The Family Proclamation Vinyl Home Decor Board

I just made another home decor item that I just love! Putting vinyl on ceramic tiles is the latest craze in home decor. Honestly - I am not a fan! I much prefer a board over a tile for several reasons. But my main three reasons are: tiles are breakable, wood boards are not; I can paint a board any color I want, I can't paint a tile (as least not easily); and lastly - I do not own easels - I can have a board display either on the wall or on a shelf/table with the peg hole and peg in back of the board.

I love the Family Proclamation. I always have. I wanted a plaque that I could rotate with my other home decor items throughout the year. Here is what I came up with:
Here is what my finished project looks like:

How to make:

1. Order the vinyl lettering from We Cut Vinyl. You can also order the KIT which includes the wood board, vinyl and a wood peg for the back to be able to put on a table. There is also a key hole in the back of the board as well so you can hang it on the wall if you'd like. The vinyl decal itself is only available in the 11"x11" size - so you could still put it on a heavy breakable tile, if you so desire.2. Paint wood desired color. I painted mine black. Let dry.
3. Sand painted board to smooth, and to "rough up" the edges.
4. Wipe off all the dust from sanding with a paper towel or rag.
5. Apply vinyl decal. To get your vinyl decal straight and centered, follow these instructions: Measure and line up decal on board so it is the same distance from all edges. Be sure to measure from the vinyl decal itself NOT the backing sheet it is on. Once in place, tape a big piece of masking tape across the entire top of decal. Don't be afraid to really tape it on well - all the way across.
With a smooth edge object, go over entire decal to make sure the vinyl is going to stick to the top clear transfer sheet.

Starting at the bottom of the decal, peel the top clear transfer sheet off white backing sheet. The vinyl decal needs to be coming up with the top clear transfer sheet. Keeping the clear sheet attached and "hinged" at the top with the tape, remove white backing sheet out from under the vinyl.

Carefully place vinyl back down on board, scraping as you go to keep air bubbles out. Start at the top (the hinged part) and go all the way down to the bottom.
Now carefully but firmly, press and scrape over entire decal with a smooth edge object - like a credit card. This should press the vinyl onto the wood so you can remove the top clear transfer sheet.

Now peel back top clear transfer sheet, leaving vinyl decal on wood.

If some of the vinyl sticks to the clear transfer sheet, simply put it back down, press down so the vinyl will stick to you wood, and hold it in place with a finger while you continue pulling away transfer sheet. You may have to do this several times, in different places, if the vinyl wants to stay on the transfer sheet instead of going onto your board.
Once the entire decal is on the wood, and the clear transfer sheet is completely off, press with the palm of your hand over entire decal to firmly press the decal onto the wood to be sure it is all adhering fine.

Last step - I always spray all my wood projects with a matte finish photo finishing spray. This helps protect the wood and vinyl. I also like how it "finishes" the project. This is the kind i use.

This would be a *perfect* Relief Society craft project. Remember, you can order this LDS vinyl decal and many others, including temples, on the We Cut Vinyl website: http://www.wecutvinyl.com/

2011 Mutual Theme projects for Young Women (YW)

I wanted to make some cute home decor items for the 2011 Mutual Theme - which is the 13th Article of Faith. I love this theme. There is so much you can do with it. No need to rack your brains to come up with girls camp themes, or themes for youth conferences. It is all right there in the 13th Article of Faith. I love these signs because they are small enough that these could actually be a craft at Girls Camp or another YW activity. They can be hung in a bedroom all year. They would also make a cute table decoration for YW opening exercises on Sunday's.

My favorite one is the blue one. I made it blue by request from my daughter - whose favorite color is blue. She asked me the other day why everything to do with young women was either pink or purple. She doesn't like that since she is not a pink or purple type of gal. So, Hai, here you go. You can hang this one in *your* room. Love you, babe!

Here is what I came up with:
Here is how you make them.

For the green vinyl decal on a ceramic tile:
1. Buy a tile. I used a 4 inch white one because I had it already. But you can use any size, really.
2. Buy the vinyl decal, available here. The decal color I used is "forest green".
3. Apply vinyl to tile.
4. Hot glue ribbon on the back to hang.
5. You're done!

For the blue vinyl decal on the dark blue board:
1. Buy the decal here. I used the "KIT" that is available. It is a 6"x6.5" board, with a 5 inch decal. The decal color I used is "powder blue". (This color is not listed on the website, but you can still order it).
2. Paint wood desired color. Let dry.
3. Sand wood lightly to smooth out and to "rough up" edges just a bit.
4. Wipe off all the dust from sanding with a thick paper towel or cloth.
5. Apply stain. I used MinWax Wood Finish Stain, Special Walnut color. Quickly wipe stain off with a paper towel so it does not go too dark. You may want to wear plastic gloves for this step. Let dry completely (or else vinyl will not stick to wood).
6. Apply decal. You can also apply the vinyl decal then stain the wood, wiping the stain off quickly from the wood and the vinyl.
7. I always spray all of my wood projects with a photo finishing spray. I like how it finishes the project and it protects the wood and the vinyl. I use the MATTE finish one. I know they do have other types like glossy, and semi-gloss, but I prefer matte. You can see what I use here.
8. Tie a ribbon thru the holes. Hang.
9. You're done!

For the pink and green sign:
1. Buy the decal here. I used the "KIT" that is available which includes the vinyl decal and the wood. I used the key hole board so I can hang it with that. It also comes with holes for ribbon. The decal color I used is "pink".
2. Paint the wood. Let dry.
3. Sand wood lightly to smooth and to "rough up" edges a bit.
4. Wipe off dust from sanding with a thick paper towel or cloth.
5. Apply decal.
6. I always spray all of my wood projects with a photo finishing spray (as you know if you are an avid reader of my craft projects). I like how it finishes the project and protects the wood and the vinyl. Here is what I use. You can also get glossy, or semi-gloss, but I prefer the matte finish.
7. If you order the "KIT" and you order the board with holes for ribbon, tie ribbon thru holes.
8. You done!

Tuesday

Well, today is Tuesday. What's going on today? I have my Visiting Teachers coming over. That's good. Mutual tonight for Drew, Jaz and Hai. They all love going to mutual. Last night for FHE we wrote our testimonies/feelings about the Church to Maria who will be leaving the Provo MTC for the Nashville, Tennessee mission next week. Her mom is compiling a book of as many people that she can get to submit their testimonies so they will be waiting for her when she arrives at the mission home in Nashville next week. What a great idea, Marsha!

I do not have many orders to get out this morning. Maybe two. So, most of my day will be very spontaneous. Maybe I will clean my office....but then again maybe not. I know I do need to do my books for the last three months of 2010 so we can get our taxes done and paid. Can you believe it - we will have to pay this year. We made about 1/2 of what we did last year, and we got a refund last year. This year, we are going to have to pay. What is wrong with that picture? We can't figure out what we are doing wrong. We are doing it all electronically, so it figures it on its own. We must have entered something in wrong. But - if not, we owe lots of money. Anyone want to give me some free money? I could really use some right now.

I better go eat breakfast - my stomach is growling at me. Happy Tuesday, everyone.

My Top 10 Thoughts of Today

1. I love the snow still on the ground from our Christmas vacation storms. We still have easily four inches or so. It has been below freezing for the past two weeks, so none of it has melted away.

2. People in Utah are stupid. I see people walking around in short sleeves - it is 20*F outside. Idiots! And they are the ones who complain that they hate Utah because it is so cold here. Well, duh! Dress appropriately for the weather and you may enjoy it more.

3. Sometimes your spouse can get on your nerves.

4. I like seeing the "Ice Tree" on 1200 East in Lehi everytime I leave my house to drive somewhere. It is lit up at night in random colors. Very cool!

5. I really like - no, I LOVE - being a Mormon.

6. My mom is annoying me right now.

7. Having teenagers is hard. Enforcing rules, punishing when rules are not obeyed, etc... is hard!

8. I have a messy office that really needs to be cleaned up. But when my time is spent working all day earning our only income right now, then making dinner, doing family activities (B-Ball practices, mutual, B-Ball games, swim meets, you get the idea....), trying - but failing miserably at being a good mom and wife, cleaning other parts of the house, laundry, etc, etc, etc,...my office gets ignored. Maybe next week will be the week I clean it.

9. I really have enjoyed (probably too many) Cowboy cookies (chocolate chip oatmeal cookies) today, with a tall glass of cold milk.

10. I changed the background on my blog from a Christmas one. Today was a success!

Fun Relief Society Activity

I just read - on an email list I am on - about a fun RS Activity. It is called - My Favorite Things. What it is - each person brings an article of a favorite thing. This can range from health magazine articles on yoga, or a favorite recipe from a magazine, a favorite scripture topic from a church magazine, etc.... It can basically be an article on ANYTHING that is one of your faves, from one of your favorites magazines (or printed off the internet). Then at the activity - those who would like - share what they brought and why it is their favorite. Then everyone puts their articles on a table, and each person takes someone elses home with them - something new to learn. Doesn't that sound fun? I think it does. You could learn so many new and interesting things at this activity - and really get to know the sisters in your ward better. If only I had a RS calling that I could implement this with.....