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Sunday, November 6, 2011

Super Vinyl Saturday Update

I just wanted to update everyone on the Super Vinyl Saturday event I have planned for Dec. 3. I found out today I scheduled it over a church Christmas breakfast. So.... rather than change the start time, here's what I'm going to do. I'll still start at 10 a.m. for everyone who wants to start early and get out early (who knows, maybe you want to get some Christmas shopping done that day), but we'll end it when we end it. That means if you can't make it until 11:30 or noon, that's okay. I want to make sure everyone gets a chance to do what they want to do.... and I have nothing else planned for that day, so it's okay!

If you haven't signed up yet - and I encourage anyone and everyone to sign up, and bring a friend or two of three if you want - here are the details on Facebook. OR. you can give me a call.

I look forward to see you all!

Saturday, November 5, 2011

Super Vinyl Saturday

Date:  Saturday, Dec 3, 2011

Project #1:  Christmas Tree Word Puzzle Charger Plate
$7.00 - includes cream vinyl and a red or green charger plate.  Indicate color.

Project #2:  O Holy Night Charger Plate
$7.00 - includes black vinyl, and a gold or silver plate. Indicate color.
Project #3:  Countdown to Christmas Blocks
$12.00 - includes cream vinyl; red, black, green paint; wood blocks, scrapbook paper (If you have other scrapbook paper you would like to use, please bring.)

Project #4:  Family Rules Subway Art.
$16 - includes beige vinyl and an 11 x 14 canvas and paint.

Project #5:  Christmas Subway Art
$16.00 - includes dark red and silver vinyl, 11 x 14 canvas, green paint, and accessories

Project #6:  13th Article of Faith Subway Art
$16.00 - includes black vinyl, 11 x 14 canvas, ribbon, and fabric for flowers

Friday, November 4, 2011

Countdown to Christmas Blocks

Sometimes it seems like I'm working on Christmas decorations year-round. I have to keep telling myself that's okay.... it will make it easier if I can get it all done ahead of time, right?

The countdown to Christmas blocks was my latest project. How fun! Here's how I did it.

I started by cutting three pieces off a 3-1/2 inch wooden post. I made the base 7 inches, and then cut two 3-1/2 inch pieces to stack on top of it. If you do it right, it will look just like the picture below. I tried to make the two small pieces add up to exactly the lenth of the long piece, but realized it's okay it it's a couple of millimeters off!



After cutting the wood I sanded the pieces to make them nice and smooth. I recommend wiping them off with a damp cloth - damp with a little bit of water or mineral spirits. After cleaning them I painted them with ordinary toll paint. I used Rockwood Red by Americana.



The next step involved cutting 3-inch square pieces of paper to put on the sides of the wood pieces. Each small block will hold six pieces. The bottom block will use two 3-inch square pieces for the sides and one 6-1/2X3-inch rectangle for the front. I cut the pieces from three different sheets of scrapbook paper, choosing three separate designs that are unique but go together well.

After the paint dried I used modge podge to stick the paper to the sides of the blocks. Brush on a little bit of the modge podge on the wood, place the paper and then brush on some more modge podge to smooth it out and cover the entire surface of the wood with a light coat. After that dried (about half an hour), I was ready for the next step.



The next step was where I got to play with the vinyl! On the first block I put numbers 0, 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5. And on the second block I put numbers 0, 1, 2, 6, 7 and 8. When choosing a font for the numbers (that's where I can help you!) be sure to select a font with which the 6 can appear like a 9 when turned upside down. On the long block - the base - I put the words "days until Christmas".

And there you have it! It's a cute and classy countdown to Christmas decoration.


Check out some of my other holiday decoration ideas on my Etsy shop, ArtaBella Vinyl Designs. You can order the vinyl as you see here, or if you would like a different font let me know and let's see what we can do!

Tuesday, November 1, 2011

Family Name Board: A must-have for every family everywhere

When it comes to vinyl art this is about as basic as it comes. A family name. It sounds simple, and it is! But it's also something that I think every family can - and should - have somewhere in or around their home.

A family name clad in vinyl is like a family crest. I added the text "Together Forever" to give it a little extra meaning and texture.

Maybe you would like something else on your family name, like "Established 19%%" or just "1996" or maybe "Scott and Julie". Whatever you can dream up you can do.

You can get some other ideas in my Etsy shop.

There's got to be something I can do with this

I love this picture, It's simple - just a snapshot of a strawberry leaf with some cool morning dew on it. If we could only capture the essence of a cool summer morning with vinyl. I'm gonna keep thinking about this one. Suggestions, anyone?

Inaugural Post on ArtaBella Designs!

Welcome to ArtaBella Designs! I'm so excited to be able to offer a fun and inexpensive way to personalize a space or an item with easy-to-use vinyl decals. As this is my first post on this new blog, let me tell you about myself.

I have always been the a "crafty", artistic type. I guess you could I started way back in first grade when I took those simple, fun art projects and turned them into my own versions of majestic works of art. As I got older I experimented with toll painting, which turned into scrapbooking, which evolved into rubber stamping which begat vinyl. I love it all and it's not uncommon for me to merge all of those different types of crafts into a single project. Just ask me and I'll show you some of my pictures!

A few years ago I started working with vinyl and now you can say I'm hooked. I've put vinyl decals on walls, pieces of wood, glass blocks, cabinet doors and car windows - just to name a few. And I love it when I see a new idea or unique application.

I plan on posting some designs and ideas on this blog from time to time. Feel free to check them out. Leave me a comment if you'd like, as I'd love to hear what you think!

Ta ta for now!