Halloween Block Calendar

Hey! Pssst, over here! Yes, yes, it's me! Whew! It's kinda dusty in here isn't it? Cobwebs on the keyboard, stuff like that. Well, all in keeping with the Halloween theme, right? Again, a while since I've blogged. Arrgghh!

Anyway, thank goodness for obscure banking holidays. Yay for Columbus! Because of him, I had the day off yesterday and was able to . . . craft!

So, getting back out that trusty (and dusty) box of blocks and surfing various craft blogs here's what I did (thank you to How Does She website for the tutorial!). I decided to make mine a calendar block instead of a countdown like the tutorial shows.

First, I raided my stash for the proper size blocks. See, this is why I kept my sons chewed and drooled upon baby blocks instead of throwing them away, I knew they'd come in handy one day. Or sometimes you can find these at thrift stores or flea markets. Snag 'em! I'm telling ya! They are perfect for this! People might look at you funny and go "Ewww, someone else's kid had those in his/her mouth!" But bleach is your friend, and you know what a cute craft project it would turn into right?

Here's the scenario (you at the flea market):

"How much for those baby blocks?"

"$2.00"

"Um, how about 50 cents? They're kind of worn out."

"Sure, I never thought anyone would buy them, they're yours for 50 cents."
(snickers and points at you as you are walking away)

Then you go home and bleach off Junior's drool and all the other crafters will have craft envy over your score of wooden blocks!

So first, I sanded down the blocks a little then raided hubby's spray paint stash for a can of black and spray painted the blocks black:

After they dried (that's always the hard part for me, waiting for stuff to dry as I'm always anxious to go on to the next step). Anyway, after they were not quite dry I sanded the edges because I like stuff distress-y looking:

Then I cut three different designs of scrapbook paper to the sizes needed to cover each side of the small blocks and the front of the larger block. I inked all the edges of the paper squares black then modge podged them to the blocks:

Let dry . . . tap tap tap <---impatient fingers drumming on craft table.

Then I cut out the word "October" and the numbers for the blocks with my Cricut and adhered those to the blocks. On the first block you put the numbers 1, 2, 6, 0, 7, 8 and on the second block the numbers 1, 4, 3, 5, 2, 0.  I just followed instructions there that some other crafter had already figured out. If I had to sit and figure out the numbers I probably would still be at my craft table . . . buy hey, at least everything would be dry, right?  BTW, the 6 doubles as the 9 (flip it over).

Anyway, then I coated everything with modge podge, I love MoPo!

Let dry . . . pop, pop, pop <----entertaining self making fish noises with cheeks and lips.

Then I put it together and tied it with a spooky ribbon:

Isn't it adorable? I like it so much I think I'm going to do one for November with Thanksgiving papers!

Linked to these parties: All Thingz Related, Favorite Things Friday, Funky Junk Sat Nite Special, A Vison to Remember. Polish the Stars Halloween Link Party, While He Was Napping, I Heart Naptime