Saturday, August 11, 2012

School Bus Mailbox Cover

After the stomach bug from Hades and daily thunderstorms that have prevented good photos or internet at times I finally have another project for you.  School starts back here in 10 short days!  This summer has flown by and I am sad to see it go.  I hate to see the kids go back.  No matter how much kicking and screaming and resisting the end of the summer, though, it is still going to come, so I decided that I would add a little back to school jazz to my house.  There really is nothing else coming up until Halloween, and this cute little school bus idea just came to mind.  It is a super easy project that really requires little to no sewing.  So without further ado, I present the school bus mailbox cover.  :)


Measure your mailbox to get the right amount of fabric of course.

Materials:
  •  Yellow and black fabric (I used cheap broad cloth), and scraps of red and white.
  •  Heat n Bond iron-on vinyl
  •  Regular fabric Heat n Bond or Wonder Under.
  •  sticky back Velcro
I did not take pictures of all the steps because it is really so simple.  You just need to have the measurements of your mailbox at hand.  Make a template for the square windows, stop sign, and for the round circles that will be your wheels.  Using a template will insure they are all equal size. 

You are going to start by cutting from the yellow fabric a piece that is long enough and wide enough to cover your mailbox.  Then you will just cut out all the pieces and using the regular Heat n Bond iron them onto your yellow fabric.  Remember you want to make the bus show up on both sides of the mailbox so you will have to add the cut outs to both ends of your fabric.  I did not sew the pieces down because it will be sandwiched between vinyl and not washed so unraveling should not be a big problem.  Save the wheels for later.

Then you will take the vinyl and following the directions on the package you will apply it to the front and back side of your fabric.  Then you will cut out two strips that will serve as your straps to Velcro the cover onto your mailbox.  I used the yellow fabric for this.  Then I laminated it with the vinyl as well.  I sewed one end of each of the straps onto one side of the cover (right side to right side).  Then I sewed on the wheels on that side.  Only sew the top part of the tire down, because you do not want it to wrap underneath the mailbox with your strap.  You will then sew the other tires to the other end of your strap.  Then you will put it on your mailbox and apply your sticky back Velcro.  NOTE:  You will need to at some point cut out a place for the flag on your mailbox.  I did this after everything was applied. 

This is where my Velcro straps attached.




I love how from a distance it just looks like a bus cut out, and you can't even tell there is black fabric there.  Best of all you can just wipe the surface clean, too.

Linked up over at the CSI Project for their Back-to-School Project Contest
Visit thecsiproject.com

40 comments:

  1. very sweet idea... i'm sure kids go crazy over it! please come join us for the BACK TO SCHOOL Linky at http://www.mercyinkblog.com/back-to-school-tips-tricks-tools

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  2. How brilliant! We don't have postboxes like that here, but if we did, this is definitely something I'd try!

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    Replies
    1. Thanks! I'm glad you like it. I'm all for easy and unique. ;)

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  3. Hi! Visiting from I heart nap time. What a super cute mailbox cover! I never thought about making one for my own box. Ill have to jazz it up soon. Thanks for the fun idea!

    If you get a chance I would love for you to share this (and any other awesome posts you have) at my link party!
    http://www.thegrantlife.com/2012/08/financial-friday-fabulous-features.html

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  4. Visiting from Sundae Scoop. Your precious photo caught my eye and I wanted to tell you what a great job you did! My toddler is obsessed with school buses and I had to show it to him. :-) Kathy Penney @ Pinner Takes All

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  5. So very cute!
    http://www.practicallyperfectprincess.com

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    Replies
    1. Thanks! I followed you back on your blog. What a cute idea for a book. :)

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  6. How very cute is this!!! Thank you for sharing this on The "Sunday Stop"!!! I can see how this would work with all kinds of vehicles :)
    Hugs,
    Bj

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    Replies
    1. Thanks! You are right. Definitely a lot of options there.

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  7. This is so cute!! Thanks for sharing!! I'll have to try to make it - it'll make our mailbox look friendly!! I'm a new follower who found you from the GFC hop!! :)

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  8. Neat post....
    Candice@www.lillythroughthevalley.blogspot.ca

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  9. OH I love this.So cute! I just found your blog and love it! I would love for you to come on over and link up this week. It is the Back to School challenge. Monday thru Wednesday.Then wednesday night the competition begins. Come on over!
    www.thecsiproject.com

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    Replies
    1. Can't wait. :) Hope you're having fun at the Michael's thing. So cool.

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  10. Seriously! This is soooo freaking cute! I just love it! What a great way to celebrate back to school!
    xoxo
    Amie @ Pinkapotamus

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  11. This is an adorable idea!
    Visiting from the Nap! http://spunkyrealdeal.blogspot.com

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  12. That's such a cute idea! I bet the kids love it!

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    1. Thanks! They think it is neat. They are so used to seeing my crafts now I think the newness has worn off. :) Although they do seem to overestimate my abilities when they are asking me to make them something. haha

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  13. Super cute for this time of year!! Bet the kiddos love it! My Get Social Sunday link party is live. Would love to have you come link up your homepage and promote your blog!

    http://alivedinhome.blogspot.com/2012/08/get-social-sunday-link-party.html

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  14. Thanks! I just linked up! Glad you could stop by.

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  15. This is so adorable. I bet the postie gets a smile out of it too, much better than my rusty white mail box :)

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    Replies
    1. Thanks! We had a tree fall on our mailbox twice at our last house so I'm glad this one has been safe to decorate. ;)

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  16. Looks great! Thanks for sharing at the All Star Block Party.

    Holly

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  17. Wow how cute and creative!! I love how it turned out. :)

    Lina @ Fancy Frugral life via CSI blog

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  18. So cute! I wish we had a mailbox that this would work for. I love it! Thanks so much for sharing at Whimsy Wednesdays.

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  19. So cute! I love it! Thank you for sharing at our
    Pinteresting Party!

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  20. DARLING!!! Featuring you on Facebook. http://www.facebook.com/iGottaCreate
    Thanks so much for linking up at I Gotta Create! <3 Christina

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