to yours, enjoy!
 
Kadi