Design

Witch and Ghoul Death and Breakfast Paper Roll Sign with Cricut Easy Press

2 · Oct 16, 2017 · Leave a Comment

Today, I have a fun new idea. I’ve always loved the vintage paper rolls that little shops used to have. They would keep a roll of brown paper on it and use it to wrap parcels for their shoppers. Well, they are making a come back thanks to the vintage farmhouse lovers. I have found some vintage style paper rolls that aren’t too expensive and thought it would be fun to create new signs for the seasons with heat transfer vinyl and the NEW Cricut Easy Press.

• This post brought to you by Cricut •

Isn’t that fun?! It’s kind of a new concept when it comes to signage around the home.

Now, some people are naturally gifted and can create beautiful signs with just a sharpie and a little imagination. I however, can not… I wish I could! I was not gifted with that talent. The problem is that I love the look and I don’t have an arm and a leg to pay and actual artist to create my design each time I want to change it out. Then, I thought I could use vinyl and cut a design with the Cricut cutting machine. The problem with that is, the transfer tape would be a nightmare on the paper. It would just turn into a hot mess. Plus… I’m not a fan of weeding intricate designs out of vinyl. Although, I don’t mind weeding the Cricut Iron-on Lite! It’s so much easier to weed. I set out to see if it was possible to use Cricut Iron-On Lite on paper and sure enough, it works with the Easy Press!! I LOVE this new tool from Cricut!

All you need to do is to download my SVG file for the Witch and Ghoul sign OR you can download the free printable and print it out to display. You could even frame it if you’d like. I’ve sized it at 8×10 for your use.

Paper Roll Sign Supplies

vintage style paper roll like the one here
Cricut Iron-On Lite – Black
Cricut Maker or Explore series machine
Cricut Easy Press
light cotton towel
heat resistant surface to work on
scissors

Paper Roll Sign Instructions

First, you’ll need to upload the SVG file into Cricut Design Space and size your design for the size of your paper roll. My roll is 8 inches but, you can get even larger paper rolls. You’ll be able to size the design for your paper roll size.

Then you’ll need to load your heat transfer vinyl onto your cutting mat and load into your machine and cut out the design.

Quick tip… I leave the vinyl on the roll while I am cutting it. It doesn’t interfere with the cutting process and it cuts down on waste.

Then you’ll need to weed your design to remove the excess vinyl.

While you are weeding your vinyl, you’ll want to pre-heat your Cricut Easy Press. Once you finish with the weeding process, you should unroll some of your paper and place something at the bottom of the roll to keep it from rolling back-up.

I like to pre-heat my surface before I lay down my design. The transfer seems to work best that way. Then I center the design onto the paper like so…

I then cover it with the cotton tea towel to protect the paper.

Then I place the Easy Press or the iron right on top and let it works it’s magic. I have found that 350˚ for about 50 seconds typically does the trick. Then, I let it cool for a minute or two and then remove the plastic protective covering.

Replace the towel and do one more shot with the Easy Press. Voilá.. You’re finished!

Doesn’t it look kinda of cool? You can check out my post on how to create that Halloween Taxidermy to complete the entire look. It’s super easy too.

I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE the new Easy Press! I’ve used it on all kinds of surfaces now. Paper, canvas, fabric and my next project will be on ribbon. I can’t wait to show you how it turns out. Make sure you add the Cricut Easy Press to your Christmas list AND make sure you make it on the Nice List so that you will for sure get one. It’s one of those game changing tools that you are going to LOVE.

This is a sponsored conversation written by me on behalf of Cricut. The opinions and text are all mine.

Halloween Bat Jars

9 · Oct 4, 2017 · Leave a Comment

Chalky Finish Halloween Bat Jars • Have fun creating spooky Halloween decor with these Americana Decor Chalky Finish Ball Jars filled with creepy bats. Decorate your mantle or use them as a table centerpiece. Either way, they will add some stylish fun to your Halloween decoration game.

+ This post is brought to you by the amazing folks at DecoArt +

I LOVE, love, love creating simple and, (strange as it may seem,) elegant Halloween decor. I’ve said it before, I don’t really go for the macabre but, I do love a good bat or six flying around the room. This year I thought it would be fun to use two of my favorites and create spooky mantle decor OR a centerpiece for our Halloween gatherings.

Not All Jars are Created Equal • What Jars Are Fun to Use

We’ve all seen those classic chalk painted jars used for everything under the sun. They are great but, they can be even better when you use the NEW Ball jars that have a little flair to them. The have a new Spiral Jar, a Giving Jar and a little Mini Ball Jar. All three of these jars have something fun to add to the chalk paint jar scene. The Spiral jar has great spiral lines with a somewhat hour glass shape, PERFECT for a chalky finish. The giving jar has great lines and, can we swoon over the cute mini mason jar! That would be perfect for a place card at a Halloween dinner party.

The Benefits of Chalky Finish Paint vs. Typical Acrylic Paint

These fun new jars are a match made in Heaven when it comes to the DecoArt Americana Decor Chalky Finish paint. The two main benefits to using chalk type paint for this application is:

Dry time– Chalk or mineral type paint has a super speedy dry time which is fabulous when you are wanting to a quick project. Whether big or small, furniture or jars, you want to move quickly and not have to sit around literally watching the paint dry.
Manipulatable – With a chalk based paint like the Americana Decor Chalky Finish paint, once the paint is dry, that’s when the magic happens. You can use sand paper or even a wet cloth to play with the paint giving it a nice worn look. With typically acrylic paint you wouldn’t be able to do that. It would just become a sticky mess. The paint would gum up in your sand paper and the result wouldn’t be consistent. And really, chalk painted projects are far more interesting than just your basic flat paint job. They have character!

Supplies Needed for the Halloween Bat Jars

Ball Jars- Spiral, Giving Jar & Mini Jar –
DecoArt Americana Decor Chalky Finish Paint – Everlasting
DecoArt Americana Decor Satin Enamels – Classic Black
Chalk paint brush
FloralCraft Dry Foam Mug Plugs
Wire cutters
Black Aluminum Floral Wire
Hot glue gun – I LOVE my cordless Ryobi Glue Gun
220 grit Sand paper
Round pencil or pen
Bats
lint free cloth to protect your surface

I actually purchased most of my supplies here from Michaels or Target. I’ve found Target has the best selection for the Ball jars at a good price. The bats are a chipboard bat from the Martha Stewart Crafts line at Michaels but, you can totally make your own bats out of black paper as well. If you have a Cricut machine it would be a snap!

Instructions for the Halloween Bat Jars

Place a lint free cloth or paper down on your surface to protect it from the paint.

You will begin by painting your first coat of paint with the Classic Black Americana Decor Satin Enamel. Now, I want these jars to look rough and not polished at all. I don’t mind brush strokes or a rough edge at the top. I actually purposefully created a feathered look at the top with my brush.

I turned them upside down and let them dry for an hour or two. You don’t want the paint to be tacky at all when you move onto the next coat.

Once your black layer is dry after an hour or two, you’ll paint on your white layer with the Americana Decor Chalky Finish in Everlasting (white.) I left about a 1/2 to a 1/4 inch section at the top of the black. That way a little more of the black paint is showing through. Again, I kind of feathered the top with my brush.

PRO TIP: For the white layer, I found a thicker application of the paint is best. I wouldn’t go so far as to do two coats. Just paint it on a little heavy.

Then I set them aside to dry again. This time I didn’t have to wait too long. The Chalky Finish paint dries super quick even if it is layered on rather thick.

Then I took the 220 grit sand paper and LIGHLY swipe the paint on the jar with a flat hand. You don’t want to attack it like a jack hammer. You want to lightly distress the high points of the jar so that it look natural.

If you don’t want to worry about paint dust from the sandpaper, you can distress your jar with a wet cloth. Just make sure not to get the paint too wet. It will pull large areas of paint off the jar if it is not done carefully.

Now, put the floral foam into the jars. You may need to cut down the foam in order for it to fit into the jar.

It’s time to add your bats! You have several different choices for wire. If you are using a lighter, cardstock type paper for your bats, you’ll be able to use a 24 gage wire like the one pictured above. If you are using chipboard bats, you might opt for a heavier wire like the black aluminum decorative wire that I used.

Have fun twisting and curling the wire to create fun lines and swirls just like the swirls on the jar! I used some jewelry making tools along with a circular pen to create the twists and turns in my wire.

I hot glue the wire to the back of the bats and then arrange them in the jars sticking the wire into the floral foam to keep them in place.

Doesn’t the jar look fun with the distressed swirls?!

I love how these turned out and can’t wait to make a few more to dress up our home for Halloween. It would be fun to make some jars with ghosts and such… Ahhh, fun!

Welcome to Our Patch • Fall Porch Ideas

2 · Sep 15, 2017 · Leave a Comment

Easily dress-up your front porch for Fall with gorgeous white Autumn pumpkins from Michaels and a few DIY projects created with a little help from Cricut that will turn your drab porch into something the neighbors will truly envy!

You guys!! I’m so excited to share my new front porch. If you’ve been following along in our home journey, you will know that back in March we purchase a new home here in Lincoln, Nebraska. I’ve been slowing getting the house up to snuff and I’m finally ready to show off our front porch with the fun Autumn decor that I’ve created. I’m calling it, Welcome to Our Patch.

I’ve been working on some fun design elements with my Cricut Maker and playing around with different types of Cricut vinyl. Plus, I found these amazing PUMPKINS from Michaels. I LOVE how Michaels has really stepped up the pumpkin game. From playful pumpkins to spooky sights, Michaels has everything you need to MAKE it fun or beautiful this fall!

Fall Porch Ideas

I tend to stick with the more classic and neutral white pumpkins when it comes to fall decorating. I found these BEAUTIFUL white pumpkins at Michaels in various shapes and sizes. They are all in that heirloom, pumpkin carriage type of pumpkin and they are just so pretty. I also LOVE that they won’t ever go bad and I can keep them year to year. Here are some ideas on how to use them in your decorating.

Grab a fabulous basket at Michaels and fill it with the smaller white pumpkins like the photo above.
Use pillows as part of your outdoor decor. I created this “Oh, Delicious Fall” pillow using my Cricut Maker and some of the Cricut Iron-On Lite along with the NEW Cricut Easy Press.
Invest in some of the large vintage style pumpkins to add to your beautiful “pumpkin patch.”
Fill a lantern with some of the smaller white pumpkins.

Create some wall art with a black canvas and some of the Cricut Iron-On Lite again. This works well for a front porch, indoor wall art or a mantel piece. I actually attached it to the brick with my FAVORITE Command Strips that I stock-up on at Michaels. I have been amazed at how well they work on the brick. It’s really cool! I see a whole bunch of outdoor wall art in my future.

Grab an A-frame chalkboard sign from Michaels and add the “Welcome to Our Patch” design that I created for another great typography element. You know I love my word art!
Add a watering can, another pillow in a rustic crate, some plants… Anything you have around that could make this grouping look fall like. And of course… Pumpkins, more pumpkins for sure! It is a patch you know.

You can download all of the SVG files for each element HERE

Let’s get busy and start our Fall crafting! Visit Michaels TODAY for all kinds of FABULOUS DEALS! For more inspiration, visit the Michaels Blog, Facebook, Instagram or Pinterest. They for sure have you covered.

Creepy Halloween Taxidermy Plaques

9 · Sep 1, 2017 · Leave a Comment

Add a little flair to your spooky Halloween decorations with taxidermy plaques! I used the DecoArt Metallic Lustre to turn simple spooky objects into creepy yet classy home decor. Come check it out… If you dare!

{ disclaimer • I am a DecoArt Ambassador and they have sponsored this post. However, all thoughts, ideas and opinions are my very own.}

O.K. guys… It’s never too early to start thinking about your Halloween decorations! Over the years I’ve become quite the fan of decorating for this creepy holiday. I used to hate it, but I’ve kind of fallen in love with what you can create for this spooky night. I wanted to create some new pieces to add to my collection for the new home and found myself wandering the isles at Michaels wondering what to make. Then it hit me… I wanted to make some “taxidermy” plaques to add some cringe worthy art to my front entry way. I wanted to keep it simple and still classy so I thought a little Rose Gold Metallic Lustre from DecoArt would do the trick! Here’s how you can make them.

Taxidermy Plaques Supply List

wood plaques
DecoArt Metallic Lustre – Rose Gold
Americana Curb Appeal – Black
iron spider
iron keys
skeleton hand
small Staghorn Fern
paint brush
lint free cloth
drill
8 screws
floral wire
moss
large bowl of water
baking sheet
drop cloth or something to protect your work surface

Instructions for Taxidermy Plaques

To begin, you will need to prep your work surface and cover it with a drop cloth or some type over covering to protect it.

Next, place your moss into a large bowl of water so that it can soak while you are working with the other pieces. Set it aside.

Then, grab your Americana Curb Appeal paint and paint 2 of your wood plaques. Keep one natural for your Staghorn Fern.

I really like the Americana Curb Appeal paint and traditionally it’s not really used for crafting, it’s used to paint door and shutters typically. I had some on hand and thought it would work just fine for the wood plaques for this project. PLUS… I have used that same paint for my doors, fireplace & banister therefore, my plaques would match the rest of my space. Not only that but, I really like the finish that it create on the wood. You won’t see brush strokes, the coverage is phenomenal and you’ll still see the wood grain through the paint. I really like that! I like to paint wood but, I don’t want it to look plastic… you know?

Once those are both painted, set them aside to dry. Don’t worry, they dry pretty quick.

Next, let’s drill a hole into the skeleton hand before we add the DecoArt Metallic Lustre.

The hand is made out of a resin so it isn’t a problem to drill a hole into it. It might be a little hard to start, but once you get the hole stared, it’s not a big deal.

Next, grab the skeleton hand, keys, spider, the rose gold Metallic Lustre and your lint free cloth (or paper towel if you are in a pinch. Just don’t rub too hard.)

Now, the DecoArt Metallic Lustre is a wax finish, not paint. IT AWESOME!! I love this stuff! I put a little onto my cloth like so…

… And then, rub it all over your object that you are wanting to add a little flair to.

It cures really quick so, if you don’t want to have full coverage, make sure you work in small sections and work quick. With these pieces, I didn’t want full coverage, I still wanted them to look a little rough. As for the keys, I only wanted the rose gold at the top of the keys and then left the bottom black.

Once the paint on the plaques is dry and the Metallic Lustre has cured (it only takes a few minutes) you are ready to mount them on their plaques.

I just used a 1 1/2 inch screw to adhere the skeleton hand to the plaque. However, I did drill pilot holes into the hand and the plaque before to ensure a proper fit.

Now… I’m sure you’ve noticed that there is now a unsightly screw in the hand.

No worries!! I took a stick and roughly added more of the Metallic Lustre to cover the screw head.

Once it cures, it’s hard and voilá… You can’t see the screw! Nice, huh?

For the spider, I placed a screw on the plaque and hung the spider on it. If you use the same spider that I used, it has a screw hanger on the back so it works perfect. I did add some of the Metallic Lustre to the screw to help it blend in.

Now it’s time to mount your Staghorn Fern. Grab the plaque that you didn’t paint along with your drill and 6 1 1/2 inch screws and some floral wire.

First, I drill pilot holes into the plaque.

Three on each side about an inch away from the edge of the board. Then I add my screws but keep about an inch sticking up from the board.

At this point, I lay my plaque in a baking sheet. This part can get a little messy and the baking sheet will help contain the mess. Then I take the floral wire and make a little loop to help start the process and attach it to the top screw.

Then I wind it around the rest of the screws making sure to keep the wire close to the base of the screw close to the wood.

Do not cut the floral wire yet. Take some of your moss, gently wring it out a bit and lay it on top of the wire.

Then take your Staghorn Fern and gently take it out of the pot and remove as much dirt as possible. Staghorn Ferns are air plant so they really don’t need to live in soil. They get their nutrients from the air and the moisture on their frawns. For a really great post on Staghorn Ferns and how to mount and care for them, check out Vintage Revivals. Mandi has a real love for these plants.

Once I’ve removed as much of the dirt as I am comfortable with, I lay it down on top of the moss.

Here’s a funny tip…

Staghorn Ferns love banana peels. Apparently, they provide the kind of nutrition that the plants really like. Before I cover the plant with moss, I add a little bit of banana peel.

Next, cover it with more moss and then criss cross the wire over the whole mound like before, until it is secure. The wire actually melts right into the moss and you don’t see it at all.

Check out Mandi’s post for tips on how to care for your new mounted Staghorn Fern. Now you’re all set to hang your macabre little scene on your walls.

Another little trick… I hung mine with those Command Strip Picture Hanging Strips. LOVE those babies!

I love how these add a little creepy and yet class to my entryway if that’s even possible!