Boy's Room Wall Art with Chargers

Nearly every time I shop at Wal-mart I make sure to go check out the clearance section in the home goods section.  Most of the time I don't see anything that I need/want, but a few months ago I felt like I hit the jackpot when I found a stack of 14" solid wood dinner plate chargers for only $2 each!  They were originally priced at $6.96.  Yesterday I felt like making something crafty and ended up turning three chargers into some fun wall art for my son's room for only $6!

I bought ten of them knowing that there are several things that I could make with them.  I have an idea for a Christmas gift and will tell you about it when/if I figure out all of the little details.

Because I might want to use the chargers for something else down the road I didn't want to paint over the wood.  I didn't have enough white vinyl on hand to cut the images out either so I took a chance and used everyday white contact paper, which I had plenty of.  (You can read more about cutting and using contact paper for stenciling here.)  If it starts to peel I'll come back and update this post and let you know--hopefully it won't.

My son picked the images he wanted and chose a tractor, an airplane, and a monster truck.  I found the images online and in Microsoft office, uploaded them into the Silhouette program, and then converted them into images that could be cut with the Silhouette.  If you aren't sure how to do this, there is a great tutorial at Sew Dang Cute Crafts.

Biplane Image 

This is the dresser in my son's room.  It's amazing how closely the chargers match it!  It's rare that I find something on clearance that doesn't need to be spray painted!

Command strips are my new favorite way to hang pictures and wall art.  These things really work!  I used one strip for each of the chargers which should be enough, but I might still go back and add another one since they are hanging above my son's bed, just to make sure they won't fall on him.

I had so much fun making this wall art, probably because it was so easy to put together and didn't involve making a huge mess! 

Two Years

I also wanted to mention that last Sunday marked two years of sharing my 'fabulous finds' here on this blog, it's crazy!  When I published my first post two years ago, I knew that there were craft blogs and that people commented on them, but I had no idea that these commenters were part of a whole blogging community of women (and a few men) that lift and support each other and inspire each other's creativity.  The blogging community has made the world we live in just a little bit smaller and I can't tell you how much I've enjoyed being a part of it.  Thank you for stopping by to read about my little projects, for your support, and for your friendship!

Today's Fabulous Find...$6 Boys Room Wall Art

Linking to:  Or So She Says   Today's Creative Blog   Home Stories A to Z   Tator Tots and Jello   Six Sister's Stuff   Funky Junk Interiors    Craft Junkie Too    The 36th Avenue    House of Hepworths    The Shabby Creek Cottage   Someday Crafts   Creations by Kara   Beyond The Picket Fence

A Dozen Craft, Decor and Recipe Ideas for Fall

Just in case you missed them...

 

 Burlap Bubble Wreath

Fall Burlap Bubble Wreath

 Fall Pumpkin Patch

 Square Block Pumpkin

Fall Subway Art Prints--16 Color Choices

 Interchangeable Fall Frame

 Fall Mantel and Shelf

 

 2x4 Pumpkins

Thankful Charger

 Fall Crate (Made with Paint Sticks)

Fall Stacker Blocks
 

Apple Streusel Cheesecake Bars

I really like these Apple Streusel Cheesecake Bars, they've become a favorite of mine!  They make a delicious fall dessert recipe because you can eat them warm or cold.  Mmm!

We're enjoying beautiful weather this weekend, I hope you are too!

5 Step Fall Stacker Blocks

The other day I was out on a drive with my family and saw that the leaves in the mountains are already starting to change colors.  It's hard to believe that Fall is already well on it's way! 

For my first Fall craft of the season, I decided to give stacker blocks a go.  I made up several different sayings but so far I only have one set that is finished and ready to show you.  These are simple to make and easy on the wallet.  I added up my cost and figure that I made this set for less than $1.25--not too bad!  (This was the cost for the wood and the ribbon, I already had the other supplies.)  I will be able to make 10 sets out of one 8' board (that cost around $1.30) and the ribbon (that was $3.99 for 9' at JoAnn's) will be enough for four sets.  I could have saved even more if I'd spent less on the ribbon or used a coupon.
 

'Fall Blessings' Stacker Blocks

(Measures 2 3/4" tall by 5" wide)

Supplies:

• 9" length of a 1 3/8" square board (I bought one at Lowe's that was 8' long for only $1.28.  I can't remember what it is called, but it was one of the economical pine boards near the cutting area and the measurement was rounded up on the sign.  Be sure to pick through them and look for a board that is fairly straight.)
• dark walnut stain and a rag
• paint colors of your choice (I used vanilla, orange, and barn red.) and a foam brush
• stencil or vinyl letters
• sandpaper
• ribbon (2 feet for each set)

Step One:

Cut the board into three pieces that measure 1 3/8", 2 1/4", and 5".  I used a miter box and hand saw.

Sand any rough edges.

Step Two:

Stain the wood using a rag or brush and allow to dry. 

(TIP:  Stain/craft over a garbage bag to protect your table.  When you are done turn the garbage bag inside out to use in your trash can.)

Step Three:

Paint the front sides of the blocks.

Sand edges to distress.

Step four:

Cut out a stencil (I used a Silhouette craft cutter) in contact paper or vinyl (or buy a stencil that is already done), place on the blocks, and paint over it.

 The font I used is called KG Skinny Latte and the leaf was converted to a stencil from a Microsoft image.

(You can read about how to stencil with contact paper here.)



Step Five:

Lightly sand over the words to distress and tie a ribbon around the blocks.



I originally painted 'blessings' and the leaf black, but they didn't stand out enough.  I was fortunate in that I was able to reposition the original contact paper stencil to paint over it again in a vanilla color.  The stencil wasn't exactly in place so some of the black shows through.  In the end it was a lucky mistake and I really like how it turned out.

My 5 year old had another vision for the blocks--It's funny how our minds work so differently! :)

If you're looking for a simple craft idea for a craft night or a 'Super Saturday' craft day I think stencilled stacker blocks would be a fun choice.  I'm planning to wrap a few sets up in cellophane wrap and add a ribbon to give away as small 'thinking of you' gifts, I hope they like them! 

Today's Fabulous Find...

Fall Stacker Blocks for just over a Dollar

Linking up to: Be Different Act Normal    I Heart Naptime   Tator Tots and Jello   Six Sisters Stuff

Distressed Stenciled Sign using Contact Paper (Before and After)

The other day I decided that I wanted to stencil a quote on a sign to display in my home that would inspire confidence as my kids return back to school.  I went online and read through quite a few quotes before I came across one that was just what I was hoping to find.

The sign says 'Believe you can and you're halfway there' by Theodore Roosevelt and will rest on the board and batten ledge in my dining room.  It will be right at eye level when the family is sitting down to eat so I'm pretty sure they might actually even read it from time to time. 

Size:  4" tall x 34" long

My goal was to coordinate the sign with my gallery wall by repeating the shapes and colors. 

I first made this sign at a 'Super Saturday' craft day years ago--back in the day before vinyl and personal craft cutters.  I had to use a sharpie marker to write the words on it and was never happy with how it looked.  It hasn't hung on my wall in a very long time and was taking up precious storage space so it was time to either donate it or give it a makeover.

First I had to sand the board down to bare wood.  I stained it in dark walnut with a clean rag, painted it with SW Alabaster paint, and then sanded the edges to distress it.

I don't have pictures of the next steps, which might be for the best because things got a little ugly.  I took it to a craft night to work on and (despite my better judgement) I used regular paint to stencil the black letters instead of spray paint (which looks so clean and smooth).  This would have been fine if I'd been patient and brushed it on in several thin coats, or even if I'd used my stenciling brush, but I didn't.  The result was a whole lot of sloppy, messy lines.  I figured I'd have to go home and sand it back down and start all over again but a friend suggested that I try distressing it first. 

In the picture the sign is distressed on the left and the sloppy mess is on the right. 

(I was actually quite happy with how the pattern turned out, it was spray painted and the lines were crisp and clean.)

Sloppy Mess

Distressed and Aged

 (I was able to wipe off most of the black smudges on the white paint that you see with a damp cloth.)

I buy my contact paper at Wal-mart (it's a better quality than what you would buy at the dollar store and cuts so much cleaner) for around $5-6 for a large roll.  It's so cheap that you can afford to mess up, unlike with vinyl.  I use a Silhouette craft cutter to cut my contact paper stencils.  (Shanty 2 Chic first shared this great tip!)  The width needs to be cut to 8.5-9" wide to feed through (or the maximum width of your cutter) and doesn't require a mat.  I set the Silhouette on the vinyl setting and it works perfectly.  Once you have your stencil cut, weed out the letters and, just like vinyl, use transfer paper to place the design on the wood.

Tip:  I like to reuse my transfer paper.  I can usually use it 2 or sometimes 3 times before it loses it's stickiness.  I wrap it back on the roll in-between uses.  It saves a little money this way. 

Once you have pressed the contact paper down on the board well, spray over it with light coats of spray paint.  The paint will not dry well over top of the contact paper so be careful as you pull it off so that it doesn't mess up your board, tweezers help.  I like to take the contact paper off when the paint is still tacky.  You won't want to leave the contact paper on the wood for very long or it will leave behind a sticky residue.

In the picture below you can see how clean and smooth the blue words are because I used spray paint.  I think that it looks just like vinyl but it's less expensive and gives you a wide variety of color options.  You can also still choose a gloss or matte finish, depending on what paint you use.  Another plus, you won't ever have a letter peel off or bubble over time.

The sign didn't turn out exactly how I first imagined it would, but I think I like it even better this way.  I love the distressed vintage look and I think the flaws give it some personality.  Anyway that's my story and I'm sticking to it because I really don't want to start over. ;)

I hope that I was able to pass on a few tips that might save one or more of you some frustration.   For those of you who don't have access to a craft cutter I think that if you are using a stencil that isn't too detailed you could cut the contact paper with scissors or an x-acto knife. If you've tried this, I'm curious to know how it worked for you.

I have a little Fall craft that I made the other day that is also stenciled and am looking forward to sharing it with you soon!

My kids go back to school this week so I'm hoping to get in a little more crafting/blogging time.  Thanks for sticking with me through my random posting over the last several months and a big welcome to all of you who are new readers!

Today's Fabulous Find...
Stenciling with Contact Paper and Spray Paint

Linking up to:  I Heart Naptime  Today's Creative Blog