Guardian Angel Plaques

The graphics for both of these plaques can be found at the bottom of the page.

Materials:

• 2 Unfinished wood plaques 7" x 5" (or the size you want)
• All purpose Decoupage medium
• Wood stain
• Sponge or soft brush
• Sandpaper
• Scissors or paper cutter
• Color printer & paper
• Acrylic spray sealer
• Old newspapers to cover your work surface

Instructions
1. Prepare your wood surfaces by sanding them lightly and removing the dust. Apply the stain as per the instructions on the can. I chose a walnut color stain for mine. Let them dry completely.






2. Open the image you want to use in any graphics program or place into a word processing program and re-size it to the measurements you need for your project. Print them out on high quality paper. I usually give my printouts a light spray of an acrylic sealer or fixative so that the ink doesn't smear while brushing on the decoupage medium. Cut out the images with scissors or paper cutter.

3. Cover your work surface with newspaper or scrap paper to protect it. Apply a thin coating of the decoupage medium to the surface of the plaques where you want your prints to go. Place your prints down onto the wet medium and smooth out any wrinkles. Let this dry completely.

4. Apply one or two more coats of the decoupage medium over the entire surface letting each coat dry completely before adding the next. You can add texture to the last coating by sponging it on, swirling it with your finger or using a stiff brush. You can see in this picture that I have just started on the first coat.

5. (Optional) You can further protect your completed project by applying a light coat of a clear finish product,
either a spray or brush on will do. The last picture shows the completed plaques. The only thing left to do is add a sawtooth or other type hanger to the back of each plaque.

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"Right Click" on each of the images to save to your hard drive.

One Of A Kind Checkbook Cover

One of my favorite things to do with printables is a checkbook cover. These are quite simple and take very little time. You can design your own using photos or graphics of your choice. Check the Graphics For Your Projects page on the right for more information.

Materials:

• Clear Vinyl Check Book Cover (places to buy them can found in the Materials page)
• 1 sheet 8 ½ x11 Matte or Glossy Photo Paper (depends on your preferences)

1. Measure the open checkbook cover, then subtract 1/4" both width and height for final graphics dimensions. This makes it easier to insert and remove the paper from the cover and prevents buckling.

2. Open the image you want to use in any graphics program or place into a word processing program and re-size it to your checkbook measurements. You may have to crop (eliminate) some of the graphics around the edges to get the proper size. Make sure the focal image is at the bottom half (as shown) as this will be the front of your checkbook.

3. Print your final image onto your paper, making sure that the printer settings match the type of paper you are using. You want to use the "photo" setting to get the best possible print out. Let the image dry for a few minutes before going on to the next step.
4. Using a straight edge or ruler as a guide, cut the image out with an Exacto knife or rotary cutter. (I used a portable table top paper cutter) If you're a really careful cutter, go ahead and use scissors.

5. Insert the image (facing outwards) into your checkbook cover. The easiest way is to invert the fold of the cover then bend your image while sliding it into the inside vinyl slips. Keep pushing and wiggling until the paper is completely inside.


6. Fold the cover as you would use it and pinch to make a crease to hold the checkbook closed. I like to place the folded cover under a stack of books for a day or two for this. Double check that the image is facing the right way in the cover. It's easy to get it turned around. To check, hold the checkbook with the image facing you and open the checkbook. If the ledger tab is at the top as it should be then you're OK. If the ledger tab is at the bottom, then your picture is upside down. Simply remove the picture, turn it around and re-insert.

7. There! Now you have a One Of A Kind checkbook cover that you'll want to use all the time. Make several more with different images so that you'll have one to use everyday of the week and a few to give away.

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