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Tips & Tricks: A Successful Creation

  1. Sand any edges needed.
  2. If using paper, Trace it out first.
  3. Paint or Stain desired wood. If using stain, we recommend using gloves and apron if available!
  4. While the paint is drying, cut out your paper. Cut it slightly smaller or perfectly even with the edges of the wood.
  5. Once paint is dry, use Mod Podge to glue paper to wood. We use a scraper to be sure to get all bubbles from underneath the paper.
  6. Allow paper to dry
  7. “Chalk” desired edges to give it a finished look.
  8. Seal craft by applying a coat of Mod Podge on top of paper and wood.
  9. Apply vinyl letters (if any) to craft.
  10. If applying glitter: apply each color separately.
  11. Seal craft again with Mod Podge and/or Krylon Spray (glossy or matte). *Make sure you see our notes below on sealing!
  12. Once completely dry, add ribbon, wire, jewels, or any other accessories!

Sanding the Edges

  1. Sand the edges of your wood piece to remove any rough edges. Additional Sanding can be done to create a rounded corner effect.

Tracing + Cutting Paper

  1. Place piece on paper with both the piece and the desired pattern face up.
  2. Trace with pencil making good solid lines that can be seen through the paper pattern.
  3. Cut along the inside of the line to make sure paper doesn’t hang over the edge of the craft.
  4. Set paper on piece to see if any slight adjustments need to be made, and trim to fit. A small emery board or file can be used to file of edges of paper if a really close fit is desired. This technique is only recommended if the piece has not been painted yet.

Applying Paper + Chalking Edges

  1. Apply a thin coat of Mod Podge to the surface of the wood. If you apply too much, the paper will soak it up causing bubbles!
  2. Place paper on the piece and press the paper down smoothly across the entire surface. Vinyl scrapers can be helpful on large surface, but doing it by hand will work fine as well.
  3. Use “Chalk” (ink) pad to carefully “stamp” edges with desired color. This helps to blend paper edge and give piece a nice border color as well.

Sealing Craft

  1. Apply a coat of Mod Podge to the entire craft to help seal and protect the craft. Mod Podge is better for sealing projects with vinyl. 
  2. An alternate method to sealing is using Krylon spray to create the same clear coating effect. Krylon spray is good for crafts with glitter. 
  • Do not use Krylon spray on vinyl letters! They will curl and be ruined.
  • Use Krylon spray to seal glitter.
  • Only Use Krylon spray in a well ventilated area!

Applying Vinyl

  1. Peel the clear transfer tape slowly away from backing. Make sure the vinyl is staying attached to the transfer tape as you peel back.
  2. Carefully set vinyl in place and use a scraper or fingers to press vinyl down firmly onto piece.
  3. Slowly peel back transfer tape, making sure vinyl stays attached to the craft.

Applying Glitter

  1. Sand and paint piece before glittering. Place piece on aluminum foil (or similar) to catch all the excess glitter.
  2. Apply a good coat of Mod Podge wherever you would like the glitter to stay and apply glitter liberally.
  3. Allow your piece to dry and shake of excess glitter. Fold foil and pour glitter back into glitter container.

Using Vinyl as Stencils

  1. Paint craft/board the color you would like the stencil design to be.
  2. Let the craft dry completely.
  3. Apply Vinyl making sure edges are pressed down really well to keep the paint from bleeding underneath vinyl. Vinyl Scrapers are a great for this.
  4. Paint around the stencil trying to avoid heavy paint spots near the edge of the vinyl. This can cause the paint to dry in clumps and peel up with the stencil.
    Note: If you have several colors of stencils on one craft; repeat steps 2-4 for each color and stencil.
  5. When all vinyl stencils have been applied, paint the craft the final color, and let the paint dry.
  6. Slowly peel back vinyl.
  7. Vinyl adhesive may leave a slightly sticky film on craft. Mod Podge craft to seal/protect and remove sticky texture.

Creating a Distressed Effect

  1. You can distress using any combination of colors as the base and top color or distress right into the wood. If using a base color, color the entire piece the base color.
  2. Color Piece with top color. If you are applying a light color over dark you made need 2 coats of paint.
  3. Allow your piece to dry completely.
  4. Use a rough grit sandpaper (low number) or other scratching tool to scratch off the top coat revealing the base coat or bare wood.
  5. Seal the project with Mod Podge or Krylon and show it off to all your friends!

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