Trick or Treat Block Tutorial

Hi Friends!

It’s Kerrie from WOOD Creations! Not only am I a designer at WOOD Creations, I also have this little blog “Simple Treasures” that I will demonstrate simple techniques along with fun crafts we might have out in the store!

I'm here today to do a tutorial on our "Trick or Treat" word blocks we have at the store! I picked the "Trick or Treat" blocks so I would be able to show you a few different techniques! I have been getting LOTS of requests from customers who wanted to see if I could demonstrate how to chalk, tricks with applying paper so the paper doesn't bubble and also applying vinyl! So I thought I would hit three birds with one stone today! :)

Our “Trick or Treat” blocks have been a huge hit this season! I’m so excited! They are very simple to do and they also turn out so stinking cute! They are easy for crafters at any stage! I have also put instructions on the “Craft Tips” page on our WOOD Creations blog if you ever have any questions after this post. All you need to do is click on the “Craft Tips” button at the top of the blog and I have step by steps instructions with pictures!

The very first thing you want to do is take a piece of sand paper and lightly go over the edges to make sure they are all smooth. Then trace your wood onto your paper. I turn my paper over so the side I want on the front is facing down. You will also want the front of your project facing down as well! Then you just take a pencil and trace the around the wood onto the paper.The next step is to paint all the edges and back Black. I also paint the very edge on the front as well. That way if your paper doesn’t go all the way to the edge, the raw wood isn’t showing. You don’t need to paint the whole front because we will be putting paper on the front. Remember we sale all the paint, paper, chalk, glitter, ribbon and everything you will need to finish your project at WOOD Creations.After I have painted everything, I cut my paper out. That gives the paint some time to dry.

Once everything is dry and cut out, it’s now time to apply the paper onto the wood! I know a lot of you get scared with this part! I promise…. It does get easier and easier with practice! There are just a few little tricks to not making your paper bubble. You want to make sure that all of your wood has Mod Podge applied to it. If there is a spot on your wood that you have missed and is dry, that will make it bubble. Once I have applied the Mod Podge and made sure everywhere has been applied to, I take my brush over it and get all the clumps so it’s smooth. Another reason for you paper to bubble would be if there are clumps of Mod Podge on your wood when you apply your paper.Once I have done these two steps, I put my paper on and run a plastic scraper all across it. If you don’t have one, you can also use a credit card or a plastic Pampered Chef Scraper also works great! After I have run my scraper all across the paper, I then run my fingers across everything and make sure there are no lumps in the paper and I’ve gotten everything smooth. This helps to know that the clumps are out so the paper doesn’t bubble. If I have paper hanging over the edge a little bit you can get some sand paper or a nail file and just scrape the edge a little bit to get the paper to the edge. If you push too hard, you might need to touch up the paint on the sides. After I have done all these steps, I let it sit for about 10 minutes to insure that the Mod Podge is dry under the paper. If the paper isn't dry and you apply a top coat, this is will make the paper bubble!This is where you can apply your chalking. (We also sell this at WOOD Creations) I put my chalking on before I put my top coat of Mod Podge because it shows up a little darker. If you happen to forget, you can still apply it on top of the Mod Podge once it’s dry. To apply the chalk all you do is rub it along the edge of the wood. It’s actually like a stamp pad and not actual chalk. You can add as much or as little as you want! You really can’t go wrong with the “Chalking”! I LOVE it! I honestly don’t know what we did before chalking? Stippling?? Ha! Ha! That seems so “Old School” now! The chalk kind of gives it a little character and can also make it look a little antiqued as well! It just gives your projects a little something, something that adds that finishing touch!Once you have your chalk all around the edges, you can now apply your vinyl! Applying vinyl is also really easy! All you need to do is pull back the clear side of the transfer tape. If the vinyl sticks to the paper side, just go back a little bit and push the sticky taped side with your finger and it should pull back with it. This is another one of those things that practice makes perfect! Once you’ve got your vinyl onto the sticky side of the transfer tape, get your wood and put it in front of you. I hold my vinyl up just off the paper to help make sure it’s going on straight. You will want to be very careful not to get the vinyl too close to the paper because it will stick to it and probably won’t come off! Once it’s straight, I lay the tape onto the wood and then get my scraper again that I used to apply the paper and scrape the top of the transfer tape all over. Then I start at the top left side and start to pull the transfer tape back. You will want to go a little slow to assure that the vinyl doesn’t come off with it. If it happens to pull back with it, just take your scraper and go over it again. You can even use your finger. I apply my vinyl before I apply the top coat of Mod Podge so it seals it. If you happen to forget and put a top coat of Mod Podge on before you apply your vinyl, that’s okay too. You can still apply your vinyl on top. You will just want to make sure your Mod Podge is TOTALLY dry or it will make the vinyl not stick.Once you have your chalking and vinyl done, you can now apply a top coat of Mod Podge! I put a top coat on top of my paper so it seals it to the wood! You don’t have to do this step if you don’t want. I have also found that it makes it A LOT easier to dust and also gives it a finished look!While you are letting your Mod Podge dry, you can tie a little bow around the witch’s hat. I put a little dab of hot glue under the bow to ensure that it won’t slip off. Then once everything is dry I hot glue the hat onto the wood so it will stay. You don’t have to have the witch’s hat! I just thought it added a cute little addition to the project! We also sell the Witch Hats at WOOD Creations!

Ok crafters, here is the fun part! If you leave a comment on this post, you will be entered to win a $20 Gift Certificate to WOOD Creations! Make sure you also leave a comment on my Tutorial Post on WOOD Creations Blog as well to be entered to win ANOTHER $20 Gift Certificate to WOOD Creations! That's TWO Chancees to Win!!

I will have different posts on there that will hopefully help you with all your questions on how to finish your project. My email is also available on there, in case you have any question that I may have not answered! I will have another tutorial soon on one of our Thanksgiving Projects that are coming out VERY SOON! Watch our Facebook Page to know when that will be! If you haven’t “Liked” us on Facebook, make sure to do so! We have great giveaways and specials ALL the time! We LOVE our Customers and want to give back to you for being so supportive and wonderful! We wouldn’t be where we are today without all of you! So THANK YOU!

P.S. We are also on Pinterest!! YAY!! :)

Kerrie :)