Easy Easter Crafts: Peter Rabbit Bunny Treats Sign

Creating decor for holidays can get expensive, especially if your taste changes often as mine does. Many times I’ve spent quite a bit of time and money on something only to my creation shoved in the back of the closet in favor of something new. This year I decided to make some Easter crafts but I wanted to do something different. This year I wanted to make something that is easy to pull apart and reuse after the holiday so that the pieces that were used to create it could be reused for other crafts.

Easy Easter Crafts: Creating a Reusable Signboard

I took a Bottle Cap Pallet, 12″ x 14″ Natural Wood Pallet by Bottle Cap, Inc  and painted it with a base coat of  Martha Stewart Vintage Decor Paint Linen. The Martha Stewart Vintage Decor paints happens to be my favorite chalk paint line and linen is one of my favorite colors. The paint has a nice matte finish that covers beautifully with just one coat, but allows the grain of the wood to shine through.

Easy Easter Craft - Peter Rabbit Sign - base paint Martha Stewart Chalk Paint - Linen

While the paint was drying, I went through my scrapbook paper stacks and found a few papers that went well with the other crafts I was working on for Easter. Coordinating paper with other spring decor

The paper I chose is from DCWV 180 Floral Flair Stack from Jo-Ann Fabric and Craft, but any patterned scrapbook paper will do.

Selecting the paper - Floral Fair Stack

I purchase the rabbit cutout from the Silhouette Store and cut it out with my Silhouette Portrait. If you don’t have an electronic cutter, you can download a rabbit shape and cut it out of paper and add your own cutouts or leave it solid. I do recommend Silhouette cutters, though I suggest opting for the larger Silhouette Cameo. I find myself limited by the 9×12 size of the Portrait and dream about getting the larger version.

Paper applique made with Silhouette Portrait

Next I cut out the words from the coordinating polka dot paper after creating them with the Silhouette software. I used two free fonts from DaFont. Again, if you don’t have an electronic cutter, you can download the fonts to your computer and then use a graphics program on your computer to print the letters and then cut them out by hand. You can also use PicMonkey online (it’s free for basic features) to create your letters and then print and cut. They have some great free fonts available.

Paper letters created with Silhouette Portrait

After running each letter though my Xyron 2.5″ Create-a-Sticker Maker (XRN250-CFT), I peeled off the backing paper and placed each letter on the signboard using a ruler to help me keep them straight. I used Acid-Free Repositionable Adhesive so that after Easter I can peel them off the sign without damaging the base paint.

Lining up the letters

I used the sticker backing paper to place over the letters on the sign to be able to really press them into place without worrying about pulling up or ruining a letter. Doing this also picks up the little bits of glue that escape from underneath the letters and cleans them up nicely.Removable Letter Stickers from Paper

Next I ran my paper bunny applique through my Xyron XRN900 9-Inch Creative Station Multi-Function Crafting System. Again I used Xyron Acid-free Repositionable Adhesive so the bunny can go along with the letters when it’s time to redecorate. If you don’t have a Xyron create-a-sticker maker (three sizes are available – I have the 2.5″ and 9″ and hope to get a 5″ soon – using the maker closest in size to your applique means less waste), you can use any appropriate paper glue (repositionable if you want to remove it later).Xyron Creation Station Sticker Maker

The 9″ Xyron sticker maker (it’s called a Creation Station because it also makes magnets and laminates) puts a plastic sheet over top the sticker – just remove it then peel it from the backing paper.Creating a removable and repositionable paper applique Next I just pressed the paper bunny applique into place (use the sticker backer paper to help it adhere by placing it over the applique and then rubbing it with your fingers or a soft cloth – this also keeps the sticker clean if you’re like me and have paint on your fingers because you’re painting other projects while you’re working on this :)).

Applying the paper applique to the sign

Next I added some Martha Stewart Crafts specialty ribbon. It has a nice texture to it. But I didn’t want to have to glue every leaf down by hand so I used the Xyron 2.5″ Create-a-Sticker Maker.

Martha Stewart Decorative Ribbon

Putting the ribbon through the sticker maker is simple, just be sure to keep it right side up and avoid twisting it. To apply it, just pull it from the sticker backing and place it wherever you like.

Creating a ribbon sticker with small Xyron maker

Since it’s repositionable, you don’t have to worry about making a mistake and you can move it from one application to another easily.

Make a ribbon sticker

I ran the leaf stickers from the bottom of the sign giving them some movement and then took some of the silk flowers I’d be using on our buffet table (purchased at Michael’s) and clipped them very close to the petals with scissors to give them a flatter backing.

Removing the stems from fabric flowers to use as appliques

I glued the flowers with Scotch Scrapbooker’s Glue right onto the top leaf so that when I remove the leaves, the flowers will come off with them.

Gluing flowers to ribbon sticker

My finished Easter sign – it’s perfect for the week or so before Easter and it’s a great addition to our Easter Buffet, but as soon as Easter is over I’ll strip it bare and reuse the signboard for future parties, events, or even room decor. Who knows what it will be next!
Easy Easter Crafts - Peter Rabbit Bunny Treats Sign

Easy Easter Crafts: Frugal or Cheap?

So what do you think of my easy Easter craft? Am I cheap or frugal? Is my temporary decoration not as cute as if I’d painted it by hand instead of taking this shortcut?