basic vinyl Tutorial

If you are not familiar with the application of vinyl, it can seem kind of tricky. I have put together a quick & simple tutorial of the basic vinyl sign we offer (with an overlay)!

Behind the Scenes

Once I have designed your order on my software, I then hook the machine up to the computer and let the cutting begin.

After which I detach your vinyl phrase and begin the WEEDING process (the fancier the font, the more complicated this step becomes). This is where I remove all excess vinyl from your cut out phrase.


I then place the saying onto APPLICATION TAPE (which is a fancy way of saying over sized masking tape), cut excess tape, and rub!

Passed off to You

This is most likely the way your vinyl looks when you receive your order. From here you would need to re-rub over all the letters (especially the dots of 'i's and any small punctuation). Then, starting from a corner and pulling in a diagonal, you would slowly remove the application tape. You WANT the vinyl letters to come up with the tape.


Next, you need to gently place your vinyl onto it's hard surface (if placing on a wall make sure to have points marked out before). *HINT* Only place down the corners of tape only (no letters behind it) while you figure out your centering. Once centered and straight, rub over the letters again (once again giving all dots an extra rub)!


Finally, pulling in a diagonal, slowly remove the application tape and you are FINISHED! YEAH!

~To do an 'over-lay': Repeat the above process; only this time centering it in accordance with first phrase placed.

Thank You, Thank You, Thank You!

Dear Bidders,

Thank you so very much for your support! This was lots of fun for Cottage Quotes & we are happy to announce our winner:

Niki Wells

She came in with a winning bid of $42! Wonderful! Again, we appreciate all of your support. For those of you who are still interested in luminarias to honor those who have fought the fight of cancer- please email me. cottagequotes@yahoo.com They are $10 per luminaria. We can send them to you to decorate, or we would be happy to do the decorating for you. Thanks again everyone!

ps. Niki- please email me at cottagequotes@yahoo.com to claim your PRIZES!!!!! thanks!

Save the Mama's in May

May's giveaway is going to be different.

better. inspiring. charitable.

This month Cottage Quotes needs your help. We're asking you to help us Save the Mama's (in honor of Mother's Day).
Did you know that 1 in 3 women in the United States will develop cancer in her lifetime? (the leading sites are breast, lung, colon, and rectum). Check HERE and HERE for more info & stats
I have joined a Relay for Life team. Read more about my involvement HERE. I believe in the cause & now I need your help! This month we are turning our 'giveaway' into an AUCTION! Cottage Quotes is helping you with your Mother's Day needs, while you help mamas fight cancer. We are auctioning off 2 (no larger than 18 x 18) vinyl orders! And to help get those creative juices flowing, I have designed a few ideas on the computer.
Any of the below could be placed on a large tile, glass plate, picture frame, old glass window, cooking sheet, or even directly on the wall:

Name Game

Describe your mother with attributes you love about her. By displaying them in vinyl, she will be reminded everyday just how special she is!

Family Food Favorites

Every mom has at least one famous dish! Give your mama the credit by displaying her recipe proudly with vinyl...also making it easier for it to be used more often...everybody wins ;)!

Mama Monograms

(not to be confused with mammograms)

Let your mom's initials say it all with an elegant font. Pick a touching quote to lay over top!

The ideas, colors, fonts are endless! Vinyl is a perfect way to personalize your Mother's Day gift. And let's not forget about Grandmas, Sisters, Aunts, Cousins, Girlfriends....we're all mamas! So please help us Save the Mamas! Here's how it works:

We'll start the bidding at $5! Leave a comment with your bidding amount. For those without google accounts- email me and I will leave the comment and post it! Remember 100% of proceeds will go to the American Cancer Society. The winning amount will also get Luminarias in donations of ten dollars (for example, $20 bid gets 2 18x18 vinyl orders & 2 luminarias). What's a Luminaria? Read about it HERE! Please please Please spread the word! We will end the auction on Tuesday night! Highest bid WINS!

Let the bidding BEGIN!

do I hear $5?

April Winner!

And the winner of the mini-board is....

Michelle S.

from Smitty n' Chelle

Congrats! Email me your address so I can send your prize on it's way!

Thanks for the entries- continue to check out the site.

April Showers brings GIVEAWAYS!

Happy April GIVEAWAY! I am cuddled up with my little one, under a warm cozy blanket on the second day of April. Does Mother Nature have a sense of humor or what? However, the plus side of this bitterly cold weather is that I've stayed indoors and finished some projects! Which brings me to this month's giveaway:

I have loved having this very classy version of a white board to keep me organized. I am loving it so much that I made a 'mini' version for the giveaway! If you are like me, than you often lay in bed thinking of all of your 'to-do's' that you need to add to your list. I hate this nightly ritual. By the time my brain remembers all of the things I need to do the next day, I am so warm and comfy in my big bed that I refuse to crawl out into the cold to write them down! This mini glass board is the answer to our problems. Just keep it (and a dry-erase marker) by your bed & you will be more productive than ever! However, I must admit I was also tempted to cut 'love notes' in vinyl with the plan of leaving it on my husband's side of the bed. That way I could write him sweet nothings every night.....it's the thought that counts, right?
Rule: For a chance to win the mini board leave me a comment or email me at cottagequotes@yahoo.com and consider yourself entered! Even if you have won in the past, feel free to enter again :)!



P.S. Cottage Quotes needs your help! If you have any pictures of finished vinyl projects where we have supplied the vinyl would you please email them to me. We would LOVE to post the talents of our customers!

Directions for Glass dry-erase Board

*I found my picture frame (11x15) at Wal*Mart, of course! I also scored the fabric there as well. I bought 1/2 yard, which was plenty! Try to choose a fabric that has a soft,light pattern so your list won't be hard to read.
*There are two ways to apply the fabric:

-I chose to hot glue the fabric to the matt that came with the frame. I then placed blank white sheets of computer paper between the matt and fabric so the outline of the matt wouldn't be visible. Replace matt and put backing on...wa-la!

-For the smaller board I hot glued fabric directly on the backing. I then placed it on my sewing matt and used an exact-o knife to cut excess off! wa-la!

-treat as a dry-erase board; using dry cloth to wipe!

PPS. GIVEAWAY ENDS TUESDAY!

the LUCKY winner is...

Lindsey S.

We're excited to see just what you come up with!

When it comes to my children, I tend to be a pushover. So when Bostyn said, "Let's draw another name to win!" I had to comply! Surprise, winner #2 is:

Rosanne H.

Email me at cottagequotes@yahoo.com with your order (and any questions). We can't wait to post pics of your lovely doors.

And for those who didn't win this time, hang in there. You never know what Bostyn will talk me into.

Also, thank you to Cottage Quotes kind friends who really helped spread the word! We heart you!

Keep coming back for more giveaways, bloggy business spotlights, tutorials, and endless fun!

happy march to all.

try your LUCK in our March Giveaway

leave a comment and you maybe the LUCKY winner of a

DOOR PRIZE

We love the welcoming look of vinyl on front DOORS (or any door)! So we want to spread the warmth! Here is the LUCKY part: you get to decide your phrase, your vinyl color, & your font! the only catch: the area size of your order must be within 24 inches wide x 7.5 inches tall. 'WELCOME' is one of our most common requests. However, don't hold back. Be Creative. Be Wordy. Be Yourself. for those of you who claim to be 'craft-challenged' (although I do not believe that person exists), I thought of a few quote suggestions:

Our home is a sanctuary where...

God's Spirit can dwell, the storm stops at the door, Love reigns and Peace dwells

(Thanks to my mom who found this quote by President Monson. We have paraphrased the exact quote. I LOVE THIS. I immediately cut it and placed it above our window with some fancy swirls next to it. I think it would be perfect for a front door; ours is just too ugly)

Welcome

happy is the home that shelters a friend

Peace, Love, and Joy

TO ALL WHO ENTER HERE

BIENVENIDOS

This Home Established in 1996

Welcome

SIT, STAY A WHILE

don't keep it to your front door, think of the other doors within your home:

(kitchen)

Gather Round

The Gathering Place

Delighted

you're here

Country Kitchen

Pantry

(laundry room/bathrooms)

Self-Serve Laundry

open 24 hours

drop your drawers here

The Laundry Room

loads of fun

You're never fully dressed until you

WEAR A SMILE

Beauty

is a light in the heart

little girl's room

Powder Room

(bedrooms)

Dream

Together

is our favorite place to be

do not disturb

the PRINCESS sleeps here

Girl's ROOM

(I would love to do this and glue two huge gerber daisies for the 'o's)

Let him sleep...for when he wakes he will

MOVE MOUNTAINS

B is for BABY

I hope this long list helps! We are so exciting to see just what you come up with. All we ask is that the winner emails us a picture of their new door creation! Feel free to give this away as a gift to someone else, as well; just don't forget the picture.

We so appreciate every one's support. remember to spread the word. Also, Cottage Quotes would love to be added to your sidebar. 2009 will be full of updates that you will not want to miss! good LUCK to all.

.the contest ends thursday.