Summer in New Zealand

Carl and I have some friends who are serving in New Zealand for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. On Thanksgiving, we received an email from them with a picture taken from their front door - it is summer there (or just about to be summer). Carl and I think we need to visit New Zealand because all the pictures these friends post on their blog and send via email are all so gorgeous. We love you Marcia and Brent - keep the great pictures coming!

Custom Tissue Box Cover

This is such an easy craft! The hardest part (once you have all the supplies) is deciding which pictures to use, and what color of vinyl will coordinate the best. Seriously! You'll love how easy this is to make.

You will need:

1. Paper mache tissue box cover - 5"x5". I bought mine *in store* at Roberts Craft in Utah. They are also available online here, and here (I do not guarantee any item from these websites since I did not purchase mine from either of them. Please make sure you are ordering the proper item before paying for it). Or just search "paper mache tissue box cover" and you may find other websites that sell them.

2. Paint and sponge paint brush (since you are painting "paper" the sponge brushes work best). I use regular house paint that I buy in the gallon at Home Depot. I use this paint because it is much more cost efficient than buying those little containers of paint at a craft store. But I do a lot of these kinds of crafts, so I go thru a gallon of paint faster than the average person, I guess.

3. 4 - 4"x4" pictures. These are cropped from 4"x6" pictures. If you do not know how to get your picture just right in photoshop, ask an employee at your local photo developing store. You can also just cut a 4"x6" photo to fit in the space. It will look best if you order the MATTE or LUSTER finish on your photos. Not glossy!

4. Spray adhesive. You can buy this almost anywhere - Wal*Mart, Target, office supply stores, etc... (You can also use glue sticks or mod podge to glue your pictures onto the box, but with adhesive spray you will not get any rippling effect like you do with glue.)

5. Matte photo finishing spray. You may be asking - what for? You will actually use this twice on this project, so it is worth the investment. If you do not have any already, you can purchase it at most photography stores. I use this kind, here.

6. The Family Picture Block vinyl words from We Cut Vinyl. Available here. I used light brown vinyl lettering.

How to make:

1. Paint paper mache tissue box cover. I used black paint. You will want to paint it twice. Let it dry completely inbetween coats of paint.

2. Once paint is dry, spray lightly (do not puddle spray) with the matte photo finishing spray. If you do not do this, when applying the vinyl lettering, you will peel the paint and part of the box off. This protects the painted box. You will want to spray this inside of a box to protect your kitchen table.

3. Once matte spray is dry, spray back of photos (one at a time) with the adhesive spray, and place your photos on your box where you want them. Be careful, once you stick the pictures onto the box, they will not move, so place carefully.

4. Once all four pictures are glued onto box, apply the vinyl words (according to the directions that come with the vinyl). You will over lap the pictures with the vinyl lettering - this is ok - and actually looks best.

5. Now spray the entire thing lightly again with the matte photo finishing spray. This will protect everything - and protect the photographs from finger prints, etc... (again, spray in a box to protect your kitchen counter or table)

6. You're done. See how easy that was?

With your leftover items from this craft (adhesive spray, matte photo finishing spray, and *maybe* your gallon of house paint) make other crafts. You can also protect all your photographs with the photo spray.

These make great gifts for in-laws, grandparents, teachers desks, bishop's, and others.

My Bishop in Salt Lake Magazine

I recently received my Nov/Dec issue of Salt Lake Magazine in the mail. As I'm skimming the pages I come to an article on the lights on Temple Square. Well, my eyes perked up! My Bishop (Eldon Cannon) is the main honcho over the gardens/grounds at Temple Square. I was thrilled to see him in that magazine! I wasn't expecting that! Since - if you know anything about Salt Lake Magazine - it is kind of a liberal magazine. You may be asking - well then, Vickie, why do you get it? I get it because since Carl and I go on a date weekly *without fail*, I get some great ideas of places to eat and places to go from this magazine. No, I do not read all the articles in it, since they always seem to throw in some jab against the church. But - to each his own. Anyways - it is a great resource for Carl and I.

If you are interested in reading the article, you can pick up a copy of Salt Lake Magazine at Smith's grocery store, or you can read it online here (you may have to create an account by giving them your email address and creating a password to read the entire magazine - and to get to page 53 to read the article on the lights at Temple Square.) You can see the pages below, but I doubt you can read them. You can see Bishop Cannon's picture though, on the last page of the article.

Camera Phone Fun

On my phone's camera, there are templates that you can take pictures with - like thought bubbles, multi picture options, etc.... As I was scrolling thru my pictures this morning, cleaning it off, here are two that I found. I wonder when Hailey and Hunter got a hold of my phone to take these? Silly kids - I love ya to death!

Carve your blessings in stone

I found this great saying that I wanted to make a vinyl sign out of for my website. Here is how it turned out.
How I made it:
1. Painted my wood piece white. Allowed to dry.
2. Sanded it so it looked a little "roughed up". This also gives it a natural border.
3. Apply vinyl. You can get this decal on my vinyl site here. Be sure to measure and level wording so it is straight and then tape across entire top of decal so it holds it in place. You can see how to do this on my website, here.
4. Stain wood with stain. I used Minwax stain, Special Walnut color. Wipe off excess stain from wood, and from vinyl lettering (I stain my board after I apply my vinyl since it is easier to apply vinyl to it before it is stained). Also - you may want to put on rubber gloves and use a paper towel to apply stain. This (the gloves) helps it so you do not have brown fingernails for the next three days!
5. You're done.

This would make a great easy craft for Relief Society, family reunions, girls night out, etc... Also makes a great gift.