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Dominos {Giant Syle}

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I am in the process of redecorating our play/game room. I decided to include some over-sized game pieces for an added element of fun. I went with a couple of my hubs favorites to start with chess and dominos. I figured I could easily make some dominos of my own, so that’s just what I did. I thought of using birth dates as the numbers to make them even more significant, but quickly decided against that realizing that the 27th would just not fit. 😉 Instead, I went with our anniversary date.

Dominos

Supplies needed:
  • One 2×6 board
  • Electric sander
  • White spray paint
  • Black spray paint
  • Thin blue paint tape
  • Circle stickers
  • Wax paper
  • Mixing cups
  • Mixing sticks
  • Gloves
  • Brush
  • 4-5 oz. Envirotex Lite pour-on high gloss finish
  • Cups (to hold dominos for drying)

1. Cut your 2×6 board in to five 11 inch pieces (you will have about 3 ft leftover). I had one of the workers at Home Depot do this for me (I call him my Home Depot husband), though he used a HUGE saw and it left deep grooves on the ends which I did not love.

2. Sand down your board so it is smooth and all the edges and corners are rounded like a domino.

3. Spray the front of your domino with a coat of white paint and let dry according to the directions on the can.

4. Use a strip of blue painters tape to make the line in the middle of each of the dominos. Place your circle stickers where you want them for the numbers on the dominos making sure all the edges are down securely.

5. Spray paint the dominos black.

6. After a couple of hours, peel off the stickers and tape to reveal the white dots and lines on the dominos. Let the black paint continue to dry and allow to dry according to the instructions on the paint can.

7. Pick a surface to place the dominos where they can sit to dry (I did it on the kitchen table after the kids went to bed so the dominos would have a good 11 hours to dry before curious little hands were introduced.) and will not be exposed to a lot of dust floating around and is also at least 70 degrees. Cover your surface with wax paper and place the cups to hold the dominos while adding the gloss.

8. Mix up the Envirotex Lite pour on gloss according to the instructions. I just brushed on a thin wood sealant coat. I was going to do the flooding, but ended up liking it with just a “thin” coat. {READ ALL THE INSTRUCTIONS IN THE BOX FIRST and wear gloves. Trust me on this. You do not want to mess this part up and it can be temperamental!} I used about 5 oz. of Envirotex, but that is because it started hardening before I was done and I had to mix up and additional ounce. You can probably do it with 4 oz. if you do it in two batches of 2 oz. I just used my breath to get the bubbles out after I applied the thin coat.

9. After you cover them all with gloss, let them dry for a couple of hours, then go around and scrape any drips off the bottom of the dominos. Otherwise, they will become permanent drips.
(I was having fun taking pics with reflections in them, here’s my kitchen light fixture)

10. I let them dry overnight, then moved them to a more secure location and let them dry for another couple of days just to be sure.

Now, I just need an awesome shelf in the game room to house them!

A big thanks to Crafterminds for choosing me to participate in this Envirotex Lite party! I can’t wait to try it out on some more things!

ETI sent me this product to try out. You won’t believe all that you can do with this product. Envirotex Lite was created by Environmental Technologies Inc. (ETI), which is the home for many resin and mold making products.
The use of resin in jewelry making, mixed media and paper arts continues to grow in popularity. Today, artists are using ETI’s products in many crafty ways and they will be showcasing these works of art on their new blog “Resin Crafts”.

Check them out on:
Resin Crafts Blog
ETI on Facebook
ETI on Twitter

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Point of View: Pillows {Caution A Head Pillowcase}

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Welcome, welcome to another month of Point of View where, on the 4th Friday of each month, we each show you our takes on a particular theme. This month’s theme is PILLOWS. Take a look at the fun projects we have lined up for you!

1. Amy {Ameroonie Designs}
2. ME & here you are for the tutorial!
3. Jonie {Just Between Friends}
4. Gwen {Gwenny Penny}

I have been meaning to make this pillowcase for months. Like since my older son sleeping was in the transportation themed nursery, oh nearly 8 months ago now. I even purchased the supplies and had them in a bag starring me down any time I pass them. My recent girls craft weekend finally gave me the uninterrupted time and motivation to pull out the bag and get it done.

Why did I wait so long?! I adore this pillowcase!!!

It makes me chuckle inside every time I think about it.

So here’s the DL so you can make a pillowcase of your very own.

{CAUTION: A HEAD} Pillowcase

Supplies:
  • White cotton fabric
  • Yellow cotton fabric
  • Black cotton fabric
  • Black thread
  • White thread
  • Fabric interfacing
  • Iron
  • Freezer paper
  • Printer
  • Cutting board
  • Exacto
  • Textile medium (turns acrylic paint into fabric paint $5 at Hobby Lobby)
  • Black acrylic paint
  • Piece of cardboard
  • Foam brush

I made my pillowcase for a toddler pillow (travel sized pillow I got at a conference) so I will not give measurements because most people don’t have that exact pillow.

1. Cut a long rectangle of white fabric to fold and fit over the front and of back your pillow. I literally draped it around my pillow and left about and inch and a half on either side for roominess and seams and cut off the excess.

2. Cut two 1.5 inch wide strips of black material an inch longer than the length of the end of your pillowcase. You will fold these in half and iron flat for the pillowcase trim.

3. Cut two 3 inch wide strips of white material an inch longer than the length of the end of your pillowcase. You will fold these in half and iron flat to finish the pillowcase opening.

4. Cut a square out of the yellow and round the edges. You will turn it on point to make the diamond. Make it big enough to be 2 or three inches from the top and bottom edge of the pillowcase.

5. Layer the white and black pieces, folded white, folded black, then large white piece with the edge tucked and ironed under. Pin them together so that all pieces can be sewn in place with one seam. Do this on each side (back, front).

6. Sew layers together with black thread.

7. Lay the yellow diamond on the fabric interfacing and cut the interfacing to size. Follow the direction on the interfacing to attach the diamond to the pillowcase with your iron.

8. Stitch a straight line around each edge of the yellow diamond to secure and make it look more like a sign.

9. Find a font that looks like a street sign (I used Vrinda 100pt bolded) and size it to fit your diamond. Print a test sheet on normal paper. If it is the right size, cut your freezer paper to 8.5 x 11 and print on the matte side.

10. Tape freezer paper to a cutting board and cut out letters with an exacto knife. Be sure you keep the loose middle of the letters.


11. Now put the freezer paper in place on the yellow diamond and iron on. I used the cotton setting and ironed it without the letter middles first. Just press down and hold the iron in place for 15 seconds or so in each spot and lift to the next spot. Then, add in the middles and iron those in place. Don’t move the iron side to side, just press and lift or your middles could get misplaced.

First, without middles.

Then, with.

12. Follow direction on the textile medium to make acrylic paint ready for fabric. Place a piece of cardboard behind stencil to block paint seepage.

13. Paint a light coat over each letter making sure you get to the edges.

14. I let the paint dry, but I would pull the stencil off while it is still wet. I did that on my test run and the edges were crisper. When I pulled it off when it was dry they were a little furry.

15. Follow directions on paint to make it permanent and washable. I had to iron over mine and let it dry 7 days. It has dried one so far. 😉

It is perfect for a planes, trains and automobiles room.


But, could also be really fun for a teen’s room!

Now go link up with the Point of View linky party over on Gwenny Penny so we can see your Point of View on PILLOWS! There are 5 creative collaborators, so you have 5 chances to be featured!

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How to Make a Flower Clip

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I am really excited to be guest posting over on Someday Crafts today!

I am debuting these adorable little ruffly flowered numbers, so run over to see how to make a skirt. Now, see there in the picture the little circle on the right? It is a cute little hair clip to match, but as to not make my skirt tutorial abhorrently long I decided to do that piece over here.

How to Make a Flower Clip

Whilst making the skirt my sis trimmed off some scraps of the ruffles and tossed them aside. I grabbed them up knowing I could do something with them.

They were super skinny {varied between 1/2 and 1/4 inch} so I braided them together and wound them around to make a rosette.

Then, I cut some leaves out of the contrasting material and had my sis sew around the edges and down the middle to make them look even more like leaves.

I hot glued the leaves to a circle of material and then glued the rosette over the leaves.

Then just glue them to a snap clip and you’re done! {sorry, I forgot to take pics of the back and now my niece has it}

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DIY Under $5 Bracelet Instructions & a Hair Bow

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Today for DIY under $5 I will share with you some bracelet instructions and a hair bow. These little ruffly numbers are super easy and will add some style in a flash.

Bracelet instructions:

Supplies:
  • ruffle trim
  • snaps
  • needle and thread
  • button
I got the idea of using trim for bracelets from Blue Cricket Design. I loved her bracelets, but I saw the snaps in the same section as the trim and knew they would work for my ruffle bracelet. So, I saved myself a trip to the jewelry area and went with snaps.

1. Cut trim to be just bigger than your wrist. {hot glue ends under if needed for finished look}
2. Sew snaps in place on each end with needle and thread.
3. Sew on a button for a little added flair.

Use the extra bit of trim for a hair bow.

Supplies:
  • ruffle trim
  • houndstooth ribbon
  • snap clip (pack of like 10 at the dollar store)
  • hot glue
  • needle & thread
  • button

1. Glue a piece of trim to cover the entire snap clip.
2. Make a yo yo flower with your ribbon (you can follow steps 1-4 here, the glue will take care of the rest)
3. Glue the flower on the end of the trim and the button on the middle of the flower.


Don’t worry, that huge weird thing next to my cheek is a knot in the wood door.

I spent less than $4, but will have stuff left for another project. Trim was about 50 cents, snaps a dollar or two and ribbon $1.

Now it’s time to link up your $5 projects!

Please remember:

  • Only link to your own projects that cost you $5 or less (price does not have to include items you had on hand)
  • You can link past projects that fit the dollar limit, but please only link each project once
  • Please link back so others can join the party and so you have the opportunity to be featured on Saturday!

DIY under $5


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