Counting Down

After completing the engagement magazine file, I decided to search for another gift idea.  Picking a venue and date is one of the biggest decisions in the wedding journey.  I wanted to create another craft gift to give on the day that the date was set.  It automatically made sense to me that a countdown gift would fit the occasion perfectly!  I searched online and came across Something Turquoise's blog post on wedding countdown blocks: http://somethingturquoise.com/2015/01/30/diy-wedding-countdown-blocks/

I replicated this project changing just some minor details.

I started by taking a trip to Jo-ann's Craft Store.  Unfortunately, I did not find the wooden blocks in the right sizes.  They did carry the cubes but not the longer piece for the bottom layers.  I visited AC Moore next and was able to find both the cubes and longer 10 inch pieces.  I knew the longer piece was a bit too long and would need to be cut down.  The cubes I purchased were 1.75 inches.  I bought 4 of these to have all the different number variations. I cut the 10 inch piece to 5.25 so that the second line would line up with the length of 3 cubes above it.  The last long cube for the bottom row was cut to 6 inches in length.  My husband and his miter saw came in handy for this part.

I decided to do a pink background with gold letters.  I purchased FolkArt #438 Ballet Pink paint.  I wanted gold glitter vinyl but did not want to wait to order online, so I decided to give scrapbook paper a try.  I began by painting the blocks:

While the blocks dried I worked in Cricut's Design Space creating the letters.  I decided to use Mensch, the same font that Something Turquoise mentioned on her blog. I wanted my letters and numbers to cover the majority of the block so I decided on 1.68 inches in height.  I also added his last name to give it a personal touch!
Here is an image of the project in Design Space:

Next, I cut the letters on gold glitter scrapbook cardstock and then decided to use the Xyron create-a-sticker maker.  I was able to put each of the numbers and letters into the device and then pull them out on a strip that made them adhesive.  This eliminated the mess of using a glue stick or any other type of adhesive.  This device really comes in handy when trying to make tiny pieces adhesive.

I then positioned the numbers and letters on the blocks.  I originally had planned to use Modge Podge to seal the letters onto the block however, they seem to adhere so well that I left it as is.  I gave this to her with 365 days left till her wedding date!

 

Of course I love the look of the heart and look forward to when the countdown looks like this: