Do you have Ben Franklin crafts where you live? I believe they're independently operated, so one could be totally different from the next, but we love the one near us in Monroe, WA. Great selection and great project ideas. We picked up a flyer for these seasonal word blocks and put them together, just in time for "winter." The best part? You get sixteen different decor options out of one project! Sixteen! That's out-of-control cool.
We started with seven pre-cut blocks from Ben Franklin (you can probably find these at most craft/hobby stores, or cut your own). We sanded and painted them, then cut vinyl letters to place on each side of each block. If you don't have access to a vinyl cutter, you could stencil them on with paint or use chipboard letters. You could also try decoupaging (Mod Podge) patterned paper onto the blocks instead of painting them. Get creative!Are you curious to know which sixteen seasonal words some genius came up with using these seven blocks? Check this out:
Harvest
Welcome
Faith
Family
Spooky
Friends
Winter
Freedom
Blessed
Snow
Home
Hope
Monster
Mother
Dream
Easter
Are you convinced you have to make these? Good. These are the letters you'll need to place on each block:
Block One: H Y E D
Block Two: A C R S
Block Three: R P E T
Block Four: V N L O
Block Five: E O M D
Block Six: S M K I
Block Seven: T F B W
Not enough room in your life (or living room) for 16 seasonal decor options? These would make a great gift!
Ooooh! I LOVE this! So easy, yet so many possibilities for creativity! I think I know the perfect person to make it as a gift for, until I find room in my own house to make some for me too!
ReplyDeleteThanks bunches and bunches for all your fabulous ideas!!! :o)
We had a Benfranklin Crafts in our town, which I loved. They always had cute and different things. And it was about a mile from my house. Sadly it closed about 2 years ago. I miss it so!
ReplyDeleteLove the word blocks.. I made a set YEARS ago and don't know what happened to them,so you have inspired me to make more!! Thanks!
ReplyDeleteWhat a super cute idea! I'm keeping this one in my files!!!!
ReplyDeletei've never heard of "ben franklin crafts" but it looks like i'd like it.
ReplyDeletelove these blocks...definately have someone in mind I can make these for ....yay for handmade christmas gifts.
I'm loving this idea. Looking at the letters on the blocks, there are even more words you could make ... wonder, smile, heart ... I'm sure there's more, too. This is a great gift idea. Thanks!
ReplyDeleteThese are fantastic. There is a Benfranklins not too far...I'll have to check it out! Thanks!
ReplyDeleteI love these! Great gift idea!
ReplyDeleteBrilliant, and well done they look great
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Wow, i think I will have to try this! Thanks for sharing!
ReplyDeleteAww, I love this! Thanks tons for sharing this. I'll be linking.
ReplyDeleteLove this idea! I'm headed to the craft store as soon as I post this. thanks!
ReplyDeleteI LOVE these! Thanks for the idea!
ReplyDeleteLOVE this! I shared it on my blog, just so you know! :)
ReplyDeleteThanks for the inspiration!
A.
ReplyDeleteMAY.
ZING.
totally on my to do list!
great idea! thanks.
ReplyDeleteOh.my.gosh! I was planning to make these for my sister & another friend for Christmas with just plain "Friends" on it - that's it. NOW I have more options! THANK you for doing this!!!! Now I've got to make sure I have enough letters. LOL
ReplyDeletethose are perfect. i was just telling my husband we need some word blocks up on our mantle for the seasons. and you already did all the hard work for us! one more thing to add to my to do list!!!
ReplyDeleteAnyone know where you can buy plain wooden blocks. I looked at Hobby Lobby and Michaels and couldn't find them. Thanks!
ReplyDeleteThanks for the great idea!! I finished mine this afternoon and posted them on my blog with a link to your very nice blog.
ReplyDeleteI got something similar when Nate was born. I LOVE them and proudly display them on his shelf. Now that he knows how to spell his name, it is even more fun!
ReplyDeleteHow big are the blocks that you used? I would like to try these for gifts! Thanks
ReplyDeleteThese blocks are smaller about 2 inches. I also have some 4 inch blocks. You can really do any size you want. If you can't find blocks, try the hardware store. Just buy a long fence post type of wood and have them cut them for you into square blocks. That's what I did with my bigger blocks. You have to put more effort into it with the sanding and all, but it is way cheaper and you can get the size you want.
ReplyDeleteso do you do the windmill lettering website too? They have alot of the same projects as you do, and are from washington area. . . just curious?
ReplyDeleteyou know, since some of the blocks only have 4 sides used with the letters listed, you can create more words easily & put letters on the spare sides too. Why waste the spaces! lol
ReplyDeleteOk, I have some more words to add.
ReplyDeleteIf you include on each of these blocks these letters since these only have 4 sides used, there is room for 2 more letters on each block.
Block 1 - G U
block 2 - P
block 3 - A L
block 4 - S
block 5 - I
block 6 - F P
block 7 - U C
If you include these letters on your blocks you can make these additional words...
Romance
Love
Pumpkin
Frosty
School
Autumn
Spring
Summer
Father
Aussie (Ok, I'm an Aussie & need to have Australia Day in there!)
Fall
You would think I have something better to do at 7.30am but hey, puzzles like this are fun! I can't waste 2 sides!!! & now I really can't think of any more seasonal words! But I bet when I press publish post I will think of something else.
add another
ReplyDeleteblock 5 - H along with the I
& you will get
Happy
& Merry is in there too.
Had enough yet?
okay a couple more for you & I think I am done!
ReplyDeleteblock 2 - J
You should now get these words with your blocks too... Little girls will like these...
Fairy
Fairies
Santa
Jolly
Flowers
Wishes
block 4 still only has 5 letters on it... hmmm... but I can't come up with anymore words!
If you add "A" to block 4 you can spell America :)
ReplyDeleteOh yeah, and if you live in Utah, there is a "Wood Connection" store which sounds similar to Ben Franklin Crafts. It's located in Murray - about 6480 S. on 300 W.
ReplyDeleteI wish I'd checked out all these comments before I made my set! I blogged about it here (http://whimsikel.blogspot.com/2010/02/seasonal-decor-blocks.html). But now I might need to go home and make a few more blocks to include the great ideas Mandy and Tiff shared! Thanks for this post!
ReplyDeletewe found more words too! If you use the extra letter suggestions you can also spell: Flake, Hearts, Christ, Jesus, Bloom, Irish, Sun, Swim, Pool, Ghost(s), Witch(es), Vampire (using the W as an M), Fright, Thanks, Leaf, Treats, Turkey, Jewels, Cuddle, Pillow, Party. :)
ReplyDeleteI have admired these blocks for a long time, and finally got around to making some. Thanks so much for posting the instructions.
ReplyDeleteThanks for the awesome idea!! I am totally doing these for a craft night for my ward!!
ReplyDeletehttp://jkmade.blogspot.com/2010/09/craft-night.html
I really love this idea! I have some blocks that already say welcome, might see if I can use them for this:@)
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