Something to Read: Subway Art

My new borrowed family Christmas gift giving policy is: "Something you want, something you need, something to wear, something to read..."

If this saying came from your blog or you know where it came from, please tell me. I want to give credit and thank this person for helping me keep it very simple at Christmas. Anyway, on with the show.

Hubbers is getting this Subway Art as his "Something to read." I made it for his new office. (Hope we finish the office before Subway Art goes to the curb!)

There are a ton of Tutorials out there for this. Here is what I did...

Materials:
Canvas (mine was 1/2 off at Michael's but you can use an old piece from a yard sale or thrift store)
Acrylic paint for background (I purchased a 250 ML tube of black and did not even use 1/4 of it)
Mod Podge
Scrapbook Paper or Card stock (Higher quality paper= easier project)
Letter Cutting Machine such as a Cricut (Optional and very handy---You can also print your words on your computer. Just reverse the color so the letters print white)

Gather those Materials

Paint that canvas

I only used one coat and it looks fine, but you may find you need more depending on the quality of your paint or the condition of your canvas... or if you are that way.

Cut out those letters

I have seed a variety of sizes, fonts and color schemes. You will notice mine are all the same font. This is not because my husband really likes the George font from Cricut. It is because I was not willing to buy a new Cricut cartridge for this experimental gift. It turns out I rather like it! Lay those Puppies out.

Arrange the words. Make em fit, see what you love. VS (Not Victoria's Secret..Vital Step):

Take a picture so you don't forget where they were.

Glue baby, glue!
Go nuts with the Mod Podge. Brush it on the back of each letter. Stick those letters down. Go back and cover the whole canvas in a coat of Mod Podge.

At this point FEEL FREE TO FREAK OUT. I DID. It will look awful. It will dry clear and it won't be shiny anymore. See... Mine is almost dry.

The mod podge is still visible in this picture especially near the bottom. Be assured it will disappear when it is completely dry...

I did let it dry for two full days simply because I did not want to tun the risk of having anything stick to the wrapping paper. Overnight would likely do the trick!

Of course The project is done and wrapped and I never took a THE END picture.

Maybe when the office is finished and it is hanging on its new wall home...

Our Advent Calendar

Our Advent Calendar is made from a Red Dogwood branch and some old book pages. Each book page was rolled into a cone shape and decorated with a winter animal shape.







Each day we look inside the cone to find a prayer for the day or a family activity to prepare for Christmas.



Some of our favorites are:



~Sing Christmas songs by the tree

~Cocoa and a prayer

~Read the story of the birth of Jesus

~Make "firecrackers" to open on Christmas Eve (These contain special notes written by each family member)

~ Go for a drive and look at Christmas lights

~Go out of your way to do good deeds today

~Make a gift for your sibling

~Go to the pet store to hold the puppies

~Buy food for the food shelf

~Make a Birthday Banner for Jesus




This is the first year we have done such an involved Advent Calendar. I must say I am in love with the idea and I do plan to make it a tradition.



Having the kids help make it really gave them ownership.



I will admit that some of the tasks did not get completed. The timing was a little off. Next year, I will have to rig it so the more involved activities land on slow days here at the house!



I hope Advent helped prepare your heart and home for the coming of Jesus... Merry Christmas!