4th of july – A Diamond in the Stuff

Mason Jar Flag {Tutorial}

Courtney Carmean — Fri, 29 Aug 2014 10:00:38 +0000

This weekend I am helping host a bridal shower for my soon to be sister-in-law. You may remember I shot their Engagement Pictures last month and now it’s time to shower the bride. Since my brother-in-law is also in the Air Force we are celebrating by doing the shower in red, white, and blue! I whipped up this Mason Jar Flag set and I’m sharing it just in time for Labor Day! I know I’ve seen these around blogland and I’ve wanted to make them for awhile! This was a perfect excuse to tackle the project and I wanted to share how I made them today! Let the tutorial begin…..

I started with some basic pint size mason jars. I happen to have a very large stash leftover from a baby shower that I hosted.

I decided to use Plaid’s Home Decor Chalk paint for this project. Chalk paint is just so easy to use for projects like this (in my opinion). I used White Adirondack to paint all three mason jars, this acted as the first layer of paint for each jar. Each jar got a couple coats.

Once the white was dry I took two of the jars to be the “stripes”. I used Frogtape to create the lines I wanted for the stripes. When the tape was on the way I wanted it, I painted over the tape with the white paint again to avoid bleeding paint.

For the jar with the stars I didn’t want to do any freehand or stamped stars, I am too much of a perfectionist for that. So I cut out a bunch of vinyl stars with my Silhouette.

I places the stars all over the “star” jar and them painted over the vinyl with white paint (again to avoid bleeding paint).

When the white paint was dry it was time to add the blue and red. I used Imperial and Nautical Chalk paint. It took a couple coats to get the coverage I wanted.

After the paint dried I removed the Frogtape and the vinyl stars. Overall both the tape and vinyl did a great job preventing paint bleeding, even in areas that were raised on the mason jars.

I used my sanding block to distress the jars, hitting the high and raised points mostly. One of the things that is so great about chalk paint is it distresses so wonderfully.

In the end, once all the jars were distressed, I sprayed on a clear protective coat.

I am so happy with the way these Mason jar Flags turned out! I was actually quite nervous about how these would turn out….with all the curves and raised spots I thought there was no way that all the lines would turn out well. However it all came out great!

These would be perfect holding your cutlery for a party or flowers in your home. My little beauties are off to the bridal shower this weekend!

I hope you love the Mason Jar Flag as much as I do and hopefully my tutorial will help you tackle the project yourself!

Linking up to these great link parties!!!

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Looking for more ideas for your Labor Day decor? Check out all this patriotic goodness here……

USA Map Sign

Courtney Carmean — Mon, 23 Jun 2014 10:00:16 +0000

Last week I shared my Simple 4th of July Mantel. I featured a few items that I created including my USA Map Sign on my mantel. Today I’m sharing a step by step tutorial for how to create your own DIY map sign.

Step 1: Grab some wood and paint it your base coat. In this instance I used some smooth plywood and white paint.

Step 2: Put down Frog Tape to create the stripes. I used two strips of Frog Tape to create one stripe.

Step 3: Paint in between the tape with red craft paint to create the red stripes.

Step 4: Once the red paint is dry, remove the tape and reveal your crisp lines.

Step 5: Cut out a vinyl stencil. I used my Silhouette to cut our an image of the US and used the “negative” part of the vinyl (Meaning I discarded the image of the US and kept the outline of the image).

Step 6: Use Mod Podge to go around the edge of where the vinyl meets the wood. This will help with any paint bleeding from the blue paint.

Step 7: Paint inside the vinyl stencil with blue paint to create the image of the US.

Step 8: Remove the vinyl once the blue paint is dry to reveal your beautiful sign.

I did end up giving the whole sign some distressing, not a lot but just enough to weather it a bit.

I really love the way that the sign turned out. I also love that when I get an idea of home decor that I want to have I don’t have to search and search for it….I can just create it myself! I think that’s one of the best parts of being crafty!

The USA Map Sign looks awesome up on my mantel for the 4th of July. I also think this project could be adjusted to show off any state or country. So for those of you like me who are transplants or military nomads….having this up in your home would be a great way to honor your home state.

Do you like to decorate for the 4th of July? Why not create a USA Map Sign for your home?

Linking up to these great link parties!!!

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You can check out the post about my Simple 4th of July Mantel to see all the details!

Simple 4th of July Mantel

Courtney Carmean — Fri, 20 Jun 2014 10:00:48 +0000

This is our first year in our new home and as the seasons come around my holiday mantels have been changing. It just seems like the previous holiday mantels that I had on my last little shelf mantle just aren’t fit for my now huge mantel. So I’ve been switching things up and my 4th of July Mantel was next on the list.

I started rummaging around my garage for items that I could use. The first thing I pulled out was this big 9 pane window. It’s big, it’s chippy, and it makes the perfect backdrop on the mantel. Then it was time to start creating some goodies for my new 4th of July Mantel.

See that USA Map Sign up there? A tutorial on the blog now!

I happened to have some cut wood blocks hanging out so I grabbed a couple and got to work. I created both of the block signs with my Silhouette. The image on the red block is a file I purchased in the sil store and the one on the blue block is my creation.

That star you see is an old plastic star from the 99cent store. I painted it off white and placed it on top of the blue block. Easy peasy right?

My 4th of July Mantel may be simple but I love it.

Have you decorated for the 4th of July yet?

Linking up to these great link parties!!!

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Look for some more red, white, and blue projects? Here is my 4th of July Round Up from last year…..

Happy Birthday America

Courtney Carmean — Thu, 04 Jul 2013 18:52:01 +0000

HAPPY 4th OF JULY EVERYONE!!!!

I hope that everyone has a very safe and happy 4th with family and friends!!! I will be spending the day with my precious kiddos and missing my husband like crazy!

While you are celebrating today please take a moment to remember those that have fought and are fighting for our freedom!!!

Framed 4th of July Subway Art

Courtney Carmean — Fri, 21 Jun 2013 07:00:23 +0000

Last year I created my Framed 4th of July Subway Art and posted it over at Crafts Unleashed. I love to decorate for Independence Day with every bit of stars and stripes as I can manage! I wanted to create a 4^th of July decoration that would look great in any home, office, or would make a great gift. Once I spied the Word Collage Cricut Cartridge, I knew exactly what I wanted to create.

Supplies:

Cricut Die Cutting Machine
Word Collage Cricut Cartridge
Darice® Premium Canvas Texture Cardstock
Cricut® Cuttables Craft Vinyl – Raven Black
Cricut® Cuttables Craft Vinyl- Transfer Tape
Picture Frame (I used an 8×10)
Glue Stick
Paper Cutter or Scissors

Directions:

To start, I grabbed 3 pieces of cardstock in red, white, and blue. I cut them down into three strips that fit onto the back of the picture frame. It took a little bit of measuring and math to get each color to be proportional and even. But I’m just a perfectionist like that!

I used the glue stick to attach the three cardstock pieces to the back of the picture frame. I went in the traditional order of red, white, and blue. Once they were glued down I set that aside. It was time to cut some vinyl.

Here is my black vinyl all cut out. For those of you that are going to give this a try, here are all the numbers and details. I cut out the subway art at 9 1/2in. It fit perfectly inside my picture frame. Obviously this number would need to be adjusted for different sizes of picture frames. Before cutting out the vinyl, I set my machine to low speed, mid/high pressure, and I used a #4 setting on my deep cut blade.

Once I had the vinyl cut out, I “weeded” out all the unusable vinyl. Meaning I basically just pulled off all out the surrounding vinyl that I was not going to be using. Including the centers of letters like “o’s”, “a’s”, etc. Then I applied my transfer tape on top of the vinyl. You will need to use something to rub over the transfer tape to adhere it to the vinyl. This can be a credit card, large popsicle stick, or my favorite a Pampered Chef stone scraper! Once all the vinyl is attached to the transfer tape, it is time to pull the transfer tape off of the vinyl backing. Once this is done you should be looking at the reverse of your image.

Before applying your vinyl to your surface make sure it’s clean and dry. Also, I recommend taking your time applying the vinyl to the glass. Once you begin to lay it down it will start to adhere and it’s hard to get it pulled back up and adjusted. So take lots of time to make sure it’s as straight and it’s going to get before applying the vinyl. Once you do lay the transfer tape down on the glass, you will rub it again with your tool of choice. Begin to pull off the transfer tape nice and slow, watching for any stubborn pieces of vinyl that are not adhering. If that is happening, just lay the transfer tape down again in that area and rub it down a little more.

Once you have completely pulled off the transfer tape, you should have beautifully applied vinyl. Pop the vinyl covered glass back into the picture frame and add the cardstock covered frame backing. Proudly display your new patriotic project and sit back and relax!

Or in my case take a ton of pictures like it’s a modeling shoot! I absolutely love how it turned out and it goes great with my Patriotic Ribbon Topiary!

I think I’m just about all set for the 4^th of July!!! I hope you give this project a try and maybe even put your own spin on it!!!

Hope you liked my Framed 4th of July Subway Art!!!

Linking up to these great link parties!!!

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While your here…come take a look at my latest patriotic inspired project: My Wood Flag Wreath!!!

4th of July Round Up

Courtney Carmean — Fri, 07 Jun 2013 07:00:59 +0000

It’s hard to believe it’s June already and the 4th of July is just around the corner.

I decided to do a little 4th of July Round Up so you can see all my patriotic projects in one place! I also have some new patriotic projects that I’ll be sharing soon!!!

Patriotic Rag Wreath

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Patriotic Ribbon Topiary

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USA Firecracker Blocks

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Patriotic Paper Pinwheels

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4th of July Fence Board Sign

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USA Pennant Banner

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4th Of July Subway Art

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2×4 Flag Blocks

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Chicken Wire Rag Flag Wreath

So there ya have tons of red, white, and blue inspiration! Click on any of the links to get more info about each project and most likely a tutorial for each one too. I hope you enjoyed the 4th of July Round Up and I’d love to know if you make any of these projects for yourself!!!

Linking up to these great link parties!!!

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On Wednesday I shared some Sports themed Subway Art that are perfect for some DIY Father’s Day gifts. Are you making any DIY Father’s Day gifts this year?