Our new Letter Blocks were a huge hit at Swiss Days. If you made it into our booth you might have noticed our LOVE and BOO blocks on display. What's great about this project is how easy it is to make. You'll have a finished project in no time!- Decide what word you want to display.
- Pick coordinating papers that complement the word.
- Locate pictures to go with the theme and you're ON YOUR WAY to making your own fun set of blocks.
For you to Gather:3, 4 or 6 blocks (depending on word). Our blocks measure approximately 3.5 inches.
3 coordinating scrapbook papers to match theme (more to cover top and bottoms of block)
Decoupage Glue - We like ModPodge's Matte Glue
Printer -black ink works best for printing letters
Scissors
Foam Brush
Sandpaper
Sanding Block (Not really needed, but it goes a long way to saving your hands during the sanding process!)
Distress Ink or Chalk
Finishing Spray
9, 12 or 18 pictures formatted to fit your blocks. The Photo Wizard will help you format your pictures to fit our blocks perfectly!
Step 1:Determine the theme that you want to display. Our Letter Blocks .pdf provides letters for the following words...
L-O-V-E
F-U-N
B-O-O
J-O-Y
F-A-M-I-L-Y
Pick coordinating paper to match your word choice (i.e. fall colors for BOO, red's and green's for JOY, etc.). 12x12 scrapbook paper works great. Just trim the paper to 8.5 x 11 before feeding it through your printer. Save any extra scraps for covering the top and bottom of the blocks. Print the Letter Blocks .pdf on your selected papers. Cut out each square using the trim markings. (Trim depends on the block size that you're using. Project formatted to Stories by Me blocks.)
Step 2:
Prepare your pictures. You have two options here. Either print each picture to be at least as large as your blocks. Use the edge of the block to trace around each picture and cut away the excess. Or, you can use the Photo Wizard to get your picture to the exact size that is needed for this project. Need help using the Photo Wizard. See our demo. Still need help? We're only a mouse click away. Just email us at www.mythoughts@storiesbyme.com. Cut each picture to size.
Be sure to print your pictures using a LASER printer! Ink jet colors tend to smear when they get wet!!
Step 3: The cut ends of the wood absorb more glue than the grained ends. Before beginning this step, apply a thin layer of glue of glue to the ends with the rougher (cut) surfaces. Let glue dry.
Apply a thin layer of glue to the first side of one block. Place picture over glue and press in to place. Remove any air bubbles. While the glue is drying, repeat the process for other blocks. Check for overhanging paper edges. It is important to WAIT for the glue to dry before attempting to remove any excess paper. Add picture's 2 and 3 following same procedure. Once all of the picture are in place, add one letter square to each block. Complete this step by adding a decorative top and bottom paper square to each block. Don't worry about matching sides. A random look is great!
Step 4:
Once the glue is dry, carefully sand the edges of each block. Add a distress look by rubbing ink or chalk along the sides of each square to darken the exposed wood and remove any white paper edge.
Protect your project with several light coats of decoupage glue or matte Acrylic spray.
That's all that's to it! Remember, you CAN'T ruin this project. Fix any mistakes by simply sanding down the offending side and adding another layer.
Sit back, enjoy your handiwork and start telling the stories that accompany each picture!
Copyright 2009 Stories by Me
20 comments:
Oh, these are awesome!!! I MUST make some!
I really like this idea and would love to make them. Where do you get the wood blocks?
Check out your local craft store. These are 3.25" which is a pretty standard size around here. If you find something bigger or smaller, and you use our Photo Wizard to format your pictures, you can play with the scaling on your printer to adjust your picture size.
You can also try cutting your own blocks...but I don't recommend it. It's not as easy as it sounds. If all else fails, you can order them from our website!
Could one use pictures printed off at wal mart photo lab and fit to scale, or would the modge podge smear it also like the ink jet.
We suggest using printed copies because we don't want to encourage people to use their only photo copy for the project. Because of digital pictures this is becoming less of an issue, but you will find that the plain paper is easy to work with and typically cheaper to produce.
You can use any photo editor to crop your picture to a standard square shape, but if you use our Photo Wizard (free service on the website) it will allow you to zoom in on the features that you want to highlight.
If you decide to use a photograph, we suggest using ones with a matte finish. The glue can change color tones, but we've seen it happen less on the matte finishes.
So when you sand the edges what happens to the paper and pictures if they are exactly the same size as the block? Should the pictures be cut smaller than the block?
We like to take the pictures to the end of the block so there is no paper edge.
If you format your picture so that the facial features aren't right to the edge it won't matter if you sand the edges of the block. We distress the block by sanding it and darkening the edges with chalk or ink to give it a vintage look.
Have you checked out our video on the website? (find it at: www.storiesbyme.com/demos-and-tutorials/block-ornament-instructions.) It's pretty long and somewhat boring, but it walks you step-by-step through the process of making a block.
I love this idea
Sorry about the above link not working I was in a hurry and typed the address wrong. You can visit via our website:
storiesbyme.com / Demos & Tutorials / Block Ornament Instructions
or try this link:
http://www.storiesbyme.com/?p=/demos-and-tutorials/block-ornament-instructions
If you don't have access to a laser printer would you suggest prints from Wal-mart over inkjet?
We prefer FedEx Kinko's...but we haven't tried printing anything from Wal-mart. We have used inkjet prints when laser prints aren't an option; we just are careful to spray the picture with a clear coat of matte acrylic spray before applying the glue. That helps to set the ink.
Why do you need to use a Mod Podge glue instead of glue stick to attach the pictures to the block since you'll need a sealer on top anyways?
I can't imagine a glue stick would work with wood. Has anyone tried this and had success? We like to use Mod-Podge (or any brand of decoupage glue) because once applied the pictures are permanent. (That means no curling or lifting!) The good news about using wood as your backdrop is that it's very forgiving. Try a glue stick and let us know if it works. (If it lifts, you can always sand down the layer and add new pictures using decoupage glue!)
this is so great! my parent have a big box of blocks we played with as kids and the grand kids are all done playing with them. when they all come to visit this summer this will be a great memorie making project!
I have tried to find the blocks in craft stores and even looked into making them myself but I havent been successful...do you know when you might have them back in stock or a specific location to get them?
My husband went to Home Depot and had them cut a 4x4 wood into blocks. All of them weren't perfect, but if they were all layed one a certain side then they were the same height. He sanded the edges for me and they came out great!
Great information Julie! You can cut your own blocks...the trick is to make them a perfect square. The good news (as Julie will agree) even if they aren't perfect, they become perfect when you add your pictures! We really are trying to get more blocks in. Sorry to slow so many of you down. We like to think that our blocks are perfect in every way... square, smooth, just the right weight, and READY for you to finish! We'll let you know when our next shipment arrives.
When using the photo wizard, I go through all the steps and hit print in order for it to send the project to my email. But it never sends. Could I be doing something wrong? help! :)
Hi!
Can you let me know when the next shipment of blocks arrives? I've tried looking everywhere for them and have been unsuccessful. Thank you so much!
Melissa... and everyone else who wants the 3.25" blocks. We are trying to find the right manufacturer to make more blocks for us. We were spoiled with our last overseas shipment. They were the perfect weight, perfectly square and not a blemish on them. Unfortunately, they are no longer in the block making business. We will keep trying and will let you know when we've located our new source.
Post a Comment