Home Décor Signs using Cut Files – Claudette Clements

With Christmas right around the corner, my mind is already running 100 miles an hour thinking of all the “pretties” I could make. I usually make Christmas cards, a December Daily, and or course a gift or two or three. This year, I wanted to push myself and come up with a new project. I’ve been thinking about how I could blend my love of all things Christmas with my craft supplies and come up with something new this year. I decided to focus on what I could make for my home. The project below is the result of that thinking. I hope you draw a little inspiration and come up with a holiday “pretty” all your own. 

JOYful Home Décor Sign

I usually stash my everyday décor items when I decorate for the holidays. These items usually get packed up for a few months while all my holiday “pretties” are out. While I was packing up these items to allow for my Halloween and Fall décor, I stopped and looked at this cute little wood sign in my hands. I love the size and shape of the sign and when I turned it over, I realized it was a blank canvas that I could work with. Why not decorate the BACK of the sign instead of packing it away? Here’s what the original sign looks like – I have this out on my entry table most of the year.

I started by cutting a piece of thick matboard to the dimensions of the inside of the wood sign frame. I covered the matboard with a piece of vinyl, woodgrain wallpaper I had in my stash…OK it’s starting to look cute. Next, I turned to the cut files on the Teresa Collins Studio website for what to use to make a super cute sign. I decided to use the JOY cut file as the base and layer in a second cut file, the CHRISTMAS WREATH 3, for some added interest. 

Ordering and downloading the files is quick and easy. Just add the files to your cart and process your order. Each file is very inexpensive and once you pay for it, you can use it again and again. In just a few minutes after your complete your order, you’ll receive an email from Teresa Collins Studio with your download link. Once you download the files on your computer, upload them the software you use for your cutting machine. I use a Brother Scan N Cut, so I use Canvas Workspace. 

I measured the inside of the wood sign to get a measurement for how big I wanted the letters of my sign to be. I decided on letters that were 4 ½” tall. I resized the JOY image, so the letters were just the right size. Next, I resized the WREATH, so it fits perfectly over the “O” in JOY.

Now for the fun part…..cutting out the files. Send your finished file to your cutting machine. I’m always amazed at how fun it is to use these cut files – the possibilities are endless. Carefully remove your cut images from the cutting mat. The WREATH is intricate, so take your time.

I wanted to add a bit more sparkle and shine to the cut images, so I pulled out my Prima Spark Paint. I love this stuff. It’s thick and creamy and has just the right amount of shimmer that elevates anything you put it on. I decided to use the Fairy Wings color to give my WREATH some character. I love how it turned out.

To complete the sign, I glued the painted WREATH to the JOY image and centered it on the sign. Now I just needed a pop of color to finish it off. I added “berries” to the WREATH using Nuvo drops in Autumn Red and topped it with a paper bow in a similar color.

Fall Home Décor Sign

After making the Christmas version of this project, I decide to take it a step further (I can’t help it….it’s in my DNA) to see what else I could do. To make the sign duel purpose, well triple purpose if you count the pre-printed, everyday side of the sign, I thought it would be fun to make another sign on the back of the matboard I used on the JOY sign. I just added more woodgrain contact paper to the back to give it a foundation. The idea is to use the same sign for both holidays. You could do the same thing for Valentine’s Day and Easter, Spring and Summer, etc. 

I download the BLOCK ALPHABET cut files and created the word FALL. To add more personality to the letters, I embossed each letter using a fall leaves patterned folder and lightly rubbed Spark paint in Ginger Magic over the pattern.

Next, I added sheet foam to the back of each letter to allow them to sit on top of the background with a natural shadow. I arranged them on the matboard and glued them down. I sketched out a pumpkin on some orange card stock, cut it and glued it together. I brushed a little of the same Ginger Magic paint on the pumpkin to tie it into the letters. I tucked this behind the “L”.

The sign needed a little something, something, so I went back to the Teresa Collins Studio website and download the FALL LEAF cut file. I cut six leaves in two different sizes and brushed the top with Spark Paint in Fairy Wings, Ginger Magic, and Dragon’s Eye. I then folded each leaf in half to give it a little dimension before gluing them in the corners of the sign. I finished the sign with a few fall-colored gems here and there.

Links:

TERESA COLLINS STUDIOS PRODUCTS:

JOY Cut File
https://www.teresacollinsstudio.com/search?q=bold+life   

Christmas Wreath 3 Cut File
https://www.teresacollinsstudio.com/products/bold-paper-collection?_pos=7&_sid=9ca681a7a&_ss=r 

Block Alphabet Cut File
https://www.teresacollinsstudio.com/products/block-alphabet?_pos=1&_sid=22193cb1f&_ss=r 

Fall Leaf Cut File
https://www.teresacollinsstudio.com/products/fall-leaf?_pos=1&_sid=7ee429143&_ss=r

OTHER PRODUCTS:

Seasonal sign from Hobby Lobby (back side)
https://www.hobbylobby.com/Christmas/Home-Decor-Pillows/Wall-Decor/To-All-A-Good-Night-Wood-Wall-Decor/p/80991728 

Prima Marketing Art Alchemy Spark Paint – Fairy Wings
https://www.primamarketinginc.com/product/art-alchemy-sparks-fairy-wings-50ml/ 

Prima Marketing Art Alchemy Spark Paint – Ginger Magic
https://www.primamarketinginc.com/product/art-alchemy-sparks-ginger-magic-50ml/ 

Prima Marketing Art Alchemy Spark Paint – Dragon’s Eye
https://www.primamarketinginc.com/product/art-alchemy-sparks-dragons-eye-50ml/ 

Tonic Studios Nuvo Crystal Drops – Autumn Red
https://www.tonic-studios.com/products/nuvo-crystal-drops-autumn-red-683n 

Self-Adhesive Wallpaper – Rustic Wood
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07KXMK1C7/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_search_asin_title?ie=UTF8&psc=1

Darice Embossing Folder – Fall Leaf Background
https://www.amazon.com/Darice-Embossing-Folder-X5-75-Background/dp/B009SU77V8 

Matboard

Cardstock in Orange, brown, and black