Keeping Track of Who's Going Where & When

Decor Elements is a line of vinyl clings for home decorating that SU! debuted a few years ago. In the current Occasions Mini, there is a set called Days of the Week that sells for $29.95. They have a chalkboard surface for making note of things on the schedule for that day, and I think it is the perfect solution for keeping straight who's going where when--especially if you have multiple children!

The clings are self-adhesive and they can be applied to any surface, especially walls, and removed later without leaving behind residue or damaging the paint job. They come sandwiched between two layers of paper that peel away, one to reveal the adhesive, and the other that comes off after you've rubbed the image to stick it to the surface of your choice.

Each of the Days of the Week Decor Elements is 9" square. I chose to mount mine on foamboard, which you can procure at any big box hobby store. It does NOT come with the vinyl clings.

Here's what I did. I trimmed the paper layers so that I had a good reference point for where the cling starts. Then I rubbed it while it was still between the layers to remove any air pockets. There's a tool that SU! sells to help with this process and to use while applying the clings. (It looks a lot like the scraper a certain in-home cookwares company sells.)

Then I peeled off the backing and applied it to the foamboard, using said tool to make sure it was smoothed down and well stuck.



I used a straight edge and an Exacto knife with a self-healing mat underneath to cut the squares. If you aren't familiar with a self-healing mat, it is a piece of heavy duty plastic that's sold at fabric stores and used by quilters to cut squares. Somehow it doesn't scar when you cut on it, and it doesn't allow the blade you're using to go through it and mar the dining room tabletop. (That would make my husband VERY mad.)

I am so tickled with the result. Note that while they look like they are attached to each other in this picture, each day of the week is its own cling. Now I just have to figure out where I'm going to hang it in my house, and get some chalk markers so that we can all know who has to be where when. The picture in the catalog shows each day mounted on a board and leaned against a wire basket filled with whatever items need to go with each child to his/her activity. I think this is genius!

If you don't have that many people to keep track of, I still think this set has lots of possibilities. I'm going to use mine to post a daily list of things I'm thankful for, and I will invite the other members of my family to do so as well. You could post a favorite Bible verse or use it as a rotating giant scrapbook, marking vacations, birthdays, and other special events with pictures and journalling. I know it's going to be a great conversation piece in our house.

If you'd like to order this, you may do so via my online store or by leaving me a comment and I'll contact you.

Season of Thanks

Autumn is my favorite season. I love the colors of the leaves, and the crispness of the air. The fragrance of wood burning in fireplaces is a scent I wish Yankee Candle would make...it's all good. Because I loathe the over commercialization of Christmas, Thanksgiving is my favorite holiday. There's not much that can be done to distort being thankful, and I like that.

I bet you're wondering what this picture is of. It's a Decor Element. What's that, you ask? Well, it's something I haven't talked much here (although SU! added them to its line earlier in the year), mostly because I didn't know how to describe it. I wanted to show it to you. And I was waiting for this design to debut in order to do that. This is what a Decor Element is: a vinyl, self-adhesive design that can be added to your household to bring style to your walls, windows, and mirrors--pretty much any flat surface will receive them. It looks pretty boring as is, but it's FAR from it. Let me show you just one of the gazillion things you can do with it.

What do you think? I love this! The shadow box was purchased at Hobby Lobby. I removed the protective backing from the vinyl design, applied it to the glass, rubbed over the lettering to transfer it. Then I added some Autumn Vine DSP and fake leaves, and created something beautiful for my walls.

Would you like to make this for your home, or as a gift for someone you are thankful for? I'm going to host a class at my house, and I'd be willing to mail all the elements to anyone who'd like to make this but who doesn't live in my neck of the woods.

The Decor Element will be available beginning Oct. 1, and the cost is $14.95, plus taxes and shipping & handling. If you aren't inspired by this project, but have other designs for this Decor Element, know that it is temporary. It can be removed from anything you apply it to without damaging the surface. It just can't be reapplied. With this in mind, wouldn't this make a great greeting for a front window or glass door? Other designs will be available that celebrate the holidays.

Please leave a comment if you'd like to order one or want more information.