Back to School Printables

 

Hello everybody!  Today we are traveling somewhere between the rocky hills of Mt. Rushmore and the totally flat farmland surrounding Sioux Falls, all in the name of Marching Band :0)  Forward we go.

I thought somewhere out there in the bloggosphere might enjoy my new back to school printables.  I tried to make up samples, but got swept away before it was possible.  Now my pile of printables sits lifeless on my craft table.  I am hoping someone can cut the wood and send me a picture of what this project looks like put together ;0)  If not, I will have to do it myself when I get back to Arizona.  

The Printable above was going to be all traced onto 2" wood and cut out with either my band saw or my circular saw.  I intended the "BACK" blocks to sit right on top of the pencil.

The top printable was made with blocks that were all the same size for ease when cutting the blocks out.  This version is for all you out there that like a little variety in your blocks like I do...I even added a block with a "B" that doesn't look upside down {in case you don't like the one that came with the original font}

Here are two versions of my pencils.  The top is for 11x17 paper, the bottom for 8.5x11.

Here are some signs.  I intend to print these guys out, cut them apart, and mode podge  them to blocks.  The page above are sized for 11x17 paper, making blocks out of 2x6's.  The blocks below are sized for 8.5x11 paper, making blocks out of 2x4s.

I am so sad about not being there for Super Saturday this year, I thought I would go ahead and make the centerpieces.  I thought a back-to-school theme this year would be a nice change ;0)  I do have a couple more ideas I am hoping to make up.  

Have a great weekend you guys!!!  

Birthday Blocks

This design is not mine, but just another absolutely FABULOUS project I found at the Wood Connection in Salt Lake while on vacation.  It is my Super Saturday idea #2.  I have been working like a dog all the last week on #3 and will hopefully have that for you tomorrow, but until then, you can check this guy out!!!

The wood kit was for sale for something like $10.50, even the dowels included.  The vinyl was $6.75.  I had a gift to return so mine was a free exchange *SCORE*

I painted the blocks just like the store's sample: Lime green base, brown blocks.  I chose to paint instead of stain the "Happy" blocks brown.  I think it is easier myself, plus less messy and less stinky, but do what you like best.  

All that I had left to do was modge podge the papers to the blocks and glitter the balloons...and tie on the ribbons once the vinyl was in place.  All together this project took less than 2 hours and was a 2 on a 1-10 stress scale.

They have all the paint, papers, and ribbon for sale there in the store.  I failed to buy the ribbons they had in the sample and had to rummage through my endless bin of ribbon scraps instead.  Don't you just love how nothing in your own house is as cute as whatever the store chose to use :0)  We have that problem with Super Saturday too.  Inevitably there will be some paper or ribbon I can't find when the magical day arrives, so if I don't re-make the sample with my replacement items, groans of bewilderment will fill the air due to the change in adornment.  

Whatever the case, as always, I LOVE the Wood Connection in Salt Lake.  They have a website and a blog.  Last time I contacted them, they did ship some things, but I am not sure if they still offer shipping services.  If you will be in the area you can pick up you order, but be aware that they have special requests for large orders.  You can read more about making a large order for pick-up HERE. 

So, if you are interested in this kit, GIVE THE WOOD CONNECTION A CALL!!! or, if you live by me :0)  you can give me a call!!!!  Super Saturday will be in September and I CAN'T WAIT!

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.

Don't You Just LOVE The Wood Connection!?!

When I realized we would be in Salt Lake City on Saturday there was one amazing place I just had to go...The Wood Connection!!!  I LOVE that place!  Beyond having the cutest woodcrafts I have ever seen, they are totally fine with you taking pictures!!!  I thought I would share with you some that I saw just in case you can't get there yourself. 

These darling seasonal shapes are cut out of 2" pine.  Many of them are decorated with glitter.  Apparently, they paint the shape, then sprinkle glitter while the paint is still wet.  So ADORABLE!!!

They sell the frame-like shelves to put them on.

There is also a whole line of dangle shapes.  Same shapes, different way to display them.

How cute are these.  In a more organized life, I would have loved this idea.  One for every season/holiday.  Same nail in the wall, just pull down one frame and put up the next.

Remember my whole blurb about misunderstanding my mother-in-law's description of the "HOME" sign.  This is the craft she was describing.  The shapes are sold in packs of 4 or 5 for about $12 each package.  Add in your letters and all 4 shape packs, this craft comes in around $55-$60.  That is a lot all at once, but if you can pick up one set of shapes every couple of months, totally do-able, right?  I still can't figure out how I got the other from the description of this :0)

Speaking of the cute letters, how cute is this!?!  I love the school set!  That cowboy set behind it is just as darling.

This seems to be the next trend.  2x6 blocks with paper modge podged on it, then vinyl letters.  Now, my mother-in-law had told me to use clear-drying wood glue to mount paper to the wood.  I looked at her like she was crazy and continued to pick up my favorite jar in the whole wide world, modge podge.  Apparently though, if you use clear-drying wood glue (not the yellow kind) your papers and photos will not wrinkle!!!  How amazing is that!?!  I haven't tried it yet, but you can be sure you will be hearing about the outcome very soon.

I absolutely LOVE their use of bead board on their crafts.  They have a mdf bead board.  I don't know where you would get it, but I LOVE IT!!!

I want this!  They sell all the frames and metal boards you could possibly imagine.  I think their prices are VERY reasonable!  They also have a full line of plaques and metal with sayings cut out of them.  I really am terrible at describing this place.  If you ever find yourself in Salt Lake City, check them out.

Here are the address, phone number and hours of operation:

Wood Connection Craft Store

6680 S 300 W (Cottonwood St)

Murray, UT 84107

(801) 265-2255

Monday-Friday: 9am–6pm

Saturday: 10am–4pm

There really was no way, being the devoted Twi-lover that I am, that I could end without showing you the lovely line of Twilight projects available!!!

Could not resist.

Now, I have even more pictures, mostly Halloween and Christmas, but will have to save those for another day.  I am still trying to find the carpet in this house of mine.  I babysat all day yesterday, the day after we got back from our 12hr drive.  What I would really love is a nap.  The carpet will still be there tomorrow, right?  Somewhere down there :0)  If you would like to see more of The Wood Connection, you can check out their website.  All of the crafts you see here, or on their site are SHIPPABLE!!!

Twilight Inspired CountDown

I totally LOVE this Twilight Inspired CountDown I came up with to give as a party favor at our Happy Birthday Edward party.  I made it out of 2x2 wood.  Each kit consists of two 4 1/2" blocks with phrases, and four 1 1/5" blocks with numbers. 

The phrases I chose were: Days Until, Countdown To, Eclipse, Breaking Dawn, Edward...and I figured I should throw the dog in there too(meaning Jacob)...for my friends...if I have to :0)

Don't you just LOVE Alice!?!   There is no arguing that fact!  I hope here hair is better in this movie.  The last movie there were some real wig issues where she was concerned.

Oh, yeah!  The blocks...ahem...There are other things you can do with them!  I made one side on each of the long blocks chalkboard so you can add your own sentiments...that way they have some use after the movies...not that life will ever be the same after the whole Twilight thing is over.

You do realize that Edward's birthday is June 12th, right!?!  We just might have to have a little bloggy birthday party right here on that day.  It was Madison's idea.  I am just supporting my daughter.  I am not obsessed myself.  Really.  No need for intervention :0)

This project was Linked up HERE-get ready for tons of buttons:

http://craftingreallyawesomefreethings.blogspot.com/