And my 2019 One Word is

I know, it is about six months late, but there is a reason for that.

In case you don’t know, One Word or Word of the Year is a concept where one chooses a word on which to focus or inspire throughout the year. It kind of replaces the New Year’s resolution. I put my word on a sign and hang it on the steps that lead to the studio where I will see it every day (at least on the days I am home.)

I actually chose my word earlier in the year, but am just now getting my sign made. If you have been following our retirement blog, you know we were on the road the first three months of the year, home in April to host for Quilt Week and on the road again for three weeks in May. Handy Randy (aka Captain) says there is not enough room in our little RV for the craft supplies I might need, (actually there could be enough room if we removed the wine cellar, but we won’t go there) so the sign had to wait.

I chose “fearless” as my word for 2019 because, well I am going to die. Yep, no way out of it. I don’t know when or how, but I am certain this body will die. While it is a non-negotiable fact, I do have some control as how to live until that appointed time.

I can make myself comfortable in our little bungalow, waiting for a cancer diagnosis or heart attack. With Google, I can research what could be a devastating symptom. I could put my doctor’s phone number on quick dial just in case Google isn’t conclusive. I could insist we move into a one level house to avoid the risk of falling down the stairs (or more likely, have a heart attack climbing up the stairs.) I could avoid making left turns when driving. Regardless of all the precautions I could take, it doesn’t change the fact; I am going to die.

So, do I want to spend so much of my allotted time obsessing over dying that I forget to live? Nah, I don’t think so. I want this “fearless” sign to remind me to go on an adventure, hike a mountain trail, push Handy Randy around on the tandem, dig in the garden and be free from fear and worry.

“Can any of you live a bit longer by worrying about it?” Matt.6:27

Now, what to do with all these signs from years past? 

Recycle? Maybe. Or perhaps I should hang them on the back fence to create a little curiosity conversation piece. 

This is what I use to make the signs:

Scrap wood

Silhouette Cameo

Dollar Store contact paper for stencil

Craft Paint

  

The other shop door

makes it clear as to whom the shop belongs.

Using pieces of the left over pickets from the plant deck Handy Randy built last summer, I created these signs for the side door of his shop.

I used the Paint and Peel method for this sign. I don’t have photos of the process but it is pretty simple.

Most often I use whatever paint I have on hand for making signs; it may be latex, craft paint, acrylic, chalk, indoor or outdoor. If I want to preserve it for a while, I will give it a couple coats of polyurethane. Since I have AADD, I don’t go for longevity in signs. They are easy to repaint or do-over when a whim hits.

First I sanded the wood; of course this wood doesn’t actually get smooth, but for this project that is okay.

I painted the base white and let it dry.

While it was drying I created the words in the Silhouette Portrait  program and cut them from the ugly contact paper I picked up at a yard sale.

I placed the letters on the base board and painted over the letters with the same white paint (this kind of seals the edges to prevent the paint from bleeding.)

After the white paint is totally dry, I painted the Handy Randy sign gray and the shop sign red, not bothering to cover it completely as I wanted a rustic look.

With the help of tweezers, I pulled the contact paper letters from the wood, revealing the words.

After the paint dried, I attached heavy duty magnets to the back and hung them on the shop door.

And that is all there was to it.

Justa Girl and her Blog has very detailed instructions for the paint and peel method on her blog which is very helpful if you are not experienced in using the Silhouette. Note, she used vinyl where I used the cheap contact paper. Of course you can Google “paint and peel using a Silhouette."