A few months ago I found this AMAZING idea when I was wandering through my favorite blog Design Dazzle... it lead me to another great blog called The Pleaded Poppy and it is an idea so many moms and dads loved that I wanted to post as many pictures of different ones that i could find because I had to go to so many websites to see every ones design... I will attempt this and post mine as well I am just not sure if I will do paper or fabric... still trying to make up my mind.... here is the instructions so you too can make it.
(Please note these instructions are from the pleaded poppy blog... check who i am following to see her blog and AMAZING wonderful ideas and little poppy's that she makes and sells...http://lindseycheney.blogspot.com/2009/09/family-rules-canvas.html Nicole is her friend who wrote out the instructions... I have fallen in love with this so I wanted to post it but want to make sure credit goes where credit is due! )
1. get a huge canvas. nicole's was 30" x 40". mine is a little smaller, but not much. get it on sale please. Paint the canvas (you see the paint on the border and on the sides). its best if the canvas is wrapped all around the edges rather than the exposed wood. just paint it sloppily - no need to be perfect, just make sure all the edges are covered.
2. Spend a whole lot of time at the paper store picking out paper you cannot resist. nicole felt some of her papers, although she loves them, were maybe a bit to dark or had too much contrast in them for the final writing to come out really clear. so remember: less contrast, not too dark. got it?
3. Write your rules. Be careful of what you put. My kids often refer to the canvas. My favorite is…”Daddy, hug mommy”. A rule is a rule, ya know? I should have put HUSBAND- MASSAGE YOUR WIFE’S BACK DAILY. check out the links above to the blogs. they also have a few suggestions for rules. i think i will steal most of mine, but add in things like, "tummy to the table".
4. Now, cut that beautiful paper into strips. I varied the widths, used “torn” scissors, scalloped scissors, and so on. Use glue, mod podge, or spray adhesive to lay it out on the canvas. i would definitely recommend mod podge the most on this.
5. I then went on to the computer and typed all the rules in different fonts. I am a font junky thanks to lindsey’s sister, Jennifer, showing us how to download free fonts. Do it…get hooked! It is easy and wonderful! just google "free fonts" and you'll get more than you'll ever need.
6. I printed them and “eyed” or copied them onto my papers with black and white paint pens.
and here's where all the questions come in: "the canvas is obviously wider than standard 12 x 12 paper. how did she fit this in the printer/get the words on?" she cut her paper in half - it's not actually one long strip. you can kind of see it in the pic below where it says "forgiveness is mandatory". maybe she taped them together in the middle? i've done that a bunch, and if you are really careful it will work and you can still carefully take the tape off when you're done. just make sure to change the settings on your computer for your page layout before you print to allow for a larger paper size. when she says she "eyed" them, she did just that. she'd print out the rule in a font she wanted on plain paper, then look at it and copy it with a paint pen directly onto her fancy paper. most of us can't do that. she's just good. but i would still print it on one long strip of paper and go over it again with a paint pen just to thicken up the font's lines. just a thought - i think that's what she did.
***edited to add!!!: do a layer of mod podge on your canvas, add paper, smooth out, then let dry. then add another layer of mod podge on top to seal. let dry, then add another. it will still probably be a little bubbly.****
7. Cover that baby in mod podge and make your man hang it! do a couple few layers of mod podge. did you know there are different sheens of mod podge? i think nicole prefers matte, but there are also ones with more gloss to them.
in case you couldn't read all her rules, here they are:
ALWAYS TELL THE TRUTH
HAVE FUN, BE KIND, ASK FIRST, NO FUSSING, NO WHINING
BE CREATIVE AT ALL TIMES
ENCOURAGE YOUR SIBLINGS...SHARE IN THEIR JOY
HUSBAND-HUG YOUR WIFE DAILY & WIFE- ALWAYS BE ON HIS SIDE
OBEY YOUR PARENTS
NEVER LEAVE ANGRY
SING SILLY, DANCE CRAZY, HUG OFTEN, SNUGGLE OFTEN, SAY I LOVE YOU
KEEP YOUR PROMISES
USE YOUR MANNERS- YES, PLEASE...NO, THANK YOU
ALWAYS GIVE TO OTHERS FIRST
TOO MUCH TV IS BAD...TOO MUCH READING IS GOOD
USE NICE WORDS...IGNORE DIRTY WORDS
BLESS YOUR FOOD, BE GRATEFUL, EAT TOGETHER, CLEAN UP AFTER YOURSELF
SHARE EVERYTHING EXCEPT BAD IDEAS
SAY YOUR PRAYERS...THANK GOD FOR THIS FAMILY
These instructions are for paper... and I will post for fabric... I am trying to find a good way to do the letters... I am a little hesitant to free hand as when I get tired I get sloppy... I have slowly been writting down my "family rules" and I have alot of the same as above but I know I want
** Always compliment the Cook...
Mainly because it wasn't until I was an adult and realized how important it is to say something nice for something that is done all the time.... and saying thankyou for cleaning the toilets I just don't think I want hanging in the kitchen....
So I will keep you posted and please if you like this idea, and have one of your own I would love to see it... post a link!!!
Check out the Pleaded Poppy... and her talents and ideas at:
http://lindseycheney.blogspot.com/2009/09/family-rules-canvas.html
Images are from her!
love this idea!! - Angie B.
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