So Lucky To Have Each Other!

Just a little reminder..........Rice Pad Bag Giveaway is tommorow! So if you have not left a comment here then you need to! Random.org will be picking a number in about 24 hours so get over there and enter. And if you are a follower make sure that you leave two comments so that you have two chances to win. Oh and I am so excited!  MakeItSparklyMama has reached 20 followers so that means that the giveaway will include both a Rice Pad Bag Heating Pad and A Rice Pad Bag Neck Warmer!

Now for the project I want to show you!

Yes, Indeed we are lucky to have each other! I am so blessed by my Family! And here is a little craft idea to showcase just that! My Mom was getting ready to burn these scrap 2x4's when she thought "Hey I bet Kelly could use those!", and she gave them to me, and I am so glad! They are pretty self explanatory but I will share with you how I did the lettering. First up I made a pattern on the computer. Sometimes it can be tricky to get a letter to print out just the way you want it, for instance I wanted my letters to take up almost the whole block, but if they were long enough than they were too wide.  Or vice versa. But I have a little trick to share,...

First Up: Open a Microsoft Publisher Blank Document

*** Insert A Text Box (It doesn't matter what size at this point)
***Type Your Letter for example I typed L (make it fit the box as best as you can)
***Right Click on the text box and "Save As Picture"
***Delete Text Box
***Click Insert, Picture, From File, then click on the name of the text box you just saved as a picture
***You can now crop your letter so that there is very little text box around it
***This will enable you to size your letter appropriately for your project, without having tons of white space around it.
***Now you can size your letter, stretching it any  way you want.

This tip really does make a difference when you want to stretch letters out, to be tall and skinny or short and wide.

I printed my letters and saying out and then used carbon paper to transfer them over. The only thing I can say is use tape. Especially if your letters are a tight fit! I traced my letters out not being too careful. I wanted my project to have a freehanded look but I didn't want to actually freehand it! After the letters were traced, I thinned some green paint with a little water and just filled in the letters. So easy! I gave them 2 coats. You will notice that my letters look old, like maybe I just chopped up an old fence post and wrote out my letters. This is how I do that look, and I know there are gobs of posts about this in blogland and on the internet but my way is a little diferent. I am too lazy to use stain. I don't like drying time I don't like worrying about things being perfect so I use Old English furniture polish. I just sanded the edges and swiped the blocks with a rag dipped in the polish. It gives them a lovely patina!

Originally I was going to stick wire in the tops of these to attach pictures of my family, and I still might but I love them as is for now!

Thanks for looking!
Kelly