Word Search Puzzle
By Heather Lancaster |
|
| Materials
Needed |
|
 |
29-0001 Cricut™ Cutting
System |
|
29-0014 Cricut™ Base Camp Font
Cartridge
|
|
Frame & board to fit frame opening
(Sample shown is appx. 16" x 23") |
|
Chalk Board Paint |
|
Sticker backed paper |
|
White and Red Acrylic Paint |
|
Brown Ink |
|
Matte Varnish |
| |
| Instructions
|
| 1. |
Ensure that the mdf or similar thin board you have
cut fits into the frame opening. Paint board with 3 coats of chalkboard
paint |
| 2. |
Cut 2-5 'test' letters with the Cricut machine Base
Camp cartridge. Decide how large you want the letters to be. When
cutting, choose the 'Shift Lock' so that you type all caps, and
chose the 'Rectangle' feature so that all letters are cut inside
of rectangular box. For the sample shown we used the 2.5" setting,
but a slightly larger letter looks better if you are using a larger
frame. |
| 3. |
Measure the space that you have inside of the frame
and determine how many letters will fit down and across. For the
'down' row, measure the exact length of the cut rectangle and divide
it into the usable area. For the across length, use the same length
measurement instead of the actual width of the letter. If you place
the rectangles too close together there isn't adequate room to circle
the words of the search puzzle. |
| 4. |
There may be extra space on your board once you measure
the number of letters that will fit in each row. If so, divide the
leftover distance and adjust the placement of the rows so that any
extra space is left on the top and bottom or sides of the puzzle.
For instance, if you have two inches leftover for the 'down' row
once you've divided the length of the letters into your frame size,
then you start the puzzle one inch down from the top of your board.
This would leave the second inch extra as a gap at the bottom of
the board when the puzzle is finished. |
| 5. |
Based on the number of letters you can fit into each
row, plan a word search puzzle on graph paper or on a computer.
Start by placing the longest or most important word in a prominent
position and then fill in the rest of the words starting with the
longest or most important. |
| 6. |
Cut the letters of the word search puzzle out of a
sticker backed paper and adhere each letter to the painted board.
Start by doing the left 'down' column, placing each letter so that
it lines up directly under the one above it. |
| 7. |
Next do the top 'across' row. To get an even gap in-between
each letter, turn one letter sideways and use it to measure the
distance in-between the rows. Once these first two lines are straight
and in place, placement of the remaining letters goes much faster.
|
| 8. |
Ensure that your paper is pressed down firmly and
paint each letter. Use a stencil brush and paint 3-4 coats on each
letter, allowing adequate dry time between each coat. A light coat
each time ensures that there is less chance of the paint bleeding
underneath the paper. |
| 9. |
If desired, paint a prominent word on your puzzle
in red. |
| 10. |
Apply a light coat of brown ink to each letter to
'age' it and give it a rustic look. |
| 11. |
Apply 2-3 coats of matte varnish to each letter. |
| 12. |
Remove the stencil papers, place the finished board
inside of it's frame and enjoy your finished project! |
| |
|
| Sponsor:
Provo Craft® and Novelty Inc. |
