{Thankful} Decorative Charger

I've been thinking for awhile now about what I should put on this charger that is part of my new Fall 'mantel'.  I searched through a lot of quotes and poems, looking for just the right one before it came to me to simply use the definition of thankful. 

A few details:  The charger is from Better Homes and Gardens.  I bought it on clearance at Wal-mart last year for $1.50.  The definition is cut out of cream vinyl with a Silhouette craft cutter.  The font used is called Georgia.

I'm hoping this will be a subtle reminder for my family and I, this upcoming Thanksgiving season, to remember to be grateful for all that we have been given and to show others our gratitude as well.

Today's Fabulous Find...Definition of Thankful.

Click here to see the entire mantel.


Hope you're enjoying your weekend! 

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Printable Halloween Countdown {Wood Block Version}

Countdown calendars can be a fun way to build up some excitement and anticipation for an upcoming holiday.  For any of you who meant to start a Halloween countdown but saw the 1st of October come and go and just didn't quite manage to get one started, no worries, this countdown doesn't start until the 21st of October.  That means you're not late at all, why in fact, you're early!  There's still plenty of time to get one made. 

The colors are purple, orange and green.

Finished Size:  2 x 7 1/4 x 9

or

Use a thinner board and display it on an easel.

Here's how it works: Every day you move the spider down one number and it's web gets longer and longer until you reach Halloween.  Simple, yet fun.

These are really pretty easy to make, the steps are very similar to the photo/recipe blocks that I just made.  I even used a scrap board from that project to make it.  You can refer to the directions given for the framed version of this countdown found here for more tips and pictures of the steps.

Supplies

Halloween Countdown Print

2x8 Pine Board cut to 9" long (actual width measurement is 7 1/4")

Black Paint and foam brush

Mod Podge

Sandpaper

Clear acrylic spray (matte finish)

Distress Ink in Dark Walnut (optional)

@15" each of 1/8" black and 1/8" white ribbon

small plastic spider
2 eyelets

Halloween Countdown Block Directions

Prepare the Printable

These prints are sized to fit a block that is 7 1/4" wide and 9" tall.  You may need to trim the print down some.  For directions on how to download/copy the print, click here and scroll down.  Be sure to click on the image first before you save it to bring it to full resolution.

The clip-art images are for making memory/counting games to play with your kids/grand kids while you count down.  All clip-art is from Microsoft.  I found the countdown nursery rhyme at  Halloween Nursery Rhymes Chants and Charms.

Because I printed the countdown on my home printer onto photo paper, I sprayed it with a couple of thin coats of clear acrylic matte finishing spray first.  It helps prevent the ink from smearing when the Mod Podge is applied.  I printed the image with the white background and then added distress ink to it to give it an aged look.  I've included a printable with an aged background if you'd like to use it and skip the step of antiquing it.

I don't know if this is the correct way to do it, but it works.  To apply the distress ink, put a scrap of knit over your finger, dab it in the ink and then lightly brushed it across the print.  Use a clean part of the rag to rub the ink in to blend it.

Paint the Block and Apply the Print

Follow the directions in my tutorial for the photo/recipe blocks found here to finish the block and to apply the printable. 

*Before you Mod Podge, spray the block with a clear acrylic sealer. It will make a big difference in the finished appearance of the block.

Applying the Mod Podge

When you apply the top coat of the Mod Podge, spread the Mod Podge on evenly with a foam brush then take a crumpled up plastic grocery sack and pat the wet Mod Podge with it.  It gives the print an aged, crumpled paper look.  Use a paper towel to wipe off any excess Mod Podge on the painted area of the block.  Let dry.

Wet Mod Podge after patting with plastic grocery sack.

Inserting the Eyelets

1.  Drill a hole the size of the eyelet or just barely smaller through the print and the wood.  Gently pull off any excess wood or paper from around the hole.
2.  Line up the eyelet with the hole.
3.  Put the eyelet tool on top of the eyelet and gently hammer the eyelet into the hole.  You may need to use a large nail to push the eyelet against the inside of the hole if there are any rough edges that could catch the ribbon.

Adding the Spider

Follow the directions in the framed countdown tutorial to add the ribbon and the spider.

If you missed yesterday's post,  Click here for a tutorial on the 10 minute framed version.  In this post there are also suggestions on how to make it for an elementary school class activity.

There are some fun possibilities for using this style of countdown for other holidays as well for ex. Santa coming down the chimney, a falling snowflake, etc.  I've already started on a Christmas countdown print for my neighbors and friends.  I think it will be a great motivation to get the gifts done and delivered earlier in the month when life is a little less hectic.

Remember, the countdown doesn't start until the 21st, so there's still time to get busy and make one!  

Today's Fabulous Find:  Printable Halloween Countdown Calendar

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10 Minute--10 Day Halloween Countdown {A Working Printable!}

I've so been looking forward to sharing this printable with you because you see, it's much more than just any old printable, this one has working parts!  The best part...it only takes around 10 minutes to make and only counts down the 10 days before Halloween, so there's still plenty of time to make one!  Yay!

The other day I was searching for a Halloween poem and found this fun countdown poem at Halloween Nursery Rhymes Chants and Charms (I've since found out that it was written into a children's book as well). My first thought was that it would make a cute printable to frame.  Well, one idea led to another and next thing I knew the print had morphed into a 10 Day Halloween Countdown Printable with an actual moving spider! 

Here's how it works:  The spider starts out at the top of the countdown...

 ...then each day you move the spider down one number so the web gets longer...

...and longer...as each day passes...until it reaches Halloween. 

I think I've had as much fun moving that little guy up and down as my kids have (maybe even more). :) 

This may be one of the easiest countdowns you'll ever make.  Here's how you put it together:

Supplies

8x10 Print of the countdown

8x10 Frame without glass
(I used a frame that I already had, a chunky distressed frame would look awesome!)

12" piece of 1/8" black ribbon

12" piece of 1/8" white ribbon

2 eyelets and kit/pliers to set them (optional)

Small plastic spider

(The spider rings will work great if you cut off the ring part of it.)

Hot glue gun and glue

Directions
 I put in a lot of details, but really, if your supplies are all gathered you can make this in 10 minutes.

1.  Print the countdown as an 8x10.  If you don't know how to print the images, click here and scroll down to the bottom of the post for directions. (Trim to fit your frame if needed.)

2.  Poke a hole through the circles in the print with a sharp pair of scissors.  Insert the eyelet into the hole from the front of the print and set by using eyelet pliers or an eyelet kit and hammer.  (To use an eyelet kit, put the kits setting tool (no idea what it's really called) on top of the back of the eyelet and hammer on the top of it until the eyelet is flat.)

These are old prices, I don't know what they cost now.

3. Cut one 12" piece of black and one of white ribbon.  Tie the two pieces together at one end and clip the ends short.  Hot glue the spider over the knot.  Thread the ribbon through the holes so the spider is in the middle of the two eyelets and the black ribbon is showing above it.  Tie the ribbon in a knot on the back of the print in the middle, leaving the ribbon slightly loose.  Test the spider to see if it slides up and down easily and if the black ribbon goes all of the way to the bottom when you lower the spider, if it doesn't, loosen or tighten the ribbon accordingly.  If it's tied too tight the spider won't move as well.  Clip the ribbon 1/2" from the knot.

Pictures taken before I decided to use eyelets.

4.  Put the print in the frame.  You could put a clear plastic transparency sheet in front of the print before you add the ribbon and eyelets, or apply a layer of Mod Podge over it if you want to protect the print.

5.  That's it, now you can enjoy your new countdown!

Halloween Countdown Printables

For Personal Use Only

*If you would like to share these prints with your readers, please use one of the photos above for your post and include a link back to this post for the prints. Please do not post the prints on your blog, thank you! :)

I gathered some clip-art images from Microsoft to go along with the countdown.  For young children you could print two copies to use as a memory game or crop the image in a document and make duplicate copies of each clip-art to use for counting games each day.  For ex. print: 1 moon, 2 witches, 3 skeletons...

The black and white image could be copied onto colored card stock to make (unframed) in an elementary school class as an activity.  The children could circle the numbers in crayon to make them easier to see.

Click here and scroll down to the bottom of the post for directions on how to print the images.

When I showed the framed countdown to my sister, she said, "You know what would also look cute is if it was on a wood block".   I knew she had a great idea going there so I made one up that very night (I couldn't wait to give it a try) and she was so right!  Always listen to your sisters. :)

I'll show you how to make it tomorrow.  :)

Updated:  Click Here for the Tutorial

Today's Fabulous Find...Nursery Rhyme Countdown

Linking up to:  The Idea Room   Creations By Kara   Beyond the Picket Fence  Somewhat Simple  The Shabby Creek Cottage  House of Hepworths  The 36th Avenue 

Boo! Halloween Blocks

Just popping in to let you know I'm guest posting over at Rhinestone Beagle's Howl-oween Tricks and Treats Craftathon today!  I've written a tutorial on how you can make these fun little Boo! Halloween Blocks which includes a printable for the letters.  (No need for a vinyl cutting machine.)

I hope you'll come say hello and check out the other creative Halloween crafts while you're there!

Next up:  An interactive Halloween Countdown printable.  I seriously can not wait to show you guys this one! 

Halloween Subway Art Prints: 2 Fun Designs!

When I sit down at my computer to start on a new subway art print, it's always fun to see which direction it takes.  I start with the main two words and then fill it in from there, trying to keep to a specific theme.  This time there were just too many great words to only make up one design, so I decided to make two that you can choose from.  It seemed way easier than trying to decide.  :)  

For the first design, I focused on the fun of trick-or-treating on Halloween night... 

This next one is my personal favorite and was made especially for my kids.  I fell in love with this little skeleton and had to use him when he fit so perfectly into the design.  Isn't he so cute leaning on the letters, I just love him! :)  All of the clip-art is from Microsoft.

There are eight prints to choose from...

All prints are saved as high resolution jpeg's.

For Personal Use Only

*If you would like to share these prints with your readers, please use one of the photos above for your post and include a link back to this post for the prints.  Please do not post the prints on your blog, thank you! :)

**The prints are free, I just ask one little favor, if you download/copy one, would you please click 'going on my list of things to make' in the gray box at the end of the post by the comments?  I spend a lot of time designing these prints and it helps to make me feel like it's time well spent if I know they are being used. :) Thanks!

Use the black and white prints to print/copy onto scrapbook paper, or colored paper. They are also the best prints to start with if you want to recolor the subway art.

*For even more color choices, read through my tutorial on

How to recolor a subway art image.

To download: You must first click on the image to open it in a new window in it's highest resolution. Right click on the image and either copy and paste it into a document (to size and then print), or click on save image as to save it to your computer. You will need to size it before you print.

To size the prints: The prints look will look the best printed as an 8x10 or 4"x5" (for a card), but can be stretched to other sizes if you insert them into a document using a program like Microsoft Word/Publisher or Photo shop. Insert the image, click on it, then drag the sides of the image to the size that you want. (A 5x7 will look a bit stretched with this design.)

*You can also save the image to your computer and then use your computer's picture manager program to print it as an 8x10.

Print them on white or colored card stock, scrapbook paper, or (for the best quality) on photo paper. (Check your dollar store for photo paper, I buy packages of 8- 8x10 sheets for only $1.)

The Halloween subway art was so much fun to design and I hope you will enjoy it!  I told you which design is my favorite, now I'm curious, which one is yours? 

Have a nice weekend!

Today's Fabulous Find...Halloween Subway Art

*I just finished a printable Halloween Countdown for the 10 days before Halloween, be sure to check back next week, you won't want to miss this one! :)

I'm linking up to:

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