Materials for Stenciling

One of my favorite things to do in my crafting projects is stenciling. With a Cricut machine, I have the flexibility to create almost anything…But I still had difficulty if the stencil was made out of paper or plastic material. The stencil would always move or shift or the paint would bleed. My projects would be ruined or just look “off”/wrong.

I started to cut out stencils using an indoor vinyl material. The outcome and the ease of the project was a game changer. The stencil placement is easier, the stencil doesn’t move and the stencil creates clean lines with no paint bleeding.

An indoor vinyl is slightly more expensive then regular paper but it is always easy to find good deals on Amazon. I would rather spend a little more to have to the project look good then skimp on materials for a project that doesn’t look right.

Vinyl Stencil

Painted Pallet

 

Stencil Project

Till we meet again,

Anne at Annie’s Bug Blog

 

DIY Bunny Wreath

Easter time is coming up and I have two little ones who enjoy this holiday. I always enjoy setting up little holiday items around the house and Easter is no exception. This is a how-to for a super easy Easter Project…..a Bunny Wreath. This is quick and a super low cost project.

What you need:

• 3 – 8 in. grape vine wreath (many dollar stores have them)
• 1 – 12 in. grape vine wreath (many dollar stores have them)
• Floral wire (had some from Michael’s)
• flowers, optional (got mine from a dollar store)
• wire cutter

First, I simply bent two of the 8 in. wreaths. It breaks apart pretty easily when you fold it by hand and not much effort is required.

I wrapped floral wire around the broken two pieces to create an ear. Do this step again to create 2 ears. Attach the ears to the last remaining 8 in wreath to make a head with two ears. Attach the head to the large 12 in. wreath.  (If I had brown spray paint on hand, I would spray paint the floral wire to hide the green. Just a suggestion)

 

I added a couple of flowers and hung it by a ribbon. Done! I told you… Cute and Simple!

Till we meet again,

Anne from Annie’s Bug Blog

 

DIY Mason Jar Sign

I tell you…. I am ready for Spring. March is here and Mother Nature keeps giving us small glimpses of Spring only to take it away from us. Grrrrrrrr.

When dreaming of Spring, I see vibrant flowers and mason jars filled my mommy lemonade. This is the inspiration for my sign and my hope that Spring is near.

To make this sign, I used:

• Common wood
• Brad nails
• Stain
• Cricut machine (Don’t have a craft machine, I can help. Visit my etsy store**)
• Indoor Vinyl
• Acrylic Paint
• Glue Gun
• Fake flowers from a dollar store

I used common wood for a lot of my projects. It’s cheap, light and easy to cut. I cut three 3.5 in x 12 in boards and nailed them together using a scrap piece along the back side of the sign.

 

I stained the board using General Finishes Java gel stain (seriously the best stain on the market. Super easy to use and dries quickly. I don’t get paid to say it either! ha!). Rub the stain in and let it dry.

Next, I cut a mason jar silhouette using my Cricut machine (my most favorite crafting item…Not paid to say that either!) with an indoor vinyl. I use an acrylic white paint on the mason jar stencil. After I let the paint dry,the jar looked incomplete to me so I decided to add text inside of the jar. A simple “Home Sweet Home” is always a welcome/popular sight!

After letting the paint dry, I used the hot glue to place some flowers to the top of the jar. Any color will do. Just a splash of spring flowers to create texture to the sign and give it a POP!

This sign is already being sent off to a home but need to make at least one more for myself. It turned out so sweet and springy!

**I did update my Etsy shop for this stencil and much more. Custom orders are welcome. Click on link. www.etsy.com/shop/LittlePeachCraft

Until we meet again,

Anne from Annie’s Bug Blog

 

 

 

Pallet Sign

Oh Pallet, How I love thee so. I love seeing pallet projects on Facebook and Pinterest. A girlfriend contact me and asked if I could make a pallet sign……AND I jumped right on it. I couldn’t find a pallet that was the exact right size and length but just only meant I had to get a little creative!

Below is a picture of the pallet mid-way through the process (excuse the toy army guys scattered on the floor…..it’s just how we roll in our house).

I used my cricut machine  to cut out the simple font letters/saying with vinyl material. When stenciling, I like to use a vinyl material because it is sticky and doesn’t move around on me. I used a classic white chalk paint for the letters and used a bright blue acrylic paint for the heart.

I cut off the top two rows of the pallet to make it the desired size and not so long. Then, I made 3 cuts in between the vertical posts. I inserted leftover/scrap common wood to create the shelving (ALWAYS KEEP SCRAPS..never know when you can use it again). I nailed the shelving down with nail brads.

It’s simple project that took very little time but makes a big statement!

 

Till we meet again,

Anne from Annie’s Bug Blog

Stenciled Monogram

My friends are putting the finishing touches on the nursery for their little bundle of joy. They bought a cute frame and lined the back with a burlap material. It was super cute! They came to me for a swirly monogram stencil and I was so excited to try to do a new stencil….. and I went straight to Pinterest. There are many different ways to monogram and many free fonts to choose from.  The free font I picked is listed here.

After downloading the free font, I uploaded the monogram image to my Circuit Design Studio and cut the stencil out with vinyl. Once the vinyl was cut, I put on transfer tape on top. With the swirly lines, it is so important to use transfer tape to ensure correct placement. Please do not try to do it by hand!! It will only cause headaches, frustrations and more work. Plus, the grid of the transfer tape is sooooooo helpful with placement.

The monogram was then painted on to the burlap backing with acrylic paint. The best tool to use for painting on a fabric that can bleed easily is to use a cheapy sponge. Make sure to use very little paint on the sponge and paint in thin layers with the paint completely drying in between coats.

They did all the hard work and the end result is amazing!! This would also be perfect for any baby shower or birthdays too… I think all girls are a sucker for a good monogram. But now, I can’t wait to do one for myself!

Till we meet again,

Anne from Annie’s Bug Blog

Sewing a Minky Blanket

When making a blanket, my favorite material to use, hands down, is Minky. It’s soft and velvety, but it’s not the easiest material to handle when sewing. But you can do it if you try….just need a little patience.

What you need:

• 2 yards of minky material and 2 yards of any material (another minky, cotton, flannel, etc.)
• Sewing Machine
• Pins…..lots of pins
• Patience

I picked a grey minky material and a simple cotton. Lay the right side of the material facing each other. (FYI….I went to a local business for the embroidered monogram on the cotton material. This is purely option, but perfect when making a personalized gift.)

Once the material is lined up, next is to pin, pin, pin, pin, pin and lots more pinning. The minky material likes to move and slip out of alignment. I pin everywhere (even in the middle on the blanket) to keep it straight. This process can be tedious but will be worth it when it you are sewing the blanket.

Time to sew! I used my standard needle and all purpose thread. Sew all around with an 1/2 inch seam and leave a small opening…..roughly 2-3 inch. Remove all the pins and I double check to ensure no pins are left behind. Inside out the blanket through the small opening and push open the seams at each corner. Hand stitch the small opening closed. Done!!

Till we meet again,

Anne of Annie’s Bug Blog

Paint and Stain Furniture

I love, love to paint. I am definitely not a artist by any mean but I can follow lines  and use painter’s tape. For Christmas, my mother bought me a old vanity from Craigslist that I have been dying to get my hands on. I wanted to put the piece in my Master Bedroom. The painting and staining may be a process but it is easy steps to get to a completed project.

First, take off the hardware and wipe the whole piece clean. I wanted to stain the top part dark so I used General Finishes Gel Stain in Java. (This is my absolute favorite stain because of it’s color and easy use. I definitely recommend this stain.)

Use a sander to sand off the existing finish and expose the natural wood so the stain soaks up nicely but wipe down the piece again to clean off the debris from sanding (there is usually lots of dust). Stain the piece with as many coats of stain to get to the desired color you are looking for.

After staining, apply painter’s tape to protect the stained sections and start painting with chalk paint. With chalk paint, you will not need to prep/sand the area. Chalk paint is great way to paint wood without all the extra time for prep work. After the couple coats of  chalk paint has dried, apply a coat of clear wax and wipe off with a rag. I wanted to highlight the decorative pieces so I then lightly applied a dark wax on top of the clear wax to bring attention to the detail.

With sanding and wait time for paint, the piece takes longer then the day but each step is relatively simple. Have an old furniture piece or don’t like the look of a piece, try painting with chalk paint. There are many chalk brands and even more color options. Give it a try…you may amaze yourself. Happy Painting!

Till we meet again,

Anne from Annie’s Bug Blog

Sewing a Stuffed Kitty from Etsy

One of my first sewing projects was a stuffed kitten that I found at an Etsy shop, CreateJoyMakeStuff. (Click on the name to direct you to the shop and the kitten plans). I picked this plan out of the other sewing plans on Etsy because I liked it’s simple “Engineering Plans” (and was at a great price point). Each step of the plan is accompanied by a picture to give you an idea of what it should look like each step of the way. It’s hard to mess up with that. It holds your hand throughout the project.

Pick out some soft fabric of your choice and a bag of filler to stuff the pet. I picked out a purple polka dots flannel (super cuddly), a grey minky for the inner ears and a cotton simple pattern for the belly. The learning curve is very short and everything you need to know are in those detailed directions!

This project is a great beginner project and takes an afternoon to finish!

Side note…I add a small cotton ball of lavender oil and included it with the kitty’s stuffing….just to give a calm, pretty scent.

These days, you can teach yourself to do anything on Pinterest and Youtube. Don’t know how to sew? There are millions of tutorials on Youtube to teach you how. You could have a wealth of knowledge in the sewing world  or  you can have zip, nada, zero… you can find a tutorial to suit your experience level.

If you are a new at sewing or if you are experienced, this will be a cute little gift that any girl would enjoy!

Till we meet again,

Anne from Annie’s Bug Blog

 

How to get pallets for FREE!

Rule #1….do not purchase pallets. Most companies view pallets as trash and scrap. The wood is poor quality but there is endless possibilities of using/chopping up these bad boys to make them beautiful. Recycle, Recycle! Create, Create!

Where to look? Local Lumber yards and other local small businesses. Many businesses use them to deliver and transfer goods. Local Constructions sites are good places too. It never hurts to call or stop by the business to check if they are willing to let YOU haul off the scrap for them. Everyone wins.

One of my favorite places to get free pallets is the local lumber/hardware store, Hall Brother’s Lumber, http://www.hallbroslumber.com.

You never know unless you just ask!

 

Anne from Annie’s Bug Blog

 

 

How to Make a Wooden Sign with Stencils

Making a stenciled wood sign is one of my favorite crafts. It’s a great way to decorate a space or to give as a gift. I have a Cricut Machine which allows me to create and upload my own images but stencils can also be purchased through many retail stores, such as Michael, Joann’s, Wal-Mart, Amazon.com, etc. I will show you how easy it is to make!!

What you need:

• wood board (this is cheapy wood from Lowe’s. Pallet wood is another great option)
• Stencil
• Paint or stain for the wood board, option if you want to leave the wood as is
• Acrylic paint for the stencil (I used the cheapy stuff from Wal-Mart)
• paint brush and sponge/small precision brush

Instructions:

Paint or stain the board and sand any rough edges for a clean, fresh look.

After the paint or stain is dry,  lay the stencil flat on the board. When using a cricut vinyl stencil, the stencil is sticky and clings to the board to lessen the chance of the paint bleeding or the stencil moving. If you are using a store bought plastic stencil, tape the stencil to the board so it doesn’t move on you.

Use a brush or small precision brush to dab with a thin layer acrylic paint (lots of color choices out there and in small, cheap bottles).

After drying, remove the stencil and you are done!!!

 

Option, add brad nails or backs of the wood if you want to hang the sign. Another option, seal with a thin layer of a polyurethane if it will be for outside use.

Contact me if you are needing specific stencils. I can upload and/or create mine with my Cricut Machine with ease!

 

Anne from Annie’s Bug Blog