I LOVE the Latest Sign I Made!!

 So here is my latest project. I cannot wait to make a bunch more of these. It was so fun and I am happy with the way it tuned out. I made this as a birthday gift for a good friend. It is her last name, the names of everyone in thier family and fun words describing them. 

I started with a board that looked like this, only bigger and a different style, but you get the idea. It  is an unpainted cabinet door.

  

I taped the inside part with (blue) painters tape as I wanted to keep that portion unpainted.  I then painted the border black and the inside white.  I used latex paint and primer all in one.  Primer is important.  If you do not have a paint plus primer make sure you do a layer of primer before you paint and let it dry thoroughly.  You will be much happier with your final project if you prime first.  It will also require less coats of paint to cover your board.  I did two coats on the border and two coats on the inside.   Your base color on the inside is the color you want your lettering to be when your project is complete. 

 I had laid out my design and cut it with my Cameo, weeded it and applied transfer tape.  Make sure you use a color of vinyl that contrasts with both colors of paint you will be using.  Use removable vinyl so it peels off easier.  You can use contact paper as well, it is less expensive.  I prefer the removable vinyl though as I think it removes easier later one.  It will make peeling it off when the time comes easier

Once my paint for my base coats had dried thoroughly I laid the transfer tape with my vinyl design on my board, rubbed it down well and peeled it off.

This is what the applied vinyl looks like.

Then I do another layer of my base color over the top.  I actually did two layers to be sure, but one should be just fine.  I am a bit of  a perfectionist.  This will seal around the edges of the vinyl letters and if any paint bleeds through onto your letters, it will be the same color and you won't be able to see it.  This will guarantee your final product has a crisp, clean look with no bleeds!!

 

You then apply your background color to the top of that.  I did two layers of black.  When I paint I do not lay it one thick.  Less is more!

Let it dry thoroughly, then peel off all of your vinyl letters. 

Now this looked way to crisp, clean and shiny to me. 

So when I finished removing all my vinyl and peeled off my painters tape I took my mouse sander to it and sanded the crap out of it.  Way better, I prefer the distressed look.

Make sure you distress your edges as well. 

I also put a layer of matte sealer on it.  I use this one. I do not like a glossy look.

TADA

VIOLA, final product.  I hope my friend Gretchen likes it!!

 

Now go make your own fun signs, the sky is the limit!!  Thanks for looking!

Rhinestone shirt to share

We have a group of friends that spend the weekends out on the water trying to discover as many lakes each summer as we can.  We call ourselves the lake gypsies, hence the shirt!!  This one is for me.

I used Inkscape to generate the single line text using the Hershey Extension.  This is a great tool to become familiar with if you are interested in rhinestones.  If you want to learn more about generating single line text using inkscape, here are some resources for you:

Inkscape Tutorial.
Youtube video.
Information on how to get and install both Inkscape and the Hershey extension.  

The single line fonts convert to stones so much easier, and they are tough to find.  A google search for single line fonts or engravers fonts will turn up a few.  I used SCAL (Sure Cuts Alot) (You can also use MTC (Make the Cut) or Silhouette Studio DE) to convert the single line text to stones. There are higher end types of software out there made specifically for rhinestones, I have just been too cheap (and broke) to get one of them.

If you are interested in the margarita rhinestone file, this one to be exact:

you can download it here in svg format or here in dxf format.The size of the file is in the file name.  Make sure if it doesn't import into your cutting program at that size, you re-size it so the holes are the right size.

Thanks for looking!!

Small Flower Bling

Here is a small flower rhinestone template I made.  I am planning on blinging up some can koozies and wanted a small sized flower.  This is for 10ss stones.  Download the file here in svg format.  Here in DXF format.  When you import the file into whatever program you are using it should measure 1.290 x 1.377.  If it doesn't resize it so your holes cut at the correct size. 
Thanks for looking!!

Another Dinosaur

Here is one more dinosaur.  Download here in SVG format.  Download here in DXF format.  For more see this post.  Enjoy!

Fun Font I Discovered

 Here is a fun font I discovered earlier today while perusing the net, Kingsthings Willow and it's slightly less busy counterpart, Kingsthings Willowless.  Very fun!!  Download them both free here.

Dinosaur Cut Files

Triceratops

Ceratoraus

I made some dinosaur cut files for a friend's eight year old to put on the walls in his bedroom.  Boys like dinosaurs.  When you are older than five or six though, you like mean looking dinosaurs, none of these T-Rex's with big smiley faces.  So here are the two I came up with.  I am hoping to do a few more as these were fun to make and cut. You will want to pull some of the small detail out of these if you cut them at a smaller size.  The detail was perfect though for the 11.5" height I cut them at.

You can download the ceratoraus here in svg and here in dxf.  You can download the triceratops here in svg and here in dxf.  Happy cutting!!

Attention Sports Moms: Part II

Find part one here.
Download in svg here.
Download in dxf here.
Happy Cutting!!