Tuesday, January 22, 2013

Word Girl and Pinterest Poser Challenge


It's time again for the Pinterest Poser Challenge In an attempt at not being a Pinterest Poser,* every week I  detail a new Pinterest challenge whether it be a new recipe or a craft.   
**My definition of a Pinterest Poser is someone who is all pins and no substance.**



Words are kind of a big deal to me.  

I've been collecting memorable quotes for years.  I've told you about my wall of words in my bathroom (space dedicated to some of those precious quotes, hung in frames).  I've told you about chalk board messages of hope and humor around my house.  I really dig words.

So my pick for this week's Pinterest Poser Challenge seemed like a no brainer.

I've seen this type of project all over Pinterest forever and always wanted to make it.  Here's how it went down...

Several days ago, I packed up the family and headed over to Home Depot for supplies which included: 
Plywood, sand paper, contact paper, black spray paint and white spray paint.

I arrived home with a million good crafty intentions and also a million distractions.  My spray paint bottles sat on the counter, my ply wood was used as a prop in a play my kids put on for MLK Jr. Day and as a platform for Wade's Matchbox car set ups.  But when I finally got to work, I was obsessed focused.


The most important part=the words.  It doesn't matter if all the painting, sanding and cutting work out perfectly if the words are stupid.  So pick wisely.  

I chose a lyric from the song that Tim and I danced to at our wedding--Come Rain or Shine by Ray Charles.  Awwww, right?



My advice after doing this project is don't use too many words.  The cutting out process can be a bit tedious.

I used only one font-Arial in a couple different sizes and I got crazy and bolded a few.  But of course, using different fonts and sizes is highly encouraged.



I laid out the words before cutting them out, to get an idea of spacing.  I took a break from the letter madness to sand the plywood and spray paint it white.


Then, I broke from Pinterest advice, GASP!  Instead of glue sticking each individual letter to contact paper.  I globbed on a bunch of Mod Podge to the back of the paper, stuck it to the contact paper and THEN cut out my letters.  

I recruited help from my husband to draw the straight lines as guideposts of where to stick my letters.  I may have mentioned I do everything crooked, even drawing with a ruler.  It's a special skill really.  The fact that I am utterly incapable of drawing a straight line used to mesmerize (as well as frustrate) my teachers over the years. Totally a true story.

Once the lines were drawn, my husband went back to his video game and then bed while I stayed up until 1:30 a.m. peeling the damn contact paper off the letters.  It SUCKED.  

After sticking the letters in place, I snuck down to the basement and spray painted the wood black, hoping the paint wouldn't bleed into the contact paper. I collapsed into bed for a good four hours of sleep.

This morning I woke up, peeled the letters and was pretty pleased.**  After rushing the kids to school, I came home and rigged up some wire on the back and hung it in my bedroom next to my brand new IKEA curtains.  

Not perfect, but I kind of love it.
You can call me a lot of things, but you CANNOT call me a Pinterest Poser.  Love me or hate me, I'm getting kind of crafty.


**Notes on the project**
Make sure the contact paper is on securely before spray painting.
This project is really cheap.  Total cost was $15. 
I'm totally making this again.

Have you made something from Pinterest lately?  
Do tell. 
Please share what you're working on in the comments here or over on Facebook.


Here are some of the projects I've already attempted, the good and the bad:
Furniture Painting and Bench/Chest Makeover- click here
Thanksgiving-y Project/Gratitude/Holiday Countdown- click here
The Smoothie-click here
The Free Printable Turned Artwork in a Boring Hallway- click here
The chalk board-click here
Seven Layer Dip in Individual Cups (my favorite so far!)-click here
The pumpkin address-click here
The Kitchen Dancing Sign--click here

Come on over and follow my Pinterest boards.


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