Halloween Signs

Now, did a 'pre-blog' craft count if there were no pictures to document it?  Well, kind of, right?  The major difference in my life pre-blog and now is that I actually finish crafts...  :)

OK, so I started this craft before the blog, which means I was fired up and bought all the stuff, did a small part of the project and then never finished it and it's been sitting in my craft area mocking and taunting me every day for the past (ahem, cough) year...

But taunt me no more!  I have busted out these plaques and wooden tags, which should look familiar-the painted version....  These had been painted and not much else...  Well, I got all my goodies out because honestly I can't take another year of this, I really have to move on and so does this project!

I love how they turned out and can't believe how quick it was to finish.  I will include a tutorial, but it's really paint, mod podge, drill, decorate and done.  I was able to do the MP while on the phone, talk about multi-tasking!

I really like the dimensionality (if that's a word) with double stacking the wooden tags on the plaques, but they are just as cute on their own!  These are the only spiders allowed in my house!  They have white specs in the pics because they are sparkly, like Sweet Boy #2 says.  If you want to make some of these cuties for yourself (or friends, neighbors, coworkers, teachers, you decide) then here you go!



Materials:
Wooden Plaque (got mine from the DS or DT, I can't remember which but they had a ribbon stapled to it, which was easily removed with a screwdriver)

The right one has a mark from the staple

Wooden Tags
Chopsticks (optional)
Sand Paper
Paper Towel
Paint
Scrap Paper/Embellishments/Stickers
Mod Podge
Stamp Pad (optional)
Drill
Twine
Emory Board/Nail File
Double Sided Tape/Adhesive for 'stacked' plaque and tag  (UPDATE: Use hot glue to stack the plaques)
Paint Pen (optional)

Instructions:

1. Ready your plaques/tags for painting by lightly sanding and wiping clean with a wet paper towel.  I did not round off the corners to my tags.  If you do, realize it will be challenging to apply paper to the tags.  Let dry.
2. Paint both sides of your plaque/tag by using chopsticks (don't separate them) to hold, then use the sticks for propping the plaque/tag without having them stick to your work surface.  I like to keep my hands/fingers paint free; or you can use your fingers to hold the wood while you paint and work on one side at a time.  Let dry.
3. On wrong side of decorative paper, trace your plaque/wood tag and cut.
4. Now MP the paper on the wrong side and place the wood on top of the paper.  I found this worked well for me because I didn't have to keep peeling the paper back and worrying about air bubbles.  Don't worry about some of the paper hanging over, just make certain the paper is at least covering the wood.  Let dry. (Mine dried overnight.)
5. Use your emory board/nail file to take away any over hang of paper.  Keep moving the board around as it gets dull quickly and you want to maximize your time with as few strokes as possible. Don't worry about the white of the paper showing on the edges, we will take care of those when stamping the edges of the paper to look distressed in step 7.
6. Get your drill and figure out how you want to hang these and make your holes.  Drill from the paper side down...  The drill/wood makes a cone shape on the backside that you do not want showing. The drill makes a little boo boo on the paper, so my knots strategically covered them.  Just make certain that spot is covered.
7. Embellish, embellish, embellish....Are any instructions needed here? Find stickers/designs, heck even paint pen and go crazy! Distress the edges with your stamper like I did for the 'stacked' plaques.
8. I used MP to stack a tag on one plaque and double sided tape for the other.  I like the tape better because I didn't have to wait for it to dry under a couple of books...
9. Find the perfect spot for these beauties and admire your work!

Now I can't believe I dreaded this craft for all this time, but the upside is that I wouldn't really be able to appreciate it or share it with you!  So, three cheers for procrastination!  Am I a bad person if I don't want to give these away anymore!  They are too cute!

I hope you enjoy this craft and tell me what you think about half-finished projects and their taunting ways!

Take Care,
Morgan

Linking up to:
Made by you Monday 
Tipjunkie Homemade Projects 
Create and Share 
Love Bakes Good Cakes - It's Fall Y'all 
Cheerios and Lattes Saturday Show and Tell 
Show and Tell Saturday - Be Different Act Normal 
http://www.cometogetherkids.com/2012/09/halloween-fun-projects-and-activities.html 
I Heart Naptime - Sunday Scoop Linky Party 
SNAP! - Show and Tell Linky  
Bloom Designs Linky Party