Tips For Using Stain With Vinyl Lettering

If you want to use stain on your signs for a little bit more rustic look always apply the stain AFTER you apply the lettering!  If you stain first and then apply the lettering it will be very difficult to get the lettering to stick and you will most likely be very frustrated!

I like to you cheese cloth to rub the stain into the wood.  Go slow and be gentle so you don't ruin your lettering.

A little stain goes a long way!  Don't over apply:)

Painting With Vinyl On Canvas

I love using vinyl to paint with.  It is awesome to work with on an old piece of wood, but I hadn't tried it on canvas until this month.  This idea was inspired by a project one of my friends did.  I loved how hers turned out so I wanted to try something similar.

First I started off with a stained canvas.  I had originally stained this canvas to make a welcome sign for my front door, but then I make a welcome sign with a wreathe and then had just never decided what to put on this.  I thought having a little darker look to the canvas would be a fun more rustic look.  I love how it turned out, but it's hard to tell from the photo.  Without the stain it would be stark white, (also a great look, but I wanted it a bit more muted this time.)

The next step is putting the vinyl on your canvas.  When you use the "negative" of the vinyl it works like a charm for painting.  Fit the entire vinyl to your canvas for easiest results.  If you are going to use spray paint then tape the edges as well.  I just brushed the paint on this time with a sponge brush.

This is what it looked like when I got it all painted.

After I removed my vinyl I touched up a couple of places where I wanted a bit more paint and then this was my finished project!  Next time I wouldn't mind trying to stain afterwards just to see what that was like:)

Thank You Gifts

This year one of my friends and I put our heads together to come up with a delicious thank you gift!  She makes the most wonderful salsa.  So we put our talents together to come up with these cute and yummy gifts!

By adding a little vinyl to the mason jar we thought it would be more fun for putting something cute in when the salsa is gone.   We either put the last name initial or the first name initial.  I thought it would be fun to print the initial in everyone's favorite color, but in the end we decided to go with cream because it looks the best with the salsa. 

I saw these avery labels at Wal Mart and I thought they would be so fun to print thank you on and put on the top of the jar!

These labels fit a bit better on the wide mouth jars.

Vinyl On Canvas

I absolutely love decorating with vinyl on a canvas.  This piece of art has an amazing story behind it.  Using a canvas as a backdrop for your vinyl gives your space a wonderful look.  

Adding vinyl to a white canvas is an awesome look.  When you are applying the vinyl on canvas you need to be careful that you apply enough pressure so the vinyl will adhere to the canvas, but you want to be careful not to stretch the canvas when you apply the vinyl.

My sister painted this canvas and then we added the vinyl to it.  The marble painting and the old fashioned writing give this an old fashioned, sophisticated feel. 

Using a smaller canvas can be the perfect addition to a shelf!

This idea was inspired by a friend of mine.  I printed vinyl that fit the canvas exactly and then removed the letters so the vinyl acted as a negative and then I actually painted the wording on.  The other thing that I tried with this canvas that I absolutely loved was I actually stained it!  I didn't want the look of the stark white canvas this time, but I didn't want a painted look... just more of a light antiqued look.  It worked like a charm.  I always like to let my projects dry for 24 hours after applying stain.  Next time I might trying painting my canvas first and then adding the stain just to see which one works better and if it produces a different look.    

Holiday Soap!

Let's face it one of the best things about the Christmas season is all of the yummy goodies that bring to parties, work and the neighbors!  Once in a while it's super fun to receive a 0 calorie treat right!  It's a little more guilt free:). 

What we are doing this year for our neighbor gifts is giving away fun Christmas soaps!  I had a lot of fun designing these different styles so that there is a variety and really the possibilities are endless!

The shape of the Soft Soap bottles is great for a variety.  Bath & Body Works bottle we be awesome for a tall skinny tree!

Peel the front sticker off and then take the residue off with Goo Gone.  Apply your vinyl lettering and then voila!  You have a great gift!

Add jingle bells and a tag that says we WASH you a Merry Christmas for a super cute look!

Believe

I absolutely love using cupboard doors to decorate with!  This Believe vinyl with the handle is one of my favorite Christmas decorations!  I love the cream with the cranberry.  The cupboard door give this sign a sophisticated style and the handle with ribbons is a perfect finishing touch!

The Real To Do List

I love this sign.  We should all take time out of each day to do some of the things that really matter!

Using multiple colors with vinyl adds a fun flair to any sign!