The Changing Room: Back to school-Cool!

Hi Champs.
I don't have much to write tonight except that I am so excited for school to start tomorrow! I just reread my last blog post and stared in disbelief that I actually was sad that summer was ending. At the risk of sounding more bi-polar than I already am, I cannot wait!!

The temperature just conveniently dropped tonight to welcome in the school year. How beautiful is that?

My garage is full of untapped potential- (read: dirty windows, cast off furniture and rustic barn boards for sign making).

My teenage girls are precious but are getting on my one last nerve, and I need my ME time!

For those and many other very important reasons, I am ready to fall into fall. I am jumping in with arms wide open and can't wait to be productive again. As I type this from my home office, I can hear a not- so- distant neighbor shooting off fireworks. I'm guessing it's another Mom celebrating this milestone with me!

Hip Hip Hooray!!

Quick little tutorial before I head off to make my overzealous to-do list for the week:

I bought this small metal hanging sign from Hobby Lobby last week in order to make a custom sign for a friend/client. She had me customize it with a phrase for her in-laws porch, but I wanted something neutral to be able to sell it in my booth.
(Picture it without the faint writing on it..oops-didn't get an official 'before'.)

I selected a font on my laptop that seemed free-handed, and printed out the phrase "Drop Shoes Here."

I used carbon paper to copy the wording onto the metal sign by tracing the lettering with a pen. (Carbon side down)

What is left is the outline of the carbon that I had traced.
I took a white paint pen/marker and filled in the lettering with white.

I thought I wanted a little more definition and wanted to tie the dark border in somehow so I traced around the white paint with a black paint marker.

Super easy and so fun to do.
It's at Not So Shabby, unless it sold this week. Kind of a quirky, fun way to ask guests or kids to take off their shoes upon entry without sounding too bossy or rude.

I bought this wooden plaque at Hobby Lobby as well and will do the same on this board with darker lettering.

You can see a little design on the wood. I first painted it all dark cream (it came unfinished or primed)-and added this stencil pattern (below) by rolling over the entire thing with a softer lighter white.