PB KO - Tutorial

My daughter's girlfriend was kind enough to lend me her Cricut machine for a bit.  I was so frustrated using it as it is so limited unless you want to pay a fortune for extra cartridges.  I went on a search and found a SCAL program that enables you to do what YOU want, so I purchased it.   As soon as I downloaded it, I knew what my first project was going to be.  I have wanted this board since I saw it floating around blogland for the past year.  

 PB picture source

Rachel from Holy Craft did an amazing tutorial on her version of the board.

  

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I added a simple tutorial for you with a little more detail on cutting the grooves if you are interested in making one for yourself.

Cut your board to the desired size...

(I used a 1/2" piece of plywood cut to a  25" x 25" square with a 5" square)

measure and mark your squares evenly on the board

Note: you will need 6 down and 6 across for the alphabet board
 (scroll to the bottom of post for the newest version)

to make the groves on your board...

set your blade on your table saw to a 1/4" cut...

measure to be sure your fence is square... you will need to be exact on these cuts

measure the width of your board squares

now measure from the fence flat edge to the middle of the blade

 TIP: don't go too deep or it will be difficult to work the stain in later

cut your grooves...

keep rotating your board until all outside grooves are completed

~

next measure in for the next row, again measure from fence to middle of blade and rotate board again to complete the inside cuts

As you can see I have an additional oops line...

I used the framing square to measure and didn't compensate for the lip, 

 I just did another pass using the correct measurement.

I am liking the extra detail,

sometimes your mistakes turn into your best project...

sand your board smooth...

I used a water based stain... this stuff worked amazingly well on raw pine...

use a stiff brush (stencil brush) to work the stain into the grooves... sorry for the terrible pic

if you are lucky enough to have a cutting machine

cut your letters out using a typewriter font

(I used a 3.5" size font)...

you can also print and cut out the letters and use Modge Podge to apply them..

I made a template for centering, this saved a great deal of time

TIP: instead of Modge Podge use diluted Elmer's glue

apply your letter to the board

make a frame for your board

I ripped a 1" x 4" to 1.5" wide...

this was my first attempt at cutting mitred corners...

I got them perfect, I actually shocked myself... I always thought they were so hard.  Not true, measure twice, cut once.

I used the air nailer to attach the frame...

it reads

"MYA PATRICIA OUR GIFT FROM GOD"

For the newbees this little honey is Mya Patricia, my first and probably only grandchild.  Mya truly is a gift from God... she had a pretty rough start but was a fighter all the way.  She has brought so much joy to us all. 

There you have it folks, my version of the PB Typewriter board.

This could be personalized for a new baby... with weight and birthdate... the possiblities are endless. 

So what do you think? 

 Would PB approve?

Plywood Board - $0.00

Stain - Walmart - $1.00

2 pcs of 1" x 4" - 2.00

all other stuff I had in my stock...

TOTAL COST - $3.00

My newest board...

My newest board using the exact instructions above... this one got a paint and glaze treatment rather than the stain. 

I  made this for a fundraiser for a friend... it was a hard one to give away.

If you have any questions please do not hesitate to contact me.  I would be more than happy to help you out. 

HUGS,