Silhouette Scrap Wood Wall Art

Posted on August 25, 2014 by Roeshel

I recently shared the DIY coat rack we’re now utilizing in our sitting room above a vintage trunk used as a bench…

See who loves to rest here? It’s a tiny little Italian greyhound named Rosie…

One more picture. She’s just so stinkin’ cute!

and I’m loving this scrap wood turned silhouette art placed above it. Rosie approves!

Materials I used:

scrap 1 x 6 pine boards
RustOleum Ultimate Wood Care (kona)
RustOleum Ultimate Polyurethane
Gorilla wood glue
picture hanging hardware
vinyl decal (I used a greyhound shape)
white acrylic craft paint

What I did:

I cut my pine boards so that they all measured the same 30 inches long then sanded the edges.

Next I used wood glue and clamps to create a large wood plank canvas. Let dry.

I applied my vinyl decal to the center of my wood canvas, burnishing the edges using my thumbnail.

Then using a foam brush, I applied the stain in the same direction as the wood grain.

After a few minutes, I wiped away the excess stain, again in the direction of the wood grain, with an old rag. Let dry one hour.

Then I removed the vinyl decal. I was hoping that there wouldn’t be any seeping but there was. No problem! Change of plans. Sometimes DIY doesn’t always go according to plan.

I used a small craft paint brush and white acrylic craft paint to fill in the unfinished portion of the greyhound stencil. Let dry.

I then applied a coat of the polyurethane over the stain, brushing on in the direction of the wood grain. Add picture hanging hardware to the back and hang to display.

Perfect complimentary wall art for above the coat rack.

DIY Window Vinyl Decal

Posted on March 18, 2014 by Roeshel

I recently revealed our bathroom makeover…

and you may have noticed that the window is bare.

Problem: I haven’t been able to decide on curtains…the length would be awkward with placement of the toilet. I like the natural light during the day since I use this space to get ready in the mornings. But I don’t like the lack of privacy even if it is on the second floor. Pictures of the window in the day time are tricky…but here goes!

Solution: I applied a lace contact paper {affiliate link} to the bottom window which is where someone from the outside looking up from a distance would be able to see someone standing in the bathroom with the light on at night. Then I created a fun decorative vinyl decal for the top window.

Materials:

White adhesive vinyl from Happy Crafters
Transfer paper

Tools:

Silhouette Cameo and Silhouette Studio Designer Software
Scissors
Credit/gift card for rubbing

What I did:

Using the Silhouette Studio Designer software, I created my design. I purchased a tree shape from the online Silhouette store and surrounded it with curved “Hotel & Spa” text since my new bathroom has a relaxing spa feel.

How to curve text: Click the circle shape on the left. Drag to size, shape and center on design. Next click the font button on the left and create your text. While the text box is surrounded with a green window, click the circle with a cross. Drag text to the inner or outer circle border. (You can also change the character spacing in the font tool.)

Next, select the circle again by clicking on it. Then click the scissors button in the right hand corner. Choose “no cut”. Now the text in the design will be cut but the circle won’t. (As you can see, I played around with rearranging my text too.)

Load vinyl into the machine color/vinyl side up. Change blade and settings for adhesive vinyl cutting. Send design to cut.

Remove vinyl from the machine and trim to a more manageable size around the design.

Weed away the unused part of the vinyl design.

Cover vinyl decal with transfer paper. Rub with a credit card.

Clean window.

Peel away paper backing, transferring the vinyl decal to the sticky transfer paper.

Place design on window. Rub with a credit card and peel away transfer paper.

Ta-da! Now my window has some decorative type detail without curtains or a blind. I have privacy and natural light. What do you think?

day time

{It’s difficult to capture in a photo of a window in day light but it’s very visible in real life.}

night time

*This post is sponsored by Happy Crafters. Tutorial, experience and opinion is my own. I really love working with this vinyl. Check out all the supplies at Happy Crafters for inspiration for your next project.

Valentine’s Day Decorating {Vinyl Decal Glass Top Table Runner}

Posted on February 13, 2014 by Roeshel

I’m not quite late in terms of sharing my Valentine decorating, am I? I don’t do much…just a little here and there, mostly in the dining room.

More pictures after a little vinyl tutorial: Having a vinyl cutting machine is GREAT for last minute decorating! Our reclaimed barn wood dining table is protected by a beveled glass top. And a glass top table is the perfect spot for an adhesive vinyl table runner just in time for Valentine’s day!

You’ll need:

Adhesive vinyl from Happy Crafters in pink and soft pink
Transfer paper

Tools I used:

Silhouette Cameo
Silhouette Design Studio software
scissors
credit card/gift card

Using the Silhouette Design Studio software, I used different fonts to create Valentine text along with a few shapes from the online store. Because I wanted to have the text reading different directions, I used the rotate tool to flip some of the text and shapes.

Before sending the design to cut, I uploaded the vinyl into my machine color side up then changed my setting to cut adhesive vinyl.

When cutting was complete, I removed and trimmed my vinyl design. Then inserted another sheet of vinyl and cut the design again. I used two sets of vinyl decals to create my table runner.

Next up is removing all of the negative part of the vinyl design. Simply remove all vinyl that’s not a letter or shape.

Now it’s like a sheet of vinyl stickers. Not something you want to place letter by letter so apply a piece of transfer paper over top of the vinyl decals.

Measure placement and alignment of where the vinyl decal table runner will go onto your glass top table.