Decorating Tip #2 and #3 (vinyl wording and light switch DIY)

I absolutely love my son's crib.  I love the shape.  I love the color.  More than anything, I love watching my son sleep (I mean, who doesn't love watching little babes snoozing?)  Decorating the nursery in the area around the crib was hard for me because I wanted it to be as perfect as that perfect crib.  I knew that the images surrounding the crib would be the last things my son would see as he fell asleep each night (and nap) and the first thing he would see when he woke. Whew... No pressure...

{Yea, he loves his stuffed animals. LOVES them.}

I'll be honest, I started making a baby mobile.  I didn't like any of them in the stores and thought I could make one better.  I couldn't.  That project took way too long to complete and I didn't end up liking it anyways.

Onto what I did make- vinyl lettering and a coordinating light switch cover.  I can't believe how easy both of these projects were and how BIG of an impact they made.  Simple and perfect.  Exactly what I wanted!

I cut the vinyl lettering with my Silhouette Cameo using the font "Great Vibes" and added stars in varying sizes.  The walls in the nursery are textured but after pressing the vinyl on with my fingers it has stuck great!  Everything continues to hold strong months and months later!

As for the light switch cover, I followed these basic steps: (Images pictured in tutorial are from a separate project so I could show you step by step!)

1. Print a photo on regular paper (or use a scrapbook paper that you like) large enough to fit on top of your light switch cover.

2. With the paper image side up, place the cover on top and trace the outline and holes with a pencil. Add a little extra to the outside border to account for the extra paper it will take to cover the "curve" on the cover.  You can always cut it off later if you have too much!

3. Cut out the traced piece- be careful with the small holes! (I prefer to only cut the hole for the switch and just poke the screws through their spots but that's up to you)

4. Cover the light switch cover with Mod Podge- enough to make the entire surface sticky without making it too "goopy".

5. Carefully, place the paper cutout on top of the light switch.  Make sure to press the paper down inside the hole for the switch and around the edges.

{See the little divot where I didn't cut the hole for the screw? I think it's easier this way and you aren't left with a "too big" hole.}

6. Let dry for a few minutes and then finish with a final layer of Mod Podge over the entire surface. 

7. (Optional)  If you want to paint the screws to match, do so while they are removed and let dry.  You only need to paint the heads.

I am *so in love* with this Peter Rabbit light switch cover.  Turns out, my little guy has developed quite the interest in turning lights on and off these days.  My husband and I know the day is coming when he will be able to reach this one by his crib and it'll be all over for our electricity bill!

Are you just joining us?  Head over to last week's post to learn how to make any design on a pillow in under 15 minutes!  Don't forget to join us next week for a GIVEAWAY!

Your Turn!
Do you have vinyl wording around your home?  What are your thoughts on the light switch cover?  I'm addicted to this simple transformation and have done it in my craft room as well (those were the step by step photos you saw)!  Share your projects with us in the comments below!

Happy Crafting,
Kelsie Ann

Dress Up Your Stuff With Vinyl!

Hello Hello my crafty brothers and sisters!  Do you ever feel the need to dress something up a little?  To use your crafty magic to turn the bland into the fantastic?  Maybe it is a boring agenda book cover or a plain looking light switch.  Well my friends, I have one simple word for you: Vinyl.

Using vinyl to dress up an item is a quick and easy way to personalize anything you own.  Both my mama and I have been in the vinyl mood lately.  Come check out what we made:

I. love. planning.  I love writing things down in my agenda book and looking ahead towards the week (like I am actually going to follow it).  There is also a particular format that I like the pages to be.  This means that I can't go find a beautifully made cover because odds are, it doesn't have the inside that I want.  That also means that I get to personalize my new agenda book however I want!  Isn't it darling?


Just choose a design, cut it out in vinyl and stick it to your book.  It's that easy!

I used to hate vinyl.  My mom would always suggest I use it for something but I could never seem to get it to work.  It was more frustrating than the craft was worth.  That was until I found transfer paper!

{The shape design is called "Lady with Ribbon Silhouette" and can be found in the Silhouette Store.  I added a double line circle around her to finish off the design you see here}

If you are new to vinyl or having trouble getting your images from the paper to your project, I HIGHLY recommend transfer paper.  Just follow the instructions on the package to make your life one hundred times easier.  I do not exaggerate- I love this stuff!

Onto My Mama's Project:
My mom just repainted her dining room.  It is hard to see in the pictures, but the whole room is a sort of light cocoa color with splashes of white and other colors.  It is stunning!  The first thing I did when I walked into the house was to (literally) gasp out loud!  I absolutely love it.  Anyways, during her renovation she searched for a light switch cover that matched the new room... to no avail.  So, as any crafty woman would do:  she made one herself.

All she did was paint a blank cover the same color as the wall (see, I told you the picture doesn't look like the right color!) let dry, and covered it with her vinyl design.

She used Design 2503 called "frame: flourish" from the Silhouette Store.

After measuring the size of the light switch, she enlarged the design to fit.  The inside frame was the perfect size to fit around the switch and screws.  It was meant to be!

What a pretty pattern.  Much better than anything we could find in the store!

{Your Turn}

What do you have lying around the house that could use a little "dressing up"?  Had you ever thought of using one of the frame shapes as a light switch cover?  Seeing these shapes being used in new ways is a surefire way to get the creative juices flowing.  I would love to hear what you are up to so feel free to share!

Happy Crafting,
Kelsie Ann

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