Totally free two minute art project

    Everybody's doing the monogram thing these days...Pottery Barn, Restoration Hardware, Ballards Designs, Horchow.... and me.
Isn't it classy looking? Ya, I thought you'd like it. That's why I just had to share this easy-as-pie and basically free idea with all of you today.
     While cleaning out the workroom, I've been going through all of my old scraps of paper, pages from magazines...and ads. I came upon a Pottery Barn page where they are actually selling printed letters of the alphabet. Are you kidding me?! Who is buying these things? Are they charming? Yes. Sophisticated? For sure. But to pay money when we can all just print a letter out on our deskjet printers..? Pul-ease. I want to meet the folks buying these, 'coz I have a bridge I want to sell them.

Anyway.

I also ended up with a semi large collection of assorted picture frames. Some small, some not so small, you name it. I took a frame I liked (an old TJ Maxx clearance find for $3.99) and I then printed the letter in WORD in a large font.(I think the font size was 160) I centered it on the page, then I took the glass from the frame and laid it over the paper with the letter "B" on it. When the letter was centered, I drew around the piece of glass, and then cut out the square. I placed the glass and the paper back in the frame and I was done.

So...I am thinking these will make fabulous gifts.(Maybe for Valentines day? Gee, I hope my kids aren't reading this...) Frame one, or do a collection of the same letter in different fonts, (masculine or feminine) how cool would that be? Or spell out a  word, like L O V E or H O P E or B L I S S in 4 assorted frames with one letter in each, and done in different  fonts, then place them together to form the word?

**edited to add: OK, to get your font size larger than 72 in WORD, all you need to do is highlight the lstter (or whatever) and then in the font size box that reads 72, click and type in the number you want to try...say...175, then hit ENTER. The highlighted letter will enlarge.

Oh. My. Gosh. My mind is reeling at the many ideas you can create here, for free, people!

Comments

[Victoria]

Such a simple idea but looks a million dollars! I love thinking of "cheap" gifts I can give friends that they'll love, this is great as a hostess gift.

Victoria

[Kelly]

After a weekend of cleaning and finding some old frames that I was wondering what to do with i know have my weekend project...thanks.....Im going to do the the word JOY....since i have three frames.....and I love your new work/office room...great job.....
Kelly

[Sher's Creative Expressions]

What a cute idea. I think I even have an old framing mat board around too I could add. Maybe even a cute wedding show little extra gift?

Blessings,

Sher

[Rosie]

Perfect.....hmmmm....I have some leftover pastel card stock.....perhaps B A B Y would be a nice Valentine's present for the expecting daughter......Thanks :-)

[Domestic Chicky]

Brilliant! I always wonder who buys those types of things too!! This would be really fun with printed papers too-the mind reeels!!!

[Audrey]

You could also print on some subtle patterned scrapbook paper for a really special look... Great idea!

[Vanessa]

I love your monogram! Being in the computerized embroidery industry, letters intrigue me.
When my nephew got married, they used a monogrammed thank you note. His last name beginning with the initial of my first name, I simply cut the thank note up, and framed the letter, in a white frame. It looks great sitting on my shelf! Love the framing idea, maybe I'll sew out lots and lots of letters, I have a gazillion fonts! Vanessa

[Mecky]

What a great idea!!!! I LOVE it! (I feel the need to got to TJMaxx!!!hehe)

[Kim]

I thought the *EXACT* same thing when I saw the Pottery Barn catalog!

[Liz]

Now THIS is my kind of project! Thanks for sharing.

[Melissa]

Absolutely fabulous!

Many Blessings,
M.

[Rosemary]

Great idea Tracey!!
If you find out who is buying these let me know. Thanks for the great tip.
Rosemary

[Pippa]

Would you mind sharing the exact name of the font you used? I'd love to copy this idea!

Thanks! Pippa

[kathy]

What a great idea! I love the brown and white plate behind your creation.
Best,
Kathy

[ACottageIndustry]

I think the font I used was called CHOW, but Edwardian Script ITC looks very very similar.

[Karin]

You are a genius! And will probably be on Pottery Barn's poop list. :) I've done this for embroidery, etc. to trace around, but never thought to just use the letter. Duh. Lucky me. I have just the frame for something like this.

[hoganfe handbags]

Oh Thanks Tracey - beautiful and FREE - the best of everything!
xo
Mary

[Erin]

my thoughts exactly when I saw the PB catalog! thanks for sharing your clever idea - I can't wait to get printing!

[Shari]

Clever, clever, clever! You totally amaze me with the ideas you come up with! I wish I had 1/10th of the creativity you have. And your workroom/office is looking adorable and soooooo organized.

[Now the matron of honor]

Mom...I made mine last night! But I could always use another one.... I can't wait for you to come help me finish nesting my home.
Love you

[Angela (Cottage Magpie)]

So ingeneous and super cute!
~Angela :-)

[sharon]

You are so creative , what a gift you have.sharon@crafty*nesty*thrifty

[Alison Gibbs]

Oh Tracey what a fun idea. So simple yet looks wonderful.
Alison

[Connie]

I love that idea!! I have to try this!! I will be visiting again soon. You are a very creative lady. Connie

[judy]

I don't know howe to make my letter large---it only goes up to 72 in the drop down. Pretty small for a frame. HELP. Any tips?

[ACottageIndustry]

Here's how to enlarge the font size.... Highlight your letter. Then, in the box that reads 72 for the size, click and type in a larger number...say, 140 and hit enter. The highlighted number will go to the new size.
Hope this helps!
Tracey

[BetteJo]

Oooh I love the simple stuff that looks so elegant when it's done!

.. oh - and you should be able to type in a larger font - you don't just have to choose from the dropdown box. :)

[rhondi]

Thanks for the two minute project. It is so clever. I'm sure that there will be a lot of framed initials out there in blogland before you know it. I know I am going to make one for sure. I love it! Thanks again for sharing it with us. Rhondi

[June]

I love this monogram letter project and I so agree that buying it is quite mind-boggling when you could make it yourself. Sometimes I feel guilty when I see things in stores and then go home and make them myself. My self-questioning usually involves worrying that I've no originality, worrying that I've taken money away from some starving artist, and then worrying because I'm worried. But then I try a dose of reality, wouldn't my money be best put away for when I'm a dottering old woman? The answer is yes, so I am all for making things myself.

Thank you for the project idea and allowing me room in your comments for posting my thoughts.

[Gabrielle]

great idea....you are a clever woman not an electritian but a clever women never the less. I do love getting the PB catty just to get ideas......

[Cindy Lammon]

Great idea!! I found my Word program only goes to 72 size. Is there a secret to getting a larger font size??

[ACottageIndustry]

Here's how to do make the letters largert than a72 sized font:
Highlight your letter. Then, in the box that reads 72 for the size, click and type in a larger number...say, 140 and hit enter. The highlighted number will go to the new size.
Tracey

[One Woman]

That's a super sweet idea! I'm having the same problem as, Judy, though. In my Word, the font size only goes up to 72. How did you work around that? Thanks!

[One Woman]

Ha! I came back to post that I found the answer and you've answered our question right here...thank you so much! I just printed one and it looks fabulous!

[Amy]

I'm having the same problem, Judy. Mine only goes to 72.

[Beth]

I did the same sort of thing for Christmas but my inspiration came from Restoration Hardware. They had decorated the store letters spelling out JOY, NOEL - well, you know. Anyway, I came home and amped the font size up to 220, printed out each letter, cut the letter out as a template, traced it onto heavy duty chipboard, painted it, added glitter (a lot of glitter) and made my own words.

Thanks for the tip about framing monograms! Since I just picked up a really nice little frame from Marshall's, I'll have to find the perfect font for it.

[Lallee]

Tracey, your ideas are always inspiring. Thank you for sharing your talented ideas. Here is my version and I hope you don't my link back to you.
http://lalleescottage.blogspot.com/2008/01/little-love-and-jane-austen.html

Lallee

[Jeanne]

How fabulous.
I came across your blog from my dear friend Dani!
Gorgeous!
Love the framed words and Initials.
Love Jeanne

[From My Cherry Heart]

Wonderful idea....thanks for shareing!

Hugz, Dolly

[teresa chapman]

WOW! What a wonderful idea. TFS - you continue to amaze me!

Teresa

[Dorothy]

I think you have inspired all of blogland with this one! You can see my version at http://ladydorothy.blogspot.com/2008/01/monograms.html.

Thank you for such an inspiring blog. I have just recently discovered you and I'm visiting every day!

[sue]

love all your decorating ideas and your blog. love the letter idea and copied it within five mins. of seeing it. also thank you for letting us know how to increase font size, i seriously didn't know you could go bigger than 72:) thank you again!

[Nancy]

I could spend all day on this blog, I can't believe the things I am learning. Thank You for sharing your creativity!!! Nancy