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Painted Nautical Signal Flags for Boys Room Decor

7 · Jul 13, 2017 · Leave a Comment

Looking for a fun way to dress-up your boys room? Vintage Nautical is one of my favorite ways to decorate for my little guy. Come learn how I created these painted nautical signal flags for our little guy’s room…

• This post brought to you by Michaels •

I’ve always been inspired by vintage nautical pieces. All of the fun gadgets and gizmos, the style of the ships, the anchors and I especially love vintage nautical signal flags.

One of my picker friends here in Nebraska does a fabulous job collecting vintage nautical items. Here are a few of Cody’s from The West Place, vintage nautical flags among other items.

Aren’t they cool?! I purchased a flag from him about a year ago with the intention of using it for my little boy’s room in our new house. The one that I have is (if you look at the chart above) the letter “Z”. It’s colors are amazing! The perfect red, blue, mustard yellow and black. I’m using that as my inspiration for Gage’s room.

If you’re following along, Gage and I introduced you to Davy Jones, Gage’s new octopus wall art for his room…

I thought it would be fun to create a few more nautical signal flags to go along with Davy Jones. I was thrilled to find out that the Michaels Maker challenge for July is craft paint! Of course this is a perfect opportunity to create these fun flags using a wood canvas that I found at Michaels and the NEW DecoArt Americana Premium Acrylic Paints.

If you don’t already know, Michaels has all kinds of new craft paints in-store now. You need to check it out! They have acrylics, milk paint, chalk paint… All kinds of specialty paints. Not to mention stencils, canvases, brushes and more. Painting with stencils makes things really easy so definitely pick those up. I actually just painted my front door with paint that I purchased at Michaels, the new DecoArt Curb Appeal paint. Who knew you could find that kind of paint at Michaels!

I’m also totally in love with these Art Wood Panels that you can find at Michaels. I wanted my flags to look vintage and a normal canvas wouldn’t be able to create the kind of look I was going for. Nor could I find wood that would look somewhat like a flag. Other wood options would add a lot more bulk and I didn’t want that. This wood canvas is perfect.

Gage and I talked it over and decided that we would create flags for the letters W-X-Y to go with our actual Z flag.

Supplies for the Painted Nautical Signal Flags

DecoArt Premium Acrylic Paint

DecoArt Premium Medium • Matte

Artist Loft Art Wood Panel Value Pack

Painter tape

Sponge Brushes

Painted Nautical Signal Signs Instructions

Each flag is going to have a different process due to the designs of the signal flags. You will have to figure out how to best create the design for the letters you create. I’ll show you how I created the letter “Y” flag.

First, I painted the base layer in Yellow Oxide and let it dry. I only did one coat of paint because I was planning on distressing the sign so why make my job harder with an extra layer of paint.

Next, rather than busting out my mad math skills (of which I have none) I layed 2 inch painters tape diagonally across the entire board with the tape bumping right up to the base of the other tape.

Then, I removed every other strip of tape to then create perfect diagonal stripes. I then painted the red stripes on the board. For this stripe, I did paint two light layers of paint. I wanted a truly bold color even though I was still going to be distressing the board.

After the paint was dry, I pulled the tape to reveal the PERFECT stripes!

I love how you can still see the wood grain on these art boards. Not to mention, look at those beautiful bold colors. I love this paint! Next, I used my detail sander to distress the board a bit to give this faux flags the vintage look.

I LOVE how they turned out. I can’t wait to see how they look in Gage’s room when it’s finished.

Looking for more painting inspiration? Michaels has you covered. You can follow along on The Glue String (the Michaels blog) OR, checkout these other projects from the other Michaels Makers…

An InLinkz Link-up

Quick Red White and Blue Home Decor

10 · May 10, 2017 · Leave a Comment

With the Summer months rolling in, it’s time to give a little nod to our favorite ole’ Red White and Blue! Michaels has a whole new line of FUN Americana decor that you’re going to love! Here’s what I found to dress-up my living room for the Summer holidays.

Quick Red White and Blue Home Decor • This post brought to you by Michaels

It’s been a couple of months or so, but… We finally bought a house and have moved in and are finally feeling a little settled. BOY, that’s a process that I don’t want to do again for quite some time. Three moves in roughly 5 years is enough for this family. It’s finally time to start making a house our home.

When I started packing-up our rental, the first thing I packed-up were the decor pieces that I wanted to use right away in the new house. I made sure to set those boxes aside and label them appropriately so that they wouldn’t get lost in the sea of boxes. That’s when, as soon as all of the basic needs were met in the new house, I could easily dress-up our space and make it feel like home. Now that we’ve been here for a couple of months, it’s time to start thinking a little more about seasonal decor. With Summer right around the corner the first thing that comes to mind is my favorite red white and blue home decor!

How to Quickly Incorporate Red White and Blue Home Decor

My father served in the Army during Vietnam, my Grandfather served on the beaches of Normandy in World War II, my Father-in-Law served in the Navy during the Korean War. To say that we are a proudly patriotic family would be putting it mildly. We love the stars and stripes and every summer, I love to dress up our home with some red white and blue decor. Thank goodness this month’s Michaels Makers summer challenge had a little bit of a patriotic spin to it.

Have you been to Michaels lately? Have you scene this great new Americana line that they just introduced. It’s so fun!

It’s perfect to quickly and easily dress your home up for the patriotic holidays this summer with minimal time and effort. What I love is that it seems to have something for everyone. If you are more into a vintage farmhouse style they have you covered. Are you more into classic cars and hanging out at the lake, you’re covered there too, It’s great.

I layered a few items on my mantel that really spoke to me. I love the large distressed wood flag and I thought it would layer well with this aaaamazing clock that they have at Michaels right now too. It seriously looks just like a clock that I almost paid quadruple for at Magnolia Market a few weeks ago!

The wooden red white and blue stars were also a must have. They add a nice little touch patriotic touch. I actually may go back to Michaels and grab some more.

Do you have a more classic style like I do? This beautiful 1776 pillow fit right into my room and added to the classic vibe.

I layered it with a red and white pillow that I already owned and it looks perfect.

The last, not so little bits, are the cute wooden fireworks that stoically preside over the hearth of our fireplace. Aren’t they cute with the rope coming out the top to make them look like fireworks.

What I love most about all of these pieces is that they incorporate so easily into the decor that I already had in the space. It doesn’t look awkward or out of place. It’s seamlessly blended right into the room.

Looking for more patriotic DIY inspiration? Visit Michaels.com for more creative ideas that will help you transform your home this summer. You should also visit Michaels’ blog, The Glue String, to see the rest of the Michaels Makers’ red, white and blue project ideas.

An InLinkz Link-up

How to Apply Vinyl Tutorial + New Kitchen Sign Design

5 · May 9, 2017 · 2 Comments

Have you always wanted to create beautiful vinyl signs but, can’t quite get the hang of applying vinyl? Look no further, I’m sharing my pro tips for how to apply vinyl to create beautiful vinyl signs.

how to transfer vinyl tutorial • brought to you by Cricut

Recently, we moved to our new forever home and I have been madly creating all kinds of fun things to make the space my own. I LOVE creating word art whether it be for vinyl signs, painted signs, or for printables, for some reason that kind of decor always speaks to me. (No pun intended!) I love typography and everything that comes with creating with words and letters. I love watching trends come and go and adding my version to the fray.

Right now, with the popularity of the show Fixer-Upper, word art is hot. I have all kinds of farmhouse/industrial signs all over my house. I found a fun, blank chalkboard stand at Michaels in their decor section and thought it would be fun to create a new “The Kitchen is Now Open” Sign for my counters. After a little bit of playing around, this is the design that I settled on…

Download Kitchen Sign for Free

It has a little bit of farmhouse flair that so many of us are in love with right now. Now, this sign could be a little intimidating with all of the little letters but, don’t let it be intimidating. YOU CAN DO THIS! All you need is a little patience. So many people try and rush through a project and they get easily frustrated and then their project fails. That is so SAD! Step back, grab a Diet Coke (or, whatever it is that makes you happy), and ENJOY the process of creating.

For today, I’m focusing on just the vinyl transfer part of sign making. I’m working on a few more tutorials on how to create your sign in the NEW Cricut Design Space that was launched in BETA mode a week ago. It’s fabulous! I’ve been having a ball getting to know the new, faster & more user-friendly Design Space. I’m sure you’re going to love it too! It’s so easy to create your own designs within the Design Space or you can create in other programs like Photoshop or Illustrator and import your PNG files directly into Design Space and create that way as well. I’ll be working on more tutorials for both of those options soon.

I’m also working on a video tutorial on how to weed your vinyl. That’s the process of removing the negative part of your design in the vinyl. It’s really not hard, but I have a few tricks up my sleeve that will make it a little easier. Today, I’m just going to focus on how to apply vinyl. Here’s a quick video to show you how to apply vinyl to any type of smooth surface.

Video Tutorial for How to Apply Vinyl

How to Apply Vinyl by WhipperBerry from Heather Thoming on Vimeo.

See, isn’t that simple! Honestly, the trickiest part is making sure that the design is centered onto your surface. As long as you stick with these simple tips, you can become a vinyl sign PRO!

Pro Tips for Applying Vinyl

Take your time – like I said before, don’t rush. If some of the vinyl lifts while you are transferring it to either the transfer tape or your sign… Don’t stress out. Lay that section back down and press on the vinyl with your finger and then try again. You’ll get it, just don’t rush.
Make sure your surface is clean – Now think about this, if you try and place a sticker on a surface covered in dust, dirt, sand, or general grime, what will happen? The sticker won’t stick. Same thing with adhesive vinyl. Whatever you are adhering it to needs to be clean. Nothing is more frustrating than laying down some vinyl and then finding a little piece of dirt stuck under the vinyl image making an unsightly bump. Take the time to make sure everything is clean.
Trim excess vinyl backing – Again, vinyl is just one big sticker. Stickers are placed on backing to keep the adhesive side sticky. The same applies to vinyl. Once you have cut your design on your Cricut machine, you’ll weed your vinyl and then you’ll want to cut away the excess vinyl backing. This will help when laying down your design and making sure it is placed the way you would like it.
Create a hinge – Several years ago, when the Cricut cutting machines made cutting your own vinyl possible, a good friend of mine, who owned a large-scale sign-making company, taught me her tricks for applying vinyl. Each of these tricks, I still use them every time. One of them is to use the transfer tape to create a “hinge” at the top of your design. Check out the video and you’ll see what I mean.
Pull transfer tape low, slow, and diagonally – My sign-making friend also taught me this years ago. When removing the transfer tape, pull low, slow and diagonally. What I mean by low is, that you are essentially folding the non-sticky side over on itself as you are pulling as close to your surface as possible. When do that along with pulling diagonally, you’ll be less likely to pull the vinyl back up as you remove the transfer tape.

A Quick Note on Materials

Here we have it… Not all vinyl and transfer tapes are created equal!! I have tried many brands of both vinyl and transfer tape. I’ve used what the professionals use and basic crafters vinyl. I LOVE the Cricut Transfer Tape!! It’s clear and so easy to use. I’ve also been very happy with the Cricut Vinyl. I have exclusively used the Premium Outdoor Vinyl for most of my projects and have been thrilled with the results. I made some travel mugs with the Premium Vinyl and have run them through the dishwasher many, many times and have yet to have any issues with the vinyl coming off. I LOVE that!

Stay tuned for more Cricut tutorials and projects coming to WhipperBerry! By the way… If you have any questions, feel free to leave a comment here. I would be happy to help!

Disclaimer // I am a Cricut Ambassador and receive product and payment to help with my projects. As always, I will NEVER promote a product that I don’t truly believe in!

Gnome Garden

4 · May 1, 2017 · 3 Comments

A Gnome Garden is the perfect project for the entire family! With a little imagination, a good container, plants, some sticks from your yard and a little DecoArt Patio Paint, you can transform a simple garden into a gnome wonderland. Come learn how…

This Gnome Garden post brought to you by DecoArt

I have always been fascinated by gardening. Gardening is in my gene pool. I have a sister with a degree in horticulture & landscape design (gardening) and a mother who adores gardening. I SHOULD be an amazing gardener, right?

Well… I’m getting there. To be completely honest, that darn gardening gene is taking awhile to really kick into gear. Every spring I bring home a new set of, what my husband likes to refer to as, “this years sacrifices!” What?

I’ve tried and tried for a few years to maintain some plants in my home and finally, I feel like I can mange some simple plant care. However, I am no expert. What I love to do is, create with my family and a gnome garden is PERFECT for that.

Gnome and Fairy Gardens are becoming all the rage these days. If you walk into Michaels right now, they have a whole section dedicated to these fun gardens with all kinds of gnomes and their accessories. I decided it would be fun to create a gnome garden together with the family using some budget friendly items like sticks from the backyard as our gnomes & a raw wood bird house that I found at Michaels as their cute home. Here’s what you’ll need to make one with your family…

Gnome Garden Supply List

Garden container
rocks
soil
7-8 small plants
4-5 sticks roughly 6 inches tall
DecoArt Patio Paint
- Suggested Colors
- Tuscan Red
- Marigold Yellow
- Tango Blue
- Mistletoe Green
- Cloud White
- Wrought Iron Black
Small round tip paint brush
Small flat tip paint brush
pencil
a sharp whittling knife
jar of water
paper towels
small decorative rocks
colored decorative sand
garden accessories

Why Patio Paint is Perfect for Gardens

Not all paint is created equal. Some paint is more durable than others and that’s alright, every type of paint has it’s purpose. What you are looking for with this project is a highly durable paint that is non-toxic, water based and adheres nicely to things that will likely be outdoors or will endure repeated watering like this project. The DecoArt Patio Paint is PERFECT for this! Here are the specifics…

No sealer required for a durable, long-lasting finish
Weather-proof
Satin finish
Scuff-resistant
Superior coverage
Will not crack or peel
Water-based and non-toxic
Easy to clean
Made in the USA

How to Create a Gnome Garden

Here’s a quick video to show you how easy it is to create a special gnome garden of your own…

Gnome Garden from Heather Thoming on Vimeo.

Isn’t that easy and fun for the family? Here’s the step by step…

Place rocks at the bottom of your container. This helps with drainage for your plants. Plants love water, but they typically don’t like to sit in it all of the time. You’ll need to make sure they have proper drainage.
Pour in your potting soil. Fill your container about 3/4 full.
Plant your plants in the container with the lower plants in front and the taller toward the back. Keep in mind, you are trying to set a scene. If you are wondering what plants to use and how to maintain them, here’s a good article from the Empress of Dirt.
Paint your birdhouse. Keep it simple or go crazy… This is your design. I wanted to keep our simple. We painted the door on the back of the bird house and added dots to the roof with a nice red peek-a-boo trim around the scalloped edge of the roof. I used the tip of the brush handle to create the dots on the roof.
ADULT TASK • Whittle the end of your branches into a tip like a pencil. The top portion of the tip will be your gnomes hat. Keep in mind this task either needs to be done by an adult OR supervised by an adult.
On one side of your stick, whittle a “U” shaped section for the face of your gnome.
Using the DecoArt Patio Paint and your small flat brush, paint on your gnomes hat and let dry.
Take the white paint and paint on your gnome’s beard. Basically in a “U” shape following the line of the face that you whittle in before. Set aside and let dry. Refer to video for more details on how to paint your gnome.
Using a sharped pencil, dip your pencil tip into the black paint and gently place one gnome eye. Reapply the paint to your pencil tip and create another eye. Dipping into the paint twice will help to create eyes that a similar in shape and size. Set aside and let dry.
Once dry, name your cute little little gnomes! Ours are Max (red), Sven (yellow), Einar (green) & Ole (blue). Then place them into your gnome garden.
Using the small rocks and colored sand, create a walkway in front of the house.