Friday, July 15, 2011

I {Heart} My Family

Super Saturday project idea number 1!  I made all the printables a few days ago, but spent my time yesterday canning 40 lbs of chicken and doing 400 lbs of laundry, WheW!  I am glad yesterday is over :0)  Today you can finally see some of my work.

I wanted a super easy, super fast stress-free project for Super Saturday that would be relatively cheap.  I figured this idea would work for any family, any size.  The ladies can simply buy a beginner set of the 3 word blocks and two blank blocks for photos, then they can buy however many additional blocks needed for thier family size.  Only have one in your current family situation?  Your blocks can display you and your parents, foster parents, friends, dogs, cats, fish...whoever/whatever your family is made of.  Everybody has a family of some sort and this project should accommodate!

I normally have 30-40 kits to get ready for a given Super Saturday craft.  This year we are combining with another group so the number of kits needed may double.  I really have to keep things simple and fast as far as prep time goes.  I made all the blocks out of 2x4s.  The "My Family" block is twice the width of the other blocks.  That way you can stack two smaller blocks on top of it with no problem. 

 I have my own saw, but if you don't and you want to do this project, your friendly neighborhood home improvement center will probably cut the blocks for you.  A 2x4 runs about $2, $2.50 for the premium grade 2x4's (I recommend the premium-it will save you hours with the sander).  Lowes does charge like $.25 a cut so if you have 7 cuts @ $.25 each, plus the lumber, this set would cost  around $4.25.  You can get 2 sets or more from one board so the project can end up being even cheaper.

**Note to self** a 2x4 isn't actually 4" wide.  It is more like 3 1/4 or 3 3/8, so don't tell the guy to cut them to 4" if you want a square.  Be sure to ask for 3 1/4 or 3 3/8" per block.  All of the small blocks are cut the same size, the photos are cropped to 3" square.

The "My Family" block is cut from a 2x4 board, 6 3/4" long.  I painted all the blocks black, let them dry, then used Modge Podge to glue the photos and printed papers to the blocks.  

Just in case you want them, here are the printables... 


The "I" and the "Love/heart" printables I usually send as photos to the photo printer-Costco is my fav!
or
Orrrrr...
*update* had a request for these...


The full page ones I email to Office Max or Staples and have them printed in color on cardstock.  I suppose you can just print them out on your computer, but I like the higher quality I get by having someone else print them, plus I think it is cheaper!!!  If you have never emailed prints over to a store, it is super easy!  Call the store you like to go to, ask for their email address for copies, and send the file as an attachment in the email. 
E-sea!

You can get the files HERE as a download with Dropbox.  Download those and then either email/upload to your favorite site, or burn onto a disk/jump drive to take in for printing.  Once they are printed, just trim them to the colored part and they should be sized ready to use.

Once the blocks are made you can arrange and re-arrange them however you wish.  I heard a funny story once.  This family had 6 kids, every kid with a huge 20 by something portrait on the wall.  One day, one of the kids found himself in a particular amount of trouble.  The mom turned his portrait upside down.  The family thought it was kinda funny and the upside down portrait quickly became the universal sign that you were in loads of trouble with mom.  I guess these blocks could work the same way :0)  Don't tell anyone you heard it from me, but if Eli comes in the door late for dinner again he just might find his block upside down, or worse, backwards with nothing but blackness in his place.  That is a little crazy, but I promise your kids will have a little too much fun re-arranging the blocks whenever you are not looking.  
They are also fabulous to let little kids hold and play with while learning names of all their relatives.

I did make another tag in place of "My Family".  The "My Grandkids" tag is on the same page.  I made that one for all those grandmas out there so obsessed with their grandbabies, that the very children that produced them have been completely forgotten  :0)  You can fill the blocks with the smiling dimpled chin babies instead.  It could be fun to put a baby picture of each child instead of the current photo.  Whatever floats your boat!
Let me know if you have any questions and I will be back shortly with another Super Saturday idea.

28 comments:

  1. Love THIS!!!
    ~ladycrafter14.blogspot.com

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  2. Seriously! SUPER CUTE!!! I am a new follower. LOVE LOVE LOVE your stuff.

    Come check me out. http://AllDahledUP.blogspot.com

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  3. How do you glue the pic on the block? Do you modge podge it or just the back? Love this idea!

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  4. Chris,
    I do normally use modge podge to apply the image to the blocks. There are a few ladies out there that have trouble with bubbles and such so the other method I recommend is using white wood glue. The white wood glue that is for moldings and trim dries clear. It is horribly thick and a little hard to spread, but you can water it down just a tad and apply your photos on top. Then smooth the bubbles out and let dry. I have tried this technique and it works great. You can apply the modge podge over the top as a sealer as you normally would. Either way works, but the wood glue is a great alternative for those that have issues with the modge podge.

    ***make sure not to work too hard at getting the bubbles out. You can actually remove too much glue and in fact, cause the wrinkles you are trying to prevent. I use an old plastic gift card or credit card and gently squeegee over the piece I am gluing once or twice and call it good***

    Thanks for asking!!!
    Vanessa

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  5. The "my family" page is cut to the same size as the block? When I saved the images they didn't seem to be as big as I thought they would be. Should I tell the printer to make this one 6.35 X 3.25?

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  6. Hey, email me directly and I will send you the original files. They should print up exactly. The paper piece for the "My Family" block will end up just smaller than the block. Something like 3" high and 6" wide.

    My email is Vanessa.cam5@gmail.com

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  7. When I print these off my computer the "I" and "love" are way bigger than 3x3. Am I doing something wrong?

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  8. Katie, email me directly and I will send the originals.

    Thanks,
    Vanessa
    vanessa.cam5@gmail.com

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  9. Such a cute idea! thanks so much. I was curious what size photo I need? I'm new at being crafty. Thanks so much.

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  10. You cut the photos to a 3x3 inch square. You can use whatever size photo you want as long as every part you want to see fits into a 3x3 inch square.

    Vanessa
    The Sew*er, The Caker, The CopyCat Maker

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  11. Did you paint this with spray paint?

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  12. Nope, I don't like spray painting the crafts, but I have tons of friends that do. It would probably work just fine. One tip, cause I am sure you are short on tips :0) spray once, let dry, then "sand" with a brown paper bag. It will get all the fuzzies off, then spray again. That paper bag thing works great for regular craft paint too!

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  13. I just made these today and they turned out awful! I used glossy mod podge and it just looked goopy and awful around the pictures. Is it because I used glossy or because I just don't know how to use mod podge?

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  14. Well look at that. This is a very interesting and relatively easy looking project to do. And to add to that, it's even versatile; it can be for your home, or as a gift for another. Nothing screams "I care for you" more than a homemade gift. Thanks for sharing.

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  15. I'm just wondering what font did you use? Thanks

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  16. I used Digs My Heart. Love it! I use it all the time. It is a Kevin and Amanda font found here:

    http://www.kevinandamanda.com/fonts/freescrapbookfonts/digs-my-hart/

    Hope that helps!
    Vanessa
    The Sew*er, The Caker, The CopyCat Maker

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  17. I love this project!!! Found it on Pinterest. Thanks for sharing it!

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  18. what type of mod podge do you use? :)

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    Replies
    1. I use the Mod Podge brand, usually Matte finish.

      http://www.amazon.com/Podge-CS11302-Original-16-Ounce-Finish/dp/B001IKES5O/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1339874808&sr=8-1&keywords=mod+pod

      This one. :0)

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  19. Having problems getting the right sizes printed. Can you send me the original files, please? Also - do you have the "Foster Kids" made up? Thank you so much!

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    Replies
    1. No problem. I just need your email address. I looked for it on your blog but didn't see it. You can email me at vanessa.cam5@gmail.com or just reply to this comment with your email address :0)

      Thanks!

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  20. Do you have one that says "My Dogs"? if so please email it to me @wayoutdacloset1@yahoo.com

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  21. Do you have one that says "MY DOGS" ?I would love that if you do.

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  22. I am in charge of this project for our next Super Saturday. Everyone loves it! I just hope I can do it justice because I have never. used. mod podge. Can you please email me the original files? My email is debraneedles@gmail.com Thank you so much!!!

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  23. We are featuring this craft for our Super Saturday this year! Thank you for the fun project. I downloaded the dropbox files. But if you think the originals would be better to send to the printer, my email is courtneyconover@gmail.com. Thanks again for the inspiration!!

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  24. Can you send the originals to shellyrn97@yahoo.com? Can't wait to make this!

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    Replies
    1. Yep. All the files are also free to download from my Dropbox folder at :

      https://www.dropbox.com/sh/i6rdpu5phdxsfus/vWcTGOtEMd

      Thanks for stopping by!
      Vanessa
      The Sew*er, The Caker, The CopyCat Maker

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