Easy Printed Image Transfer

 When I came across these packages of 4" winter signs at a discount store, I bought several packages. I've done quite a few projects where I cut 2x4 boards into 4" squares. So, I knew these blocks would make future projects easy.

After having these for awhile, I finally decided to recreate a project that I did in 2016. You can see that post HERE.

In this new version, I painted the blocks with 2 coats of Dixie Belle Paint Company's chalk mineral color, Buttercream. I left the ski graphics on the other side of the blocks in case I want to use them in the winter. Once dry, I stained the side with Dixie Belle's Voodoo Stain using the color, Tobacco Road. 

I used a damp rag to add a little of the stain to the front of the blocks to give them an aged look.

I found 3 bird images on The Graphics Fairy that I wanted to use. I resized them to fit the blocks, then printed them using my laser printer. If you use an ink jet printer, the ink will bleed. If you don't have a laser printer, you can print your image with an ink jet printer, then take it to an office supply store to make copies. They typically use laser printers, but check to make sure first.

If your image has writing on it, make sure to mirror the image or your finished product will have backward writing.

I covered the blocks with Dixie Belle's Satin Clear Coat, then laid my bird images printed side down onto the wet blocks. 

In the original post, I cut closely around the bird, then coated the paper with clear coat. But in this version, I cut the images in squares approximately the size of the blocks. I also coated the block with the clear coat instead of the paper.

I waited overnight to make sure the image was transferred, then placed a wet paper towel over the paper. I let it sit for about 30 minutes to make sure that the paper was fully saturated. Then I started rubbing the paper away. I added a little water whenever it felt as though the paper was getting dry.

When dry, if the image started to appear cloudy, I added more water, then rubbed the excess paper off.

I gave each finished block a coat of Dixie Belle's Satin Clear Coat.

I love how these turned out!

Linking To:

The Cottage Market,  Funky Junk Interiors, The Answer Is Chocolate, Flutter Buster, Our Hopeful Home, My Thrift Store Addiction,  Confessions Of A Plate Addict, My Uncommon Slice Of Suburbia, Creatively Beth, County Road 407, Pieced Pastimes, Southern Sunflowers, The House On Silverado

Secret Path To A Table Makeover

 Have you heard? Dixie Paint Paint Company has added 6 new colors to their chalk mineral paint line. That brings the number of colors they offer to 75! A few of those 75 colors have been semi retired & come in 4oz only, but are still available. So, if one of those colors is a favorite, you cam still get it. Thank goodness, because I love Tree Frog Green!

I have had this unfinished wood table for quite some time. I just couldn't decide what I wanted to do with it.

Once the new colors came out, I decided that Secret Path was the perfect color for the table. It's a beautiful mauve color.

I grabbed my favorite synthetic brush, the Dixie Belle Mini, & gave the table 2 coats of Secret Path.

It would have been pretty left alone, but I had the Cacti & Succulent transfer & loved how the colors worked with Secret Path. I always wait at least 24 hours after painting before adding a transfer. So, the following day, I picked a part of the design that I wanted to use for the top of the table. The transfer package comes with 4 sheets that have different designs.

I removed the white backing from the transfer, then started rubbing over the clear top sheet with the tool provided to transfer the design onto the table. Please note: the piece I'm pulling up in the photo appears white the way the light hits it, but in actuality it is clear.

The design was a perfect fit!

Once the design was transferred, I buffed over it with a rag to make sure every piece of the design was adhered.

Finally, I used Dixie Belle's Easy Peasy Spray Wax to seal the table. It really is easy peasy... just shake, spray, & smooth out & your done!

Linking To:

The Cottage Market,  Funky Junk Interiors, The Answer Is Chocolate, Flutter Buster,,  Finding Silver Pennies, Our Hopeful Home, My Thrift Store Addiction, The Painted Hinge, Yesterday On Tuesday, Confessions Of A Plate Addict, My Uncommon Slice Of Suburbia, Creatively Beth, My Hubbard Home, County Road 407, Pieced Pastimes, Southern Sunflowers, The House On Silverado

Adding A Little Shine To The Cotton: A Tray Makeover

 I couldn't resist this pretty tray from Target with the unique handles. But as usual, I couldn't leave it alone. I had to add a little something to it.

If you saw my last post, you saw how I used the Cotton & Eucalyptus Transfer from the Dixie Belle Paint Company on a tobacco basket makeover. There are so many design elements to the transfer, that you can do a lot of different projects with the one package.

So, I decided to use another design from that transfer on the tray.

There are 4 sheets in the package with multiples of several designs. I cut out the design that I wanted & peeled off the white backing.

I placed the design with the clear overlay where I wanted it on the tray & rubbed over it with the applicator stick provided in the package.

The tray was pretty with the cotton, but again, I can never leave well enough alone. And, there's a new product from Dixie Belle that I wanted to use, & this was a great project to try it out.

Dixie Shine gives the look of gold leaf but without the mess or waste. It comes in 3 colors, gold, silver, & copper. I chose to use gold to go along with the gold handles on the tray.

To use Dixie Shine, you first have to apply the glue, Stick With Me. I used a small artist brush to areas where I wanted the cotton to have a gold highlight.

Once the glue is added, you have to wait at least 15 minutes before adding the Shine. You can wait longer if you want. The glue will stay sticky until covered with Shine

Dixie Shine comes on a roll with plenty to do lots of projects.

I cut off a small piece of the Shine, then started laying it over the glue, rubbing over it, then peeling it up

Like I said earlier, there's no waste. The small piece of Shine that I cut can be used over & over until all the gold is gone. You can see here where the glue has pulled off the gold & there is more left that can be used.

Dixie Shine gave just enough gold shimmer to tie in with the gold handles of the tray.

Linking To:

Ginger Snap Crafts, Chic On a Shoestring,  Simply Sweet Home, The Cottage Market,  Funky Junk Interiors,  Sugar Bee Crafts, Flour Me With Love, The Answer Is Chocolate, Skip To My Lou, The Thrifty Home, Flutter Buster,,  Finding Silver Pennies, Our Hopeful Home, My Thrift Store Addiction, The Painted Hinge, Yesterday On Tuesday, Confessions Of A Plate Addict, My Uncommon Slice Of Suburbia, Creatively Beth, My Hubbard Home, County Road 407, Pieced Pastimes, Southern Sunflowers

Easy Cardinal Christmas Sign

There is a saying, "When cardinals are near, angels are here." And, I believe it because every time I see one I think of my mother. Even if she's not here, the cardinals evoke sweet memories of her. She loved them so much. And, I don't know anyone who doesn't love a beautiful cardinal!

The beautiful red color of the male cardinal makes them perfect for Christmas decor. And, this sign is about as easy to make as they come.

I got this stained board from Michael's & the wooden letters from Hobby Lobby.

I wanted a rustic look for the sign, so I used a dry brush technique to paint the board. I used the color Sawmill Gravy from the Dixie Belle Paint Company & let some of the stain show through.

I'd love to be able to say that I hand painted the beautiful cardinal. But the cardinal, pinecones, greenery, & berries are one of the designs in the Evergreen & Holly transfer from Dixie Belle. The transfer contains 4 sheets with multiple designs on each sheet.

You simply remove the white backing, then rub over the design until it releases from the clear top sheet.

I used tacky glue to add the letters to the board. I chose to leave them natural, but they'd also be pretty painted red or green, or stained a darker color.

Wow! That was easy. And, quick!

Another easy project... I added a holly design from the evergreen & holly transfer sheets to a battery operated candle. A simple way to take a plain candle to festive decor.

Linking To:

Ginger Snap Crafts, Chic On a Shoestring,  Simply Sweet Home, The Cottage Market,  Funky Junk Interiors,  Sugar Bee Crafts, Flour Me With Love, The Answer Is Chocolate, Skip To My Lou, The Thrifty Home, Flutter Buster,,  Finding Silver Pennies, Our Hopeful Home, My Thrift Store Addiction, The Painted Hinge, Yesterday On Tuesday, Confessions Of A Plate Addict, My Uncommon Slice Of Suburbia, Creatively Beth, My Hubbard Home, County Road 407, Pieced Pastimes, Southern Sunflowers

My Version Of The Popular Dollar Tree Pumpkin

 To whoever originally came up with this idea, you're a genius!

When I saw this project on Pinterest I had to give it a try. And, I knew that Dixie Belle Paint Company's new clay based paint, Terra, would be the perfect product to use.

Looking at it, it looks like old tin. But, surprisingly, this project uses a Dollar Tree cardboard pumpkin & a peel & stick plastic tile, also from the Dollar Tree.

I removed the bow, then laid the pumpkin face down on the back side of the tile, traced around it, then cut it out.

The sticky part of the tile is only around the edges, so I glued the cut out tile onto the pumpkin base using E6000.

In the end, the pumpkin is white, but I wanted some color to show through. I used 3 colors of Terra to paint the pumpkin... Blue Agave, Cerulean Blue, & Galaxy.

Once dry, I sealed the paint with Terra Seal. Terra Clay Paint reactivates with water. So if I didn't seal it, it would blend with the white that I was painting over the top.

Once the Terra Seal was dry, I painted the pumpkin with the color, Prairie Dawn.

When the paint was dry, I used a damp rag to wipe away the paint from the raised areas on the tile, exposing the colors underneath.

To finish it off, I added a "messy" bow to the top of the pumpkin. I used different ribbons & a little Spanish moss.

 I added some wooden beads on twine to hang it.

This was such a fun project.

It really does look like tin. And, no one will know if you don't tell them!

Linking To:

Ginger Snap Crafts, Chic On a Shoestring,  Simply Sweet Home, The Cottage Market,  Funky Junk Interiors,  Sugar Bee Crafts, Flour Me With Love, The Answer Is Chocolate, Skip To My Lou, The Thrifty Home, Flutter Buster,,  Finding Silver Pennies, Our Hopeful Home, My Thrift Store Addiction, The Painted Hinge, Yesterday On Tuesday, Confessions Of A Plate Addict, My Uncommon Slice Of Suburbia, Creatively Beth, My Hubbard Home, County Road 407, Pieced Pastimes