Alphabet Sunday - Around the Block

Experimenting

Experimenting with a new medium can be exciting, and at the same time frustrating. I've been re-creating my paper alphabet blocks on wood. The wood blocks were sanded and sealed with polyurethane. Alphabet letters were drawn with a Sharpie marker or outlined with Ziller (acrylic) ink and painted with acrylic craft paints for wood by Plaid.  This part of the experiment went well.

Now another hold my breath part, sealing the painted letters. The instructions on the paint box said the paints didn't need to be sealed as the paints wouldn't chip or crack. However, while working on the blocks, a bit of paint ran where I didn't want it. I used a dampened paper towel to gently remove the offending blot. Horror as the painted background on the block square flaked revealing the wood beneath. Obviously, the paints would need to be sealed.

Even though the paints are acrylic would the paints bleed when the polyurethane was applied? I tested on the bottom of one of the blocks. So far, it looks good.

I also thought I'd like to decoupage a picture of myself sitting on illuminated initial blocks. I created this image in Paint Shop Pro and use it as my avatar.  I printed the image on photo paper. I spread a thin coat of Modge Podge Decoupage sealer over the image. Was shocked when the image streaked!  Now what? I tried again this time using the polyurethane. No streaks!

What are you working on? Are your experiments turning out the way you expect?

Letters Revisited

Last year, I participated in the Letter a Week in 2010 project. I glued the 2 3/4" squares into blocks. Nice, but not great for playing with. Ink decided the shoe box they were stored in was a comfy place to rest so some of the blocks are now crushed.  I'm revisiting the project to make the blocks more durable so they can be used for display or played with, and their storage box will provide a cushy place for Ink to sit, if he so desires.

Have you ever revisited a project you thought was complete?

The Friday Five

Five blocks. Five letter words:

1. bride

2. glues

3. value

4. hovel

5. coves

Can you make any other five letter words with these letters?

The Gremlins Are At It Again

The gremlins found the fifth block. Always fun to see what they come up with.

Four Letter Words

The word is "ragu". Are the gremlins hungry? Are they hinting for me to make home-made gravy? (What non-Italians would call spaghetti sauce?)

Four Letter Words

We have gremlins in the house. Usually, they are fond of taking something and hiding it. I know where I left the item, but it is never there. They giggle as I go on a wild goose chase looking for the item. When my back is turned, they return the item to the very spot where I left it.

This time, the gremlins are amusing themselves making four letter words with the blocks I'm constructing as part of the Letter A Week in 2010 project.

I've seen boar, boat and this week boot.

Do you have gremlins in your house?

A Letter A Week Project

I wasn't sure what I wanted to do with the letters or how to display them. I thought a wall hanging like a quilt would be cool. It would cost a fortune to frame and,  of course, I wouldn't have room to display it in the dollhouse. Making a book came to mind, but there were so many design decisions to make. How big, what kind of paper, what kind of binding? Made my head spin. I wanted something fun, but simple. Light bulb! Blocks! Then all the sanding and sealing the wood. Not to mention the cost. Fun, simple, but inexpensive, with materials I already have laying around.

So, I made the block out of a sheet of drawing paper. Outside lines are cut. Inside lines are scored. The box is then folded up and glued with Yes! Paste. The finished letters are then glued to the box faces. Ta Da! A block.

Have you started a project with one direction in mind, and then ended up with something very different?