chevron canvas

I LOVE all these Chevron striped projects everyone's doing these days so, of course, I needed my own!
I made my own stripe pattern & printed a few out. The easiest way to get the pattern on the canvas (for me, anyway) was to line up the pattern where I wanted color, and put green painting tape along both edges. I wanted each line to be exactly the same size, so after I had one line taped off, I put another pattern down and started the next line. Sounds confusing, but with the picture it should help make a little more sense. I went over the tape with a credit card to seal around the edges.

Once the lines were all covered with tape, it was time to paint! I love this color (Calypso Sky). I ended up painting about 3 coats to get the coverage I wanted.

 I left it to dry for a couple hours, and actually got some house cleaning done! Go me!! I was getting so excited at how great it looked after peeling the tape off. It leaked a little around some of the edges, but overall I think it turned out pretty good!

 Next, I got out my vinyl. Believe it or not, this is the first project I'm using the Silhouette for... crazy, I know. I'm a newbie and still learning. I cut out some little birdies I designed, and adhered them to transfer tape (see tutorial here). Place vinyl on canvas and rub with your scraper (or fingernails, credit card, the possibilities are endless). Remove transfer tape.

...at least that's how I imagined it working. I'm guessing it's the texture of the canvas, but I couldn't get the vinyl to stick. So I improvised and did what I always do - covered it in a layer of Mod Podge!

I let it dry completely, then applied the vinyl. Not sure if it's an operator error or the vinyl, but for some reason the vinyl still wouldn't stick! Even peeling it off the transfer paper was pretty difficult. Once I finally got all the pieces off and stuck in place, they seemed to still be peeling up.

 So then I put another coat of Mod Podge on top of the entire thing and it seemed to help.

LOOOVE IT!!

vase makeover

I had a vase with some pink flowers from back in my *single* days, and now it just doesn't go with any of our decoration. So, I decided it needed a makeover! Just something different, and to add a classier feel to it. I still might add some finishing touches to it, but I think I am done with it for today.

I started with my original vase (free), bag of floral rocks (on sale for $1.50) and some new flowers (around $3 on sale) and my handy-dandy glue gun. This is a very simple project, and almost impossible to mess up. Gotta love that!

All you have to do is start gluing your rocks on one at a time until you have the entire vase covered.

Simple as that!!

 Not bad for a $4.50 project! I love the new look!

Welcome Spring!! (No more snow, please!!)

fairy stitchery & tutorial

I finally got some of the things I needed to get working on more projects, so here is the first of many projects to come. Inspired by my daughter's rag quilt, I decided to make some wall hangings to match! I love stitching and especially designing my own patterns.

monogrammed canvas

I wanted to decorate more with the extra damask tissue paper I have, and I needed some artwork... so voila! I came up with a monogrammed canvas! It was so easy, and I love it!!

All you need is:
- tissue paper/regular paper/any kind of paper that you love the design of
- sponge brush
- acrylic paint
- Chip Decor letters (2 small, one large)
- Mod Podge, I used the matte version

- canvas (I bought a two pack, I have plans for another project!)

 I painted the letters, front and sides and let dry. I painted 2 coats. You could also Mod Podge paper on these instead if you want that look, be creative!

 While the letters were drying, I painted Mod Podge all over the canvas. I put it on pretty thick, so I would have time to adjust the paper before it dried. I was originally going for a smooth look, but it started crinkling and it would tear. So, I crinkled it all over and I like the "antique" look I was left with. If you have big air bubbles you can't get out, poke it with a pin and press the air out. Paint over the entire covered canvas again with Mod Podge, and let dry.

After letting the canvas dry, I decided to paint the edges. You can really do anything you want, I was debating painting it or lining it with ribbon. But since it was turning out a little aged anyway, I painted the edges with acrylic paint, and blotted around the front edge to give it that distressed look. I love it!!

 Then it was time to glue the letters on. It took a lot of measuring and adjusting, stepping back, adjusting and measuring some more. I'm a bit of a perfectionist, so I probably overdid it a little. Anyway, once you have them lined up and ready, take a pencil and lightly trace around 2 of the corners of each letter (so you can put them back where they belong). Then I used Amazing Goop glue and dotted the back of each letter. You have a little time to adjust them once you place the letters on the canvas. Line them back up with the marks you made and press down lightly on the letters. I let my canvas sit overnight and it seems to have dried perfectly! You can set a book or something on top of the letters, but try not to get anything too heavy so it doesn't stretch the canvas in or make it tear. I was a little paranoid. :)

After it's dry, it's ready to hang!! I love that canvases don't need any hanging contraptions or anything. I always seem to put them on crooked... Anyway, here is the finished monogrammed canvas!!

Linking to these parties!