Shabby Cottage Sign

Spring is coming! Really! I know here in the Pacific Northwest it will feel like winter for another month or two but the crocuses are blooming and the daffodils are ready to burst into color any moment. I just planted 2 new rose bushes and can't wait to see them bloom.  Hurry up, Spring!


A few weeks back I entered a giveaway at Castle and Cottage .  While I didn't win, I just fell in love with Paula's beautiful handpainted signs.  Unfortunately, I can't hand paint anything like that, so I decided to make a sign with my Cricut.


I tried lots of combinations of fonts but found myself once again drawn back to Chopin.  I have used this font on so many projects including a Bon Appetit sign awhile back and my blog header and button.  It is so pretty and flourishy. (Yep, probably not a word - flourishy, but I like it).


So I started with a board I got at Lowe's for 97 cents!  The guy was cut it to 3 pieces for me so like 32 cents a sign. 

A little sanding and a few coats of white paint later it was ready for my vinyl letters.  Another recent score was this huge roll of black vinyl contact paper for $7.99 the other night at Fred Meyer.  24 feet!  Compared to the Cricut vinyl which is $9.99 for 2 pieces of 24 INCH vinyl, it is an amazing deal!!!  So I cut out my letters and applied to the board.  The last step was a bit of gray glaze that I wiped on and off to age it.  Love the finished sign!!

Hope you'll join me at the fun parties below! Don't miss my friend Lisa's fabulous giveaway here!

Your comments are treasured and I hope you'll become a follower!



Winner, Winner!

First of all, thank you so very much for the wonderful response to my first giveaway!  I am so touched by your sweet comments and wish I had time to make pillows for all of you!!  But we do have a lucky winner and she is..........

Lisa of Suburban Retreat!  Congrats, Lisa, I am excited to get these pillows made and off to you in the mail.  Please email me whether you'd like them made in muslin or the burlap type onsaburg.

Thanks again for joining the fun!  We'll do it again soon!



My First Giveaway!

I am so excited to have hit 100 followers this week!  It's been a blessing to get to know so many of you fellow bloggers.  You inspire and motivate me everyday!

So to express my gratitude and appreciation~ my first giveaway!  I will be giving away 2 grain sack pillows! 

The pillows are made using the Citra Solv method that I blogged about  here.  There are 2 different designs and the winner may choose to have them made in white muslin or a burlap type osnaburg.  These are a pillow slip cover with an envelope back, so you can just pop in any 12 inch pillow form and they are ready to go!  The pillow form will not be included but here is a great tip from Gena  at The Shabby Chic Cottage.  Buy a $5.00 pillow at Walmart, cut it in half and viola~  you have 2  very inexpensive pillow forms!

You can enter to win by:

1. One entry for leaving a comment.
2. A second entry for becoming a follower or letting me know you already follow me.
3. A third chance to win by adding my button below or linking up to my giveaway on your blog.

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Entries will be accepted until Sunday, March 6 and I'll announce the winner that night. 

Thanks again so much for your friendship and inspiration!

 

French Corkboard

I am sitting here peering out my window, anxiously awaiting the snow we've been promised here in the Williamette Valley.  I live about 40 miles south of Portland, Oregon where we usually only get snow maybe once or twice a year and it's not often more than a dusting.  But the weathermen are saying we'll get hit this afternoon into Friday with 3-4 inches or more.  Being a California native who didn't grow up with snow, I am like a little kid when it's in the forecast!  Let it snow!

While waiting for my snow this morning I made this sweet little corkboard.  I found a really pretty oval frame a few weeks back in a thrift store.  Unfortunately the back and frame were molded together so it kind of limits the uses but for $1.00 I couldn't pass it up.  Of course it was gold and it got the Heirloom White treament as soon as I got it home.

I had the cork tile in an old computer armoire.  When I took it down the corners tore off but it was perfect for cutting down for my frame.

All I had to do was trim it down and press it into the frame, didn't even need glue since it was a snug fit.  I added a couple of fluer de lis tacks and a cute postcard from the Graphics Fairy.  

The whole project took about 10 minutes!  Now I have time to clean my house!  (Can you tell what my priorities are?) 

Thanks for visiting and I so hope you'll become a follower!  Love to hear your comments, too!  See you at the fun parties below.

  



Faux Grain Sack Pillows

Another rainy day in the beautiful Pacific Northwest!  Maddy is out of school today for teacher's inservice so it's been a great day to stay home and get creative.  I finally got around to making some new pillows for my family room.

I so love burlap and grain sack pillows. There are so many ideas out there for making your own~ everything from iron on transfers, stenciling and even sending fabric through your printer. The method I am using today uses Citra-Solv and it so amazing!!


I first heard of this method at Ticking and Toile.  Shellagh creates the most gorgeous pillows and has a wonderful tutorial on how to she makes the designs.

First you'll need some of this stuff, CitraSolv Natural Degreaser:

I found it in the natural food and products section of Fred Meyer.  It is sold all over and if you visit their website here, you can find a store in your area that stocks it.  I think it's also available on Amazon.

Next you'll need to make your design on your computer.  I love the Graphics Fairy for free vintage clip art.  One of my pillows is a wonderful French Chocolate label from her site and the other is my own design.

These are the designs I printed to show you a 'before'.  You actually want to print them in reverse image for transferring to your fabric like this:

Now you'll take your designs to Kinko's or somewhere and have them made into laser copies.  Inkjet copies will NOT work.

The fabric I am using is a cotton muslin.  Be sure to wash and dry your fabric before starting to preshrink and remove sizing.   I covered my work surface with a plastic tablecloth to protect the surface.  You don't want the full strength CitraSolv to touch your surface.

Place your design facedown on your fabric and tape it in place to keep it from shifting and giving you a blurry transfer.  Apply the CitraSolv with a paintbrush or cotton ball.  Wear gloves and try not to breathe the fumes, they're a bit strong.  As you apply the CitraSolv, you'll see your design show through the paper. 

The next step is to burnish.  Using a metal spoon, rub firmly all over your design.  Be sure to burnish the entire surface.  Once you are finished, lift off the paper and your design will have been magically transfered to your fabric. 

At this point you'll use your iron to heat set the design.  Move it the ironing board and iron for about 20-30 seconds with an old towel underneath.  Now you're ready to throw it in the washing machine to remove the CitraSolv, then allow to air dry.    When it's dry, iron out the wrinkles and you're ready to stitch up your pillow!

Have a great weekend and I so hope you'll consider becoming a follower!  Linking up to the fun parties below!