Nursery Update

The nursery is coming right along. In fact, I'd say it was darn near complete. There are only two things missing - the glider/ottoman and two frames that go above the crib.

At our baby shower, baby and I sort of made out like bandits! All of the darling gifts we received have been hung, set up or put in their place and boy am I ready - she just needs to cook and grow for a couple more months. Having the shower early was really great - I wanted to make sure my mom and step-mom could both be there and this was the best date - but it makes for a long 2.5 months remaining in my pregnancy! :-) Nesting is so fun!

The Nursery - Initials and Oval Dot border

Wow!  Time to clean the windows!  

I didn't like the font I used for the initials, so I peeled them off and re-applied them today, using a different font - the Stone Script cartridge.  I also applied a vinyl Dot border around the ovals to give them a little texture and depth. As a bonus, it disguised my imperfect ovals. 

This Cricut project requires the following materials:
• Cricut Expression, 12 x 24 cutting mat, spatula, Stone Script font cartridge, Plantin Schoolbook cartridge
• (1) 12 x 24 inch sheet hot pink vinyl

• (2) 12 x 14 inch sheets white vinyl
• (1) 12 x 24 sheet transfer tape 
• scissors
• masking tape

These are the settings for the Cricut:
• Blade depth set at 3
• Pressure set at Med
• Speed set at Med

** INITIALS **

STEP ONE - CUT

Press the PORTRAIT button. Using the Stone Script Cartridge, load your paper.  Select your initals, set at 12 1/4 inches. Press CUT

STEP TWO - RELEASE YOUR IMAGE

If desired, cut any extra off to save for other projects.  Peel the outline away from the initials and discard. 

STEP THREE - APPLY TRANSFER TAPE

Rub your transfer tape on, making sure to rub out any bubbles.

STEP FOUR - APPLY

Remove vinyl backing. Center and apply to wall.  I eyeball these things, but I don't recommend it!  Use a tape measure, pencil and masking tape to get the vinyl in the perfect spot.

Rub all bubbles gently out.  Peel away the transfer tape, rocking gently as you peel back.

** BORDER **
STEP ONE - CUT

Using the Plantin Schoolbook Cartridge, load your paper. I selected the CIRCLE image, set at 1 1/2" height. Press Auto Fill. Press CUT.

STEP TWO - APPLY

This pattern needed to be manually applied to the wall, one by one.  I simply peeled and applied each circle, making sure the edges touched.

The Nursery - Vinyl Wall Border

I am having my first baby girl after three boys and I am going crazy with the PINK!  Come along and see what I've done so far.  This was kind of a big Cricut project, but very simple and not too difficult.  I will post more pictures of the finished project later.  This is what I've accomplished in the last 4 days.  All the vinyl was cut and applied today. This instruction details the exact design and size I used for my border project.  Your size settings may be different if you use another design. 

This Cricut project requires the following materials:
• Cricut Expression, 12 x 24 cutting mat, spatula, font cartridge, other cartridge

• Approx. 55 linear feet white vinyl, or less if you can repeat a pattern on one sheet 

(I repeated my 16" L 3" H pattern [3] times on each 20" sheet of vinyl)

• (2) 12 x 24 sheets transfer tape

• scissors

• masking tape

These are the settings for the Cricut:

• Blade depth set at 3

• Pressure set at Med

• Speed set at Med

** BORDER **

STEP ONE - CUT

Using the Accent Essentials Cartridge, load your paper.  I used the BORDER image set at 3" height.  Press CUT.

When the first image is finished cutting, press Line Return, Repeat Last, and CUT again.

When the second image is finished cutting, you should have room for one more image.  Press Line Return, Repeat Last and CUT again.

** Note - this is the time to check the vinyl backing for cuts that go all the way through.  Apply masking tape (on the back) to any tears or cuts that go through the backing

STEP TWO - APPLY TRANSFER TAPE 

Remove the excess vinyl by peeling away from image, gently rocking back and forth and making sure not to pull the image up from the vinyl backing.

Apply transfer tape to the entire top of all three images.

STEP THREE - RELEASE IMAGES

Separate each image with your scissors.  You will have 3 identical images, complete with transfer tape.

** Note: I reuse my transfer tape over and over, so the next time, just cut the images out and then apply the similarly shaped transfer tape to that image.

STEP FOUR - APPLY TO WALL

You are ready to apply!  

Make sure you have a straight, level line to reference when applying vinyl to the wall.  My paint line was my reference, but you can apply masking tape to the wall for your reference.

Place the image on the leveled line and rub gently onto the wall, making sure to press out any bubbles. Remove transfer tape by gently rocking back and forth.  Save and reuse, or simply apply to your next image.

Here are a few BEFORE and AFTER pictures

** PHRASE AND INITALS **

I cut the initials out using Plantin Schoolbook Bold font.  The phrase above the closet was done using Plantin Schoolbook Tall Ball font.