I’m working on a Christmas Tree through Michaels. It’s so fun!! Of course I want to channel GOLD, but also white and grey. I think it’s going to be so pretty! I will be revealing the full tree on November 1st!!

And as part of this Holiday Tree – I thought it would be a challenge to recreate this Ballard Designs Christmas sign. I changed the colors to reflect my Christmas 2013 theme of Gold, White and Grey. This is such an easy project. And instead of $69 — I made mine for under $12!

Here’s how I made the Ballard Designs Knock-Off Holiday Sign:

1. I took a cheap shelf board and had the Lowes guys cut it to the right size.
2. Then I designed the art in my Silhouette Studio software to fit the size — 10 inches wide by 20 inches long.
3. I cut the vinyl with my Silhouette Cameo craft cutter.
4. Then transferred it onto transfer paper.
5. I painted the board matte white and then put the vinyl on the board, pressing the vinyl lettering securely onto the board.
6. Then I spray painted the board gold and let it dry.
7. I peeled the letters off, leaving white letters.
8. Then I sanded the edges and added some stain to the sanded areas.

SUPER fast and easy!! 

I can’t wait to show you the tree. And here’s a hint — there are more Ballard Designs Knock-offs on the tree too!!

SO fun!!

Be sure to follow along with the Michael’s tree challenge by following the #JustAddMichaels on twitter!! I can’t wait to show you the tree on Friday!! 

Have a Creative Day! 

xoxo

Thanks Michaels for the gift cards and tree for this challenge. All ideas and opinions are 100% mine.

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I love this time of the year!!

I am SO excited to decorate for Christmas.

So when Michael’s contacted me and asked if I might want to design a tree for their tree challenge, I thought it would be SO fun.

Michael’s sent me a pre-lit 6-foot tree and a gift card and I headed over to the store to see what I could find. They have three different collections that they put together for the 2012 holidays. My favorite was the Crystal Elegance Collection. I LOVE that they based some of the collection off of a trip the design staff took to London. They travel around the world to look at trends and colors and use what they find to make the new collections for each year. SO cool!!

My main focal point of the tree are these laser-cut wood frames that I found at Michaels. They are very light and inexpensive — and I thought they would be perfect picture ornaments for my tree. They also come in several different sizes

To make the photo ornaments, I took our family pictures and printed them out in black and white. Then I spray painted the frames. I cut out a piece of posterboard the same size as the frames and them taped the picture inside of the frame, with a piece of posterboard behind it to secure it. Then I placed the pictures throughout the tree. (printable from Poppy Seed Projects.) Thanks to my sister for the photos she took of us.

I also took a larger sized frame and spraypainted a piece of plywood with chalkboard paint. Then I put the chalkboard plywood behind the frame and attached it with ducktape. I looped some ribbon through the holes at the top of the frame and hung it on the wall with a Command Hook.

I also made some ornaments using coffee filters and some jewelry brooches from Michael’s jewelry aisle. A tutorial for those is coming up soon.

I put the tree in a crate that I found in the unfinished wood area, and then I stenciled and painted the crate and added wheels to the bottom. I love using this as an alternative to a tree skirt.

So now I have a cute tree for the season. And I love that I can look at it and see my family and some of the things we have done in 2012 together.

There are a few other bloggers who also took the tree challenge. I can’t wait to see ALL of the trees and the great ideas!! You can check ALL of the trees out on Michael’s Facebook page and they have a FUN Pinterest page set up for this challenge too – with tons of great tree decorating ideas. Hope over and be inspired for Holiday tree decorating!!

So fun!!

Happy Thanksgiving!!

xoxo

PS — I have a really exciting giveaway going on right now!!

Be sure to enter to win a Silhouette Portrait!!

It’s a BRAND NEW addition to the Silhouette family.

I’m so excited to be giving one of the first ones away — the giveaway ends on Friday.

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