Wednesday, March 23, 2011

Home State Art


In May of 2010, my husband and I moved from Georgia to the St. Louis area.
I grew up in Southeast Georgia and have never lived anywhere else. 
So this move was  traumatic for me.
Charlie and I moved to Atlanta in 2005.
THAT move was QUITE the adjustment.  
Charlie and I also got married on top of a mountain in Georgia almost one year ago.  
In short, I have a soft spot in my heart for the peach state. :) 
So, I decided to make something to signify that.  
I wish I'd come up with this idea all on my own, but I didn't.  
I saw some home state art on a blog (can't seem to find where, though).  
I did find an example on etsy.  
I also saw this blog post from Taylor Made, and was inspired.  
So, I decided to give it a shot.

Random side note:
Every time I go to Michael's I always scour the clearance section. 
I have found a lot of good deals in there! 
Yes, something maybe be slightly wrong, but the item will still work most times.  
Example:  these canvases.


A pack of two canvases for $1.50! Yes, one of them has a hole in it, but the other one was just fine! I figured I could use this for a project where I was going to attach something to the canvas.  Like the project I finished last night! So, here's how I fixed the hole.  

I totes just put a piece of tape on the back of the canvas. That was all! 


You can still tell on the front, but I'm going to cover it so no one will even know! 
Ok, well now you all know, but that's ok. :)

Just so you know, that's how I am in real life.  I'll start talking about one thing and randomly switch in the middle.  At least I give you guys warnings! 

End random side note.

I knew I wanted to go with the ever popular grey and yellow color combination. 
Now, I just had to figure out how to set it up and what to use.  
In Taylor Made's post, she uses the freezer paper method to pain the state on the onezie she made.  I thought about this, but then decided against it because I didn't know how I'd paint stripes (I was thinking chevron) and paint the state.  
Then I thought about painting the stripes and putting vinyl over them, but I only had ivory vinyl.  I didn't really want to have to go out and buy anything, because I usually don't think that far ahead and try to do projects after I get home from work. :) 

SO, I decided to use card stock! I had one light yellow piece.  So, I got to work.  
Taylor Made shows how to take a picture of the state, and with your silhouette machine, make into an outline.  I've had my machine since Christmas and had no idea it could do that! It was awesome! 

Ok, so here's a list of things I used for this project.  
-8x10 Canvas
-Black, White, and Silver acrylic paint
-foam paint brushes
-masking tape (there will be a note about this later) 
-Silhouette machine
-Ink pad
-yellow card stock
-grey card stock
-Mod Podge

First things first, I measured the canvas and put marks in one inch increments down the canvas.  Then, I taped the canvas to create grey and white stripes.  PLEASE DON'T USE CRAPPY TAPE! I did because I was trying to use what I had on hand.  
You'll see why in a moment. 


Ok, so here's the canvas all taped up. I didn't have any grey acrylic paint, so I mixed some up. 


Here's the canvas before I pulled off the tape. 


Here's the canvas after I pulled off the tape.  I was a little disappointed, but I figure the non-clean lines give it some character.  This could've been avoided if I'd used painter's tape.
Also, you can barely tell where there was a giant hole in the canvas! 
YAY! I let this dry overnight.

The next step was cutting out my state with my Silhouette machine. 
This is where things got a little ugly.

The only yellow card stock I had was Bazzill and it's textured on one side.  I didn't really want my state to be textured so I put it on my thick cutting mat textured side sticking (or not sticking as in this case) to the mat.  Well, I was a little concerned it was going to shift around so I used a little readjustable adhesive to attach it to the mat. Turns out that didn't even matter right then because my machine wouldn't cut anything.  It would slide to one side and say "cut was successful" grrrrrr... I was annoyed. I scrapped the saved file and started over and it FINALLY cut the shape.  

Yeah, it also shifted and didn't cut my last piece of yellow paper correctly. 

So, I'm freaking out thinking I have no more yellow paper and it's a lost cause.  I'm tearing through all my scrapbook paper violently searching for some yellow paper. I finally fine a solid piece from BasicGrey's Urban Prairie collection. YAY!  
So, I was afraid it was going to shift around again on the mat, but it didn't. YAY!


Here it is all cut out! 

I was going to put a heart over my home town, but decided to put "on my mind" on it instead. You know, like the Ray Charles song. :) 

Originally, I thought about writing or painting "on my mind" on the state, but I chickened out. I decided to cut it out with my Silhouette and used the "Georgia" font.

So, then I had to find a piece of grey paper. I had one REALLY light piece of grey paper. I knew it was too light, so I found my Tim Holtz Distress Ink. It was given to me by a friend (Thanks!) I used the end of my sponge paint brush to tap the letters on the pad. 


Once I had all the letters done. I attached them to the yellow paper. To do that, I podged the whole canvas and then attached the state and added another layer of mod podge.  Then, I placed the letters on the state and pressed lightly and covered with another layer of mod podge. 

Now, let it dry! 

My husband was SO not pleased with me last night.  We were supposed to watch the season 4 finale of BSG and this took me FOREVER and I had to go to bed shortly after. So, I still don't know who's a sylon! Goodness!

Here's the finished product!


I know it's not perfect, but I love it! 




I put it in my office at work. :) 

Whew! That was another long post! Hope you guys enjoyed! 
Oh! Something I wanted to mention to those that comment, please leave me your email in the comment form! I love each and every comment and respond to all of them, but I can't if I don't have your email address.  If you don't want to leave it, that's fine. I'd love to talk to you guys, though! 

Thanks for reading!

<3,
Marlie

P.S. How freaking cute is this cat?!?!!?
I'm linking up to these great parties!

26 comments:

  1. That's cute. I have some canvases. Gonna do some painting.

    ReplyDelete
  2. I just found your blog and am your newest follower. This is fabulous and SO EASY! I should make something like this for my mom who is from Alabama, but has lived in Utah since before I was born. Thanks for the inspiration and beautiful blog.

    ReplyDelete
  3. I love this. Georgia has been on my mind a lot lately too. I was born and raised just south of Atlanta and moved to Virginia in 1999. I've been seriously thinking of moving back after my youngest graduates from high school...next year. I may have to do something like this also.

    ReplyDelete
  4. I seriously love this idea! I'm bookmarking this and might just steal it! Thanks so much for commenting on my blog and I hope you get to come back and visit again soon!

    ReplyDelete
  5. Aw, I used to live in NC and I miss it so much! I might need to make one of these for my home... great project!

    ReplyDelete
  6. I am from Georgia! Orginally from Ilinois. What mountain were you married on?

    ReplyDelete
  7. I got married at the Bison View Lodge in Helen, GA. I think it was on Tray Mountain.

    ReplyDelete
  8. What a neat project. What a wonderful gift this would be for someone moving away!

    ReplyDelete
  9. Your kitty is super cute! And I'm GA girl and my husband talks about moving to another state sometimes and I just cringe. I love your state art! JenT

    ReplyDelete
  10. Love this! I am from Texas and moved several times and now in Arizona but texas is always on my mind and my heart. This is a have to do for me as well. thanks for the idea!
    ladeedacreations.com

    ReplyDelete
  11. What a fun idea! I might need to try this with California.

    ReplyDelete
  12. Love your artwork! I'm from FL but went to nursing school if ATL...we would climb Stone Mt. on sunny days! Love it!

    ReplyDelete
  13. oh so cute! Being slightly imperfect makes it all the better :) The colors are so chic too!

    Thanks so much for linking to "20 Below Thursday"! :)

    ReplyDelete
  14. This is so cute! I lived in Savannah for a short time, so I've got a soft spot in my heart for the Peach State as well.:) I live in NC now, and am totally and going to find a way to make it work for me!

    ReplyDelete
  15. I do love that state too, but this project has another meaning for us--Georgia was my mother-in-law's name. We lost her last year & this song always reminds us of her. I'd like to make something like this for those of us who miss her so much. Thanks for the inspiration. Great blog too!

    Warmly, Michelle

    ReplyDelete
  16. I love it! I too have a soft spot for Georgia and I'm going to have to figure out how to make one without a Silhouette because I'm so jealous of yours! Love it!

    ReplyDelete
  17. Thank you for linking this up to WHASSUP WEDNESDAY! So CREATIVE!


    Hope to see you next Wednesday:)

    xoxokara

    ReplyDelete
  18. What a cute idea!! Thanks for linking FLaunt it Friday! Come back soon! :)

    ReplyDelete
  19. I'm from NC but have spent many fun times in Georgia! I know you miss the Peach State but That awesome canvas has to put a smile on your face! And, for the record, I agree that the non clean lines add character! Thanks for sharing

    ReplyDelete
  20. Very neat idea! GUESS WHAT!!! You won my GIVEAWAY! I'll email you, too! Hugs! ♥

    ReplyDelete
  21. Very cute idea, I love how it turned out!

    ReplyDelete
  22. Very cute! I did one similar for my son's room (we live in SC!)

    SC State Artwork

    ReplyDelete
  23. How cute!! Thanks for auditioning for OMTWI! Be sure to put the button in your post or sidebar to be eligible!

    ReplyDelete
  24. that is so stinking cute! and perfect-georgia font, you're kidding!

    ReplyDelete