Wood Shape Shiplap Cow Head

Howdy!

Texas Tami here on the blog today with a decidedly Texan project to show you!

Have you checked out Clear Scraps' new Shiplap Shapes yet? They have rustled up a herd of great designs. Shiplap is extremely popular in home decor and now you can create some unique projects of your own. The shapes come in 2 sizes, small and large. 

I used the Large Shiplap Cow Head to create this welcoming sign for my home...

Here's how I made it - step-by-step...

to create a distressed, weathered look, I started by adding some craft ink in a dark brown across the grain, then I went back with a lighter brown...

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I heat set the ink to be sure that it was set, then using a damp sponge brush, I went over the piece with white paint...

Once the paint was dry, I used a sanding block to remove some of the paint especially around the edges and in the grooves of the shiplap. Sand with the grain...

I used the Capital ABC 6" stencil to add "Howdy" in blue craft ink. Since the letters are close together on the stencil, I like to mask off the letters close to the one I am stenciling to avoid accidentally inking a part of a neighboring letter. Since I was using craft ink - which is a slower drying pigment ink - I heat set each letter after stenciling it. I also cleaned the stencil after inking each letter to avoid smearing...

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I used the Lower Case ABC's Stencil to add "ya'll" in dark brown craft ink. I followed the same steps for inking as before. If you would like to close the "gap" on any letters, if you slightly offset the stencil, you can ink in the break. Just be sure to mask off any close areas...

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Now that the Cow Head was all finished, it was time to embellish! And what else could I use to embellish this Texas Cow except denim and red bandana?!

I made spiral roses using different shades of denim. You can also use the backside of the fabric to add another variety of color.

To make the roses start with a circle - doesn't need to be exact. I used 2 1/2" to 5" circles. After you have the circle, start at the outside edge and begin to cut in a spiral towards the center. Slightly widen the width as you go and leave a small circle as the base at the center...

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Add a thin line of glue along a few inches of the bottom edge of the spiral and then roll it up. Add more glue as you roll until you come to the center. Add a dab of glue to the center of  the base and press the flower down on it...

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I used a paper drill to punch holes at the top of the Cow Head and inserted a piece of rope through the holes. I knotted the rope on the back to secure the hanger...

A strong glue was used to adhere the flowers to the upper right of the Cow Head. I also made a bow from red bandana fabric and accented it with some twine. I also added some leaves cut from a "leather-look" embossed felt...

Here's some closeup pics of the flowers and bandana trim...

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SUPPLIES:
Clear Scraps: Large Shiplap Cow Head, Capital ABC 6" stencil and Lower Case ABC's Stencil

Other: Beacon Adhesives: Fabri-Tac and Mixed Media Glue, Clear Snap: Blue, Tan and Dark Brown Craft Ink, White Paint, Sanding Block, Masking or Blue Painters Tape, Denim, Red Bandana, Tan Embossed Felt, Twine and Rope