Shannon's Tips for Harvest Blocks

Shannon Staker offers some fall decorating ideas with a tutorial on harvest blocks. She offers a step by step guide to her fall decor project.

Materials:

• 2X4 blocks, measuring 8in, 4in, 7in, 6in, 7in, 5in, 8in in length
• Spray paint
• Mod podge--matte suggested
• Scrapbook paper
• Piece of sandpaper

Instructions:

1. Take your blocks, which are all 2X4's. You need them measuring (this is just the length) 8in, 4in, 7in, 6in, 7in, 5in, 8in. and head outside and give them a light coat of spray paint. You don't want them completely covered. It looks rustic if it's uneven and in some spots you can see the actual wood through the paint.
   
   
    
2. Cover the front of each piece with a thin layer of mod podge, I prefer matte.
   
   
    
3. Place the coordinating piece of scrapbook paper on top of the wood pieces.
   
   
    
4. Then turn the pieces of wood onto the scrapbook paper to give them a little weight as they dry. It helps hold down the sides.
   
   
    
5. Once it's dry take the piece of sandpaper and lightly sand around all of the edges. This means the front where the paper is and the back and the corners.
   
   
    
6. It gives it a nice soft edge instead of a hard crisp cut paper edge. The feel of the wood showing through is fabulous!
   
   
    
7. And then give the top a nice thin coat of mod podge. Go right over the vinyl and the paper.
   
   
    
8. You want to go down over the edges onto the side as well. This seals the edge of the paper in. Once that is dry, flip the blocks over and give the back a coat of mod podge too! Why? It makes it so the paint doesn't rub off onto the surface you are setting it on.
   
   
    
9. And display proudly!
   
   
    
10. The fall colors are fabulous to keep up from September through November!
    
    
     
11. And, the blocks are sturdy enough that little hands can play with them and re-arrange them as they please.