Another free calendar

Here is another free calendar courtesy of a print a day. The dates have been left out so that you can use it year after year.

Free Advent Calendar

Courtesy of Mibo.

Tutorial: Starburst Mirror

With the nice versions of these mirrors going for over $100, it's worth attempting to make your own. This is actually my sister's DIY project, but since I'm the crafty one, I helped a bit.

Tutorial can be found here.

We did stray from the tutorial somewhat. We used spray paint instead of silver leaf and a larger mirror in place of the automotive mirror.

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DIY Snuggie

First came the freedom blanket, then the slanket and then the snuggie. They all seem pretty ridiculous and the snuggie commercials are extremely cheesy. But then I got to thinking about all the times when I have been nice and warm under a blanket and need to grab the remote, or the phone or eat something and you have to weigh the options of whether exposing your hands to the cold air is worth it. Maybe there is something to this whole blanket with sleeves idea after all.

No need to buy one, just make one yourself. Free snuggie patterns are available here and here. Happy snuggie making!

Free Photoshop Brushes

If you are looking for free Photoshop brushes, patterns and other digital freebies check out Pixels & Ice Cream. She is extremely generous in allowing people to use them for both personal and commercial use.

2010 Printable Calendars

Printable Dog Silhouette Calendar

Nice and Simple Printable Calendar

My 2010 printable calendars are up for sale in my etsy shop. Make sure to take a look!

Tutorial: Lawn Decorations

Aren't they adorable? Originally my plan was to make a Scooby Doo scene, but since we were already into the month of October I decided to go with these characters instead.

Supplies
1/2" Finished plywood (Cheap plywood will splinter like crazy so buy the good stuff)
Transfer paper
Paint
Primer
Outdoor clear coat
Conduit
Two hole conduit straps
Screws
Wood filler
Tape
Paper
Pen/Pencil
Safety glasses

Tools
Jig saw
Drill

Step 1: The first step is to settle on a piece of artwork. (If you are a beginner it is best to stick with a simple design. Intricate designs require a steady hand, and a lot of patience and jig saw work.)

Step 2: Print/create your artwork using the dimensions you want your finished piece to be.

You have three options: Freehand your work right onto the plywood.
Use Illustrator to create or trace your artwork and then print it using the tile feature.
Or find a line drawing and enlarge it using a copier.

Step 3: Fill any holes, cracks or gaps in your plywood with wood filler. Once dry give a light sanding. Repeat until you have a nice even finish.

Step 4: Give your plywood a couple of coats of primer. A good shellac-based primer will hide knots and wood-grain. But latex primer, which is what I used, will work just fine too.

Step 5: After your primer has dried, tape transfer paper to the plywood and then tape your design on top of the transfer paper. Trace over the design with a pencil or pen.

Step 5: Put on your safeties and cut out design with jig saw.

Step 6: Sand rough edges (if needed). Then touch up any areas that may have chipped with primer.

Step 7: Now it's time to paint. I used acrylic paint from the craft store (this required many coats). FolkArt makes an outdoor acrylic. You can also use exterior house paint, however if you need a lot of colors that could get pricey.

Step 8: Once you are completely satisfied with the way your piece looks you must clear coat it with an outdoor sealer to protect it from the elements. (I used Minwax Outdoor ClearShield which was a mistake because it gave my beautiful white ghost a yellowish hue.) If you have a lot of white in your design it is better to go with a non oil-based product. Oil-based products will give your whites a yellowish look.

Make sure to go over your piece with 2-3 coats and cover the front, back and sides.

Step 9: Attach conduit to the back with straps and wood screws. You should sink the conduit into the ground at least a foot.