DIY Club Project - What a Crock!

Yep, I am still supposedly on hiatus,
{really, I am coming back - for real -  soon!}
but I do have my responsibilities to the DIY Club!
You have until Thursday night {8/12} to link up!

As you may know, I recently "almost-finished" my kitchen.
{I am never fully done with anything!}
Since then, I have been looking for accessories
and items to add those final touches.
I made my beautiful {if I do say so myself!} tea towel and place mats,
but I do not like things too matchy-matchy,
so I was looking for something else to adorn some other accessories.

I had a not-so-cheap-stainless steel utensil holder that turned out to be a dud - too small and it cracked - I did not know stainless steel could do that! I was on the hunt for a nice big crock to put those utensils in, but couldn't find one that was not $50.00 or with some design on it that did not suit me...then it hit me...duh!
Make my own!...
Or at least buy a plain one and make it better!

It was perfect timing...Olive Rue {there is a freebie for you to try HERE} had just come on board as a new DIY Club sponsor and my friend Jenn at Rook No. 17 had been experimenting with a waterslide decal application.
Add those two together and I was set!

I selected my image from Olive Rue,
and got some direction from Rook No. 17 and this fabulous book:

Now, I was set out to make my crock rock!
And while I was at it,
I made some super cute cloth napkins
{I am trying so hard to do away with paper napkins and paper towels!}
Seriously, it seems like a lot of steps,
but don't let it scare you...it is not that bad!
After you do it once, you'll see and be hooked on this process like I am!
You get a professional looking finish - it is awesome!
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Bon Appetit Crock

Click HERE for printable pdf crock tutorial

 Supplies

-Image from Olive Rue

-Waterslide decal paper {available online or in some art stores...email me for info} - there are a few brands. I am trying out a new one soon.

-Crock, white {purchased at a kitchen store}

-Bowl with lukewarm water

-Oven
-Decal squeegee and/or paper towel

DIY It! Bon Appetit Crock

1 - Print image onto waterslide decal paper - if your image has words, you will want to print a mirror image of the design.

NOTE: For the process and paper I used, the background turns a vintagey tea stained color in the curing/baking process, so I added an oval border {super simple to do in almost any program}. There is another method to using waterslide decals to avoid this, but I like this look. Again, I just purchased a new brand of paper and will report back!

2 - Let image dry for at least 15 minutes {this drying time varies based on the paper and method used, consult paper directions}, so that the ink does not run. I let mine dry for a few hours.

3 - Cut image out - either closely around border or closely around the image itself. 

4 - Determine placement or image and prepare crock {or whatever you are transferring the image to}.

5 - Add lukewarm water to a bowl, large enough for the cut image to be submerged.

 6 - Place image in water for approximately 1 minute. The image will immediately curl...gently uncurl.

7 - After removing paper, position the decal in the correct place on the crock {with the words reading correctly}.
8 - Blot the image with a soft towel and smooth out {or if you have the proper squeegee, use that} to remove air bubbles {This step is important...my first go around I thought I had it and...nope - lots of air bubbles!}
9 - You may want to use a hair dryer to assist in adhering the decal to the piece and removing those remaining air bubbles too.
10 - Let piece air dry for 1 hour*
11 - Set oven to 200 F and bake piece for 1 hour.
12 - Set oven to 300 F and bake piece for 1 more hour.
13 - Set oven to 350 F and bake piece for 1 more hour.
14 - Set oven to 400 F and bake piece for 15 minutes.
15 - Remove from oven and let cool  - the image will be shiny and the background will have the light patina coloration.
16 - wipe piece {being careful of the image} with a damp sponge to remove excessive adhesive {it is brown - you will see it.}

*The new paper I have purchased, it supposed to be clear and does not require baking process.

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Bon Appetit Napkins 

Click HERE for printable pdf napkin tutorial

 Supplies

-Image from Olive Rue
-Cloth napkins, 100% cotton {I purchased mine in a 6-pack at Target}
-Iron
-Pillow case or light cloth
-T-Shirt Transfer paper for light colors


DIY It! Bon Appetit Napkins
1 - Measure the size you would like your design to ultimately be on the finished napkin. Mine is about 4.5" x 6"
2 - Layout images on the computer. You should be able to fit at least 2 images on each sheet of transfer paper.
3 - Print Olive Rue image onto transfer paper.  
NOTE: YOU MUST USE THE MIRROR IMAGE setting {located under page set up/printer/advanced settings for most programs} to have the image appear exactly as you see it on the screen once it is ironed.
4 - Cut around outline of image, as closely as you can and place on the napkin. I like to fold my napkins in half and then in thirds, so ultimately my image in placed in the center of the napkin {when folded in half}.
5 - Preheat your iron to settings as specified by the transfer paper you use.
6 - Place design face down in position and place pillowcase or cloth on top.
7 - Iron/Press design into place using slow and hard movements - most transfer papers recommend not using an ironing board but a hard surface.
8 - Let cool and peel backing off! Voila!

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NOTES:
1 - You can get some more scoop on Waterslide Decal Transfer at Rook's place.

2 - Olive Rue is offering a free try before you buy image at her blog Olive Rue Blog in the Navigation bar click on TRY BEFORE YOU BUY-you can download the image for FREE. You can order pieces from her Olive Rue etsy shop and into the DIY Club inc contest each month. Her prices are so affordable and we are all excited to have her on board. Be sure to mention that you are purchasing to enter on the DIY Club and you will receive a free image. For every 5 images you purchase for the DIY Club you will get a free image as well – YOU MUST TELL HER that you are purchasing because of the DIY CLUB INC in order to get your free images.

DISCLOSURE: As part of the DIY Club, I have been supplied with vendor sponsored products to complete my projects. The opinions are projects are my own. See, my disclosure policy for more information.
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