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Let’s make a menu board.

Now most people like to use chalkboard vinyl, or chalkboard contact paper. I love using my Oracel 651 Matte Black. Plain and simple and works like a charm. I googled some chalkboard labels the same ones you can print and use for labeling kitchen items.

I then rotated them sideways. I found a font that was curving but not too much I want my kids to be able to read it.

I found this charming quote for the kitchen.

The torch of love is lit in the kitchen.

Author: unknown

Added some flair or squiggly lines as I like to call them and viola.

Finished Product

Here is the [download id=”9″]

Here is the [download id=”10″]

If there is any problem let me know. I am still new to converting items into studio.

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It’s my mom’s 54th birthday May 25th. Her favorite song is you are my sunshine. I wanted to do some vinyl work with the lyrics. I also wanted it subway art style. Instead of spending hours placing the lyrics and changing up fonts, I found a site that lets you pick a shape, or upload your own. Enter all the words and it randomizing it.

http://www.tagxedo.com/app.html

I wanted a sun so I Googled sun and clip art. I found this picture.

To upload your own shape click on the arrow next to the word shape. In the pop up window, select Add Image. Select you shape.

It will give you some option. I did not mess with them. Just pressed Accept.

Next, I entered the lyrics.

Press Load and paste a copy of the lyrics or the words you want to use.

You can select a theme to change the colors that are used. This was the once one that popped up that I thought I could easily trace.

I clicked on save and saved the LARGEST PNG.

In the previous tutorial, I discussed how to trace a image using Inkscape, please follow along here.

I saved as an .EPS and opened in signblazer, ready to rumble.

I found an old frame I had lying around the house and got to work.

I removed the backing and the mat, and cleaned the glass. I printed my sign in a 18″ by 20″ piece of Oracal 651 Yellow.

Now there were words that were TINY, I started slowly weeding and if the word was a bear and little pieces were pulling off I just pulled the entire word.

I used my large sized application tape and transferred straight to the top of the glass. I folded the metal clips back to secure the glass but did not replace the mat or backing.

Finished Product

Here is the [download id=”7″]

Here is the [download id=”8″]

If there is any problem let me know. I am still new to converting items into studio.

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I took a picture of the top of the table and tried three different designs in my Paint Shop Pro. All over white chevron, areas with chalk board vinyl and text or take my tree file and manipulate it to look similar to my family tree.

I actually places these images of my FB page and had people vote and the tree gained the most votes.

I opened my tree file. I then measured my coffee table and created an oval the same size. I moved around the branches and leaves and they were sized appropriately.

I used Oracal 651 Brown for the tree, Green for the leaves, and Blue for the bird.

I started by lightly sanding the top of the table.

I painted two coats of white base.

I then used a matte blue that was similar to the color of my walls.

Two coats.

I again placed my vinyl pieces and they seemed to stick better o the matte paint compared to when I was working on my walls.

I let the vinyl adhere for 24 hours. I then painted two clear coats to seal in the vinyl. I did not want my little people picking at the vinyl.

Finished Product

Here is the [download id=”1″]

Here is the [download id=”2″]

If there is any problem let me know. I am still new to converting items into studio.

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Next, I’m going to open Inkscape to trace into an .EPS file format.

File -> Import Select Image. Click ok on embedded the image.

Path -> Trace Bitmap

Select Update to review your image’s trace. Select Ok

Move the new traced images and delete the original image. If you are unsure which one is which when you select an image it will either say on the bottom menu bar image, or nodes. Nodes are the cut file we want.

Now save as ____.eps.

Time to open up sign blazer.

File -> Import Select Image

Use Full Post Script Interpreter

My chevron pattern is 3.88 inches wide. WAY too big for nail art. We need to change the size. Make sure to keep the proportional button checked and change the width to 1 inch.

Ok how about an anchor. Back to Google images.

I found this one, which is super cute, but when we resize for nails there is no way to keep the detail from the rope. So again, time to search for a very simple one.

I found this one.

I ran through the same steps as before. I sized this anchor to a height or .7 inches.

Let us go for one more design might as well mix it up.

I found a basic heart.

Now I want a regular heart and a chevron heart. How to do this in signblazer. We will duplicated the chevron pattern we already made. I want to duplicate it twice so we have a large pattern to work with. I will stack the pattern on top of each other, and duplicate the heart.

This:

To this:

Now we need to total weld or group the two chevron patterns together.

I changed the color of the chevron pattern, anything will do.

Ok when I drag the heart toward the pattern I can see the heart is on top.

We need to select the heart and then go

Arrange -> Put to back.

Now drag the heart to the chevron pattern the heart will be underneath.

Holding down the shift key select the chevron pattern as well.

Arrange -> Weld -> Punch Through

Now if you select the chevron pattern and move away from the heart you will see the heart is chevron.

So this is what I am going to start plotting out in my Vinyl Express Qe+, which white Oracal 651.

Here is the [download id=”5″]

Here is the [download id=”6″]

If there is any problem let me know. I am still new to converting items into studio.

How to apply. for the anchor , chevron pattern and heart I just used my xacto knife to remove from the backing and place on my nail where I wanted. For the chevron heart I had to use application tape. I smoothed the vinyl cut any extras, and then clear coated it.

Before

After

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My first steps were to remove all cabinet doors and hardware. I painted a base coat of white even though the door were white already, just to cover any dark scratches. I then applied two coats of mat mint paint. Letting them dry a day between each.

I measured all cabinet doors making sure I had the proper length. Again, this was another project where I weeded my vinyl, removing the vinyl from the backing and applied to the cabinet without application tape. I was afraid the application tape was going to remove paint.

I decided in my rough and tough kitchen it was best to apply two coats of clear shellac, to keep the vinyl adhered to the doors.

Here’s the Before and Afters.

Close up.

Note:

Looking back now I should ave made of an effort to align the chevron that meets on the two cabinet doors that touch each other.

Here is the [download id=”3″]

Here is the [download id=”4″]

If there is any problem let me know. I am still new to converting items into studio.

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Here is how it turned out.

I started by prepping my area I removed picture frames and my curio box, and washed down the wall with window. You would be surprised at the amount of dirt, spider webs and junk that gets stuck to a wall.

I used Oracal 651 Brown for the tree, Green for the leaves, Blue for the birds, and Turquoise for the frames. Why did I decide to use Oracal 651 when I could have used 631 Exhibition vinyls? In my personal experience, you can use the Oracal 631 on homes that are not freshly painted. There have been great innovations in paint technology leading the paint to be more eco-friendly. This causes problems for use vinyl crafters. The vinyl is unable to adhere to the wall, and sometime will stay stuck to the application tape. I painted my walls about four years ago with a satin indoor paint. I did have a hard time getting my vinyl family tree to stick to the wall. I ended up not using any application tape but pulling the brown tree pieces off the backing and placing them by hand to the wall, smoothing and rubbing each section down. I continued with each additional color.

For the turquoise picture frames, I pulled the frame from the backing and carefully placed the frame upside down on my table. Then using the slight indentations on the backing, I aligned a real picture. I then carefully laid the vinyl frame back on top of the picture, smoothing as I went. I again removed from the backing this time the picture was adhered to it. I then carefully positioned and smoothed my frames to the wall. (Little note, I used pictures I had digital copies off. I know when I go to remove the picture the vinyl will rip or destroy it.)

There were a few air bubbles. In my opinion, air bubbles are caused by dirt and humidity, and in Iowa we have humidity. I was still able to lift the vinyl and smooth out any extreme air bubbles. (Which again this is due to my shiny paint, normally you would not be able to lift up Oracal 651.) There were a few tiny air bubbles which I used my hair dryer to blast the area and smooth the vinyl with my hands. This was also helpful on an old nail that I could not remove.

My tree has been up for two years and it still looks amazing. So do the pictures. People are amazed that vinyl is able to hold pictures to the wall.

Here is the [download id=”1″]

Here is the [download id=”2″]

If there is any problem let me know. I am still new to converting items into studio.

Which vinyl do I need? I love this chart, and I use to refer to it frequently.

From Clever Someday

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I thought we could implement some fun stuff around here. We do a lot of giveaways and promoting but what about helping fellow crafters. Our shop currently uses a Vinyl Express Qe-60 Plus Sign Cutter. We have a Silhouette Cameo we are looking into using for paper crafts and fabric appliqués. For software, we use Sign Blazer, VE LXi, Sure Cuts a Lot and the Silhouette Studio.

Our goal this month is to discuss 31 projects for around the home and for the business, that anyone can do.

We will share our favorite videos, links and blogs.

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