Pallet Scripture with Shield

We have plans to soon change the room that our boys share so that they will have more space. The room they share is small and the bunk that they have is not helping matters. I like that it has a desk and shelf in it, but because it is one that is shaped like a "T" and takes up most of their floor it will need to go. My husband and I browsed through Pinterest and tried to find a few pallet decor ideas to make it rustic and boyish. This is the first that I made for the 'remodel'. I am quite pleased with how it turned out! You can't quite tell from the picture but it is over 3 feet tall!

I don't think the project really needs much explanation. I cut a pallet to size, sanded it and then made stencils - used a piece of paper that I cut to make a shield shape and my Cricut for all the lettering. I was planning to stain it, but think that I will leave it be for now and see how the rest of the room turns out before changing the color of the wood. 

Rolled Magazine Cross

When I saw this on Pinterest, I knew I wanted to try it:
http://fromliketolove.blogspot.com/2011/11/another-project.html

I started by rolling a couple smaller projects, because I was trying this craft out with my 11 year old. She didn't like it because she couldn't roll them tight enough to make them look nice, so I started on this bigger project.

I'm a get-started-without-a-real-plan kind of crafter, so I just started making some of the same size circles and then arranged them to get the look of the cross that I wanted. I didn't realize how much smaller mine would be until I actually had it glued together and hung it on the wall. I wish I'd made it a little bigger....so I might make another one another day.

(If you're interested, the biggest circles are 6 pages folded, then glued end-to-end, then rolled. The smaller ones are 2 pages. )

I was fussy with the pages that I used because I wanted bright colors and not a lot of white/black print. Especially on the pages that I used around the outside to create the 'border'. When I finished, I gave it a coat with high gloss ModPodge.

I enjoyed the craft, and think I may re-visit it for future projects.

Chalkboard Pallet Sign

I realized I hadn't posted one of my favorite things I made last year!

I took a pallet with slats that were differing sizes and laid them all together so that they were as close together as could be. Then I screwed them to two small strips, so that it would stick very far out from the wall. Then I spraypainted with flat black paint. No expensive chalkboard stuff here! :)
So far, I have used it to:

• say "Give Thanks" - in this picture
• celebrate our Christmas Tree Decorating Party
• have my kids draw a manger scene and put a verse on for Christmas
• say "Happy New Year"
• a couple "Happy Birthday" greetings
• write a verse about love for Valentines....
  and probably a few more that I can't remember (because apparently Thanksgiving was the only time I remembered to take a picture!!!)

Quilled Cross

I wanted an Easter Cross for my small frame (see previous posts for other small quilling projects for this same frame) that hangs on a tiny strip of wall in my house. I searched Pinterest for inspiration, but didn't find exactly what I was wanting. I decided to just make the shape of the cross and start filling it up with different colors, shapes, and sizes. I am excited about the random-ness of it. It is amazing how hard 'random' can be sometimes. ;)

Pallet Style Pumpkin

 I made myself a little something today!
 I had been looking at all the fun fall decorations and the cute pumpkins, and my mom sent me a photo of a pallet pumpkin she had made.....and I decided to get on the bandwagon!

I started with a few slats of wood that my dad had given my husband years ago to make bird houses with, but we'd never gotten around to those projects. I thought they would be perfect for this because they are rough like pallets. So I got out his chop saw and got to work. I cut equal angle pieces from two side boards and cut the middle to length, then cut a smaller piece for the stem. I then gave them a quick sanding and took a photo....

I watered down some orange paint and 'stained' the pumpkin boards orange. Then grabbed an golden oak stain that I had and darkened up the stem, so it would have a nice contrast.

Then....I love all the monogramming that I am seeing around and thought the big monogram would help my pumpkin to pop. So I layed it all out like this:

Then I flipped it all sideways and liked it even more! So, after we put the kids in bed, I asked him to get me a couple thin slats for putting the thing together, drilled the holes and screwed the boards all together.

I actually used Velcro to put the "T" on the front, in case I decide to make a pallet style tree for Christmas, or an egg for Easter......

Frame Repurposing

While I love to show off my kid's artwork....this 'clothesline' type spot behind my table was beginning to bother me. It always looks messy. And when you open my front door, it is directly in your line of vision.  But, I also use this to hang Christmas cards and things on too at different times of the year...so I knew I couldn't get rid of it all together. Then I saw an excellent idea in a Woman's Day from 2012 that I'd ripped out....

So, I went down to the local Salvation Army store and found the biggest frame I could find. They had this beauty for $13! (outside dimensions: 43x31 inches) I set to work. I removed the print, pulled off the gold foil covering the frame and sprayed a coat of Kilz on top. Then I started to paint it silver. In the middle of painting it silver I decided I wanted to keep it white....so I started back with the Kilz primer! :)

I finished up with a coat of white spray paint, and stapled in some chicken wire. In the idea from the magazine, she was hanging cards with what they were thankful with for the Thanksgiving holiday. I will probably do that with the family too...and it will look great with Christmas cards!

Pallet Wood Ornament

This is one way that I am passing on a legacy of homemade Christmas to my children: I make an ornament each year to give to family. This means that my children each have at least as many ornaments as they are old! I am really enjoying doing it and they are enjoying putting them on individual trees in their room each Christmas season!

This years ornament was inspired by some I saw for sale at the Daisy Festival this year. They ended up completely different than what I saw there, but I love to improvise! :)

I cut lengths of pallet wood, sanded and stained them. Then I used ModgePodge to attach a paper to the front that has the names of Jesus all over it. I scoured the craft store and did not find a manger that was bold enough, so I used some scrap stamp rubber to make my own manger stamp and stamped it in brown ink on the front. Then I drilled two holes in the top, used clothesline wire (because that is what I had and I hate running to the store for more stuff when I can use what I already have!) through the holes and twisted them around with my jewelry pliers. The last touch was a little bow made of twine that I tied on one end of the wire. I am so excited about the result!

Pallet Christmas Tree

 My husband picked up this pallet from me in the trash pile down the street because I had seen some great Christmas trees at the craft fair I went to recently. Then I looked online and found an idea that I knew would be just right for me.
So we cut the pallet, increasing 2 inches on either side, to look like a tree and removed the back boards. The middle piece is 4x4 and perfect for a sturdy stand, so we left it just like it was.








Then I stained the middle piece with a mahogany stain (painting carefully between the slats). Next I used a little white paint I had left from a house project, mixed it with water, and did a little whitewash on the slats.

After that, I had to decide on lettering, and ended up choosing to use my Cricut to cut vinyl and and adhered it to use as a stencil. I spaced them out, gave the letters one good coat of brown paint and let it dry.









Lastly, I cut a few twigs, formed a star with wire on the tips, nailed a little nail in the top section and hung the star on it. (I figured that little star would never make it in and out of the attic without breaking apart, so I wanted to be able to remove it and put it away safely!)


Now I just have to wait until after Thanksgiving to be able to display it!!!

Elegant Swirls

It took me a long time and a lot of different tries, but I finally feel like I was able to copy the elegant swirls of this beautiful wedding invitation. I loved the asymmetrical swirls at the top and the pair of hearts! I like to add them to wedding projects like this because they add a punch of color without putting flowers on.

Less is More

I have been enjoying my time working on wedding invitations this week. I always try to see something in the invitations to 'copy' into the quilling so that it all coordinates. This time, it was the flower in the background that I picked. I put this together, thinking that it was just the beginning of the project, but the more I looked at it the more I thought "Less is more!" It just didn't look like it needed anything else. I thought it looked so elegant with just a couple flowers filling the corners.

What do you think? Is less, more?

Quilled Shamrock

I quilled a little shamrock for St. Pats Day...

St. Patrick's Day Wreath

I have a couple friends that I have been talking with for months about making a wreath. We talked about it so much, that we bought the supplies back in the beginning of December!! I never did get that Christmas wreath made...but still wanted to work on one. So I tried to make one festive for St. Patrick's Day! I got out all the green fabrics in my stash, and while my hubby watched a seriously lame movie about California splitting in two, I made flowers. This morning, I thread each button for the centers on a piece of floral wire and threaded it through the flower. This way, I have a wreath I can easily change! I think if I take out a couple green ones, and add in a few pastels, I have all the flowers I need for an Easter wreath! I had this grapevine wreath hanging around from fall (I think) and just wired them on where I thought they looked nice.

A few more lame movie nights, where I can concentrate on my flower making, and I could have a wreath for every season! :)

String Heart

I have seen these string art projects popping up, and wanted to try one. A Valentine heart seemed perfect. I had my hubby cut a board to size and traced around a foam heart we had sitting around. Then I gave it one coat of white paint. Because I couldn't find a hammer or nails, I improvised with some thumbtacks I had sitting around...which worked out just fine. Actually, they made the project much quicker. I pushed them in part way and then gave each of my girls (8 & 4 years old) a color of embroidery floss - red & pink. They wound them around which was a great way to make this look random! :) After they finished, I pushed the pins all the way down in, so they were tight and put it on a shelf. Two hour project - and that's just to let the paint dry in between!

Love Wall Hanging

I have been wanting to make one of these for over a year now! Ever since I spotted one at a friend's house that said "NOEL" last Christmas. I said I would make one of those before Christmas this past year, but never got around to it. Then when my hubby was out of town last week, I decided I would spend an evening or two on it...but couldn't make one to say NOEL and not use it for 11 more months!! So I made "LOVE (always)". I really like the little heart added to the bottom with "always" stamped on it....to remind us all that it's not about a silly holiday. It's LOVE. And love is for always.

Since I've got sizes and everything worked out, I hope I can change up the colors/papers and quickly make a few more. I have the perfect narrow wall strip where I could hang one year round....Now to come up with a 4-6 letter word that sums up St. Patricks Day...and is not LUCK. Since I don't believe in luck. ;)

Jack-O-Door

 

I am so excited about this easy, recycled decoration! We took old milk jugs, and cut triangles, a circle and some trapezoidal shapes. Then I tried attaching them by magnet to the door...until I realized that just because this door is metal does not mean it is magnetic! :) So we went the easy route of masking tape. I am not sure how long the tape will keep them on there, but it was easy enough to tape them back up anytime! Such a fun and easy (and FREE!) Halloween welcome!

New Jar Labels

 I have these jars that line my kitchen counter, which I love! Some are old, some are new. I've tried to mix up the lids a little, so the one with the red lid is actually plastic (though I don't think anyone can tell) because the lid won't fit a glass jar. I love the convenience of them, and that it creates more cabinet space for me to have these things on the counter. And I love the look...well almost. I didn't love the labels.

So for Christmas, I added some of that chalkboard contact paper and a chalk pen to my wish list and hoped someone would help me get started on this project. My sister-in-law did! Today I got them out (a cold, rainy day with a stomach bug working it's way around the children) and changed the labels to this:

I love them even more now!

Earring Holder

I made this earring holder back in 2009, and have loved it! It hung in such an easily accessible place (I pass it on the way to my bathroom) so I was wearing them a whole lot more than I used to, and I could see what I have so quickly. But my earrings have grown bigger, and my collection is bigger, and I had outgrown this rack.

SO, I went by my local hardware store this morning and bought some 1/4 inch hardware cloth and cut it to size with my hubbies wire clippers to fit a frame I'd picked up at a thrift store. I used the tabs that were already in the frame and folded them down to hold the hardware cloth in place. Then I hung it on the wall. I was on the phone with my mom almost all the way through this project, and it still only took about 30 minutes to do!

It's bigger, holds the earrings in place better, and I have room to grow! :)

Crepe Paper Flowers - Improved!

In my last post, I showed you my first two crepe paper flowers. I decided to work on the rose a little, so that I would at least like it! I pulled in the petals tighter at the bottom and added another layer of floral tape to keep them tight. Then I saw in my Martha Stewart Crafts book (a gift from my M-i-L) that you should stretch the crepe paper to make the petals a little more shapely. You are supposed to do this before taping them to the wire, but I thought I would try anyway. I don't know if you can tell from the photo, but I think it is much better. Less floppy, and more rose-like!

I also decided to make a couple more of the little orange flowers. I put them in this small vase and set them on a dark corner shelf. They are very bright in that corner and add a burst of fall color to the living room. Just what I was looking for!

As you can see, I'm enjoying trying out this new craft!

Crepe Paper Flowers

My husband, who knows I love all things crafty, gave me a paper flower making kit for a gift this past year, but I didn't take the time to work on it until he was in Paris this past month with work! This kit included paper, wire, floral tape, stamens, and a book with instructions and patterns to make the flowers. I followed the instructions in the book to make a rose, and this was it. The paper is thick, who sided and makes a very sturdy flower. I think I would like it a lot more if it wasn't so BIG. But it is pink, and it looks like a rose to me, so for a first attempt I was pretty pleased.

I decided for my next flower to make some orange ones to display in the fall this year as a seasonal pop of color. I had a roll of cheap streamer paper and thought it might work. I used a white stamen from the kit and rolled around that a cut of 1/2 ish by 4 inch piece of streamer that I  frayed with scissors. Then cut circles out that were the size of the paper, crimped them together on the bottom, and put them on one by one. This flower is much more fragile, but I love the look of it, felt the thinner paper was easier to work with and think it looks better in the end.

I posted again on these same flowers here.

Quilled Peacock

A while ago, I refinished this frame that was old-school gold, by painting it dark blue, then white, and putting some blue paint on to fill the creases and the rubbing it to let the white and gold show through. I love the frame, and was looking for a quilling project to make to fill it. I decided to do it this week and wanted to try a peacock, to get a big punch of color and extravagance. Here he is:

I looked online, but couldn't find any to copy that were head on peacocks this style, so I was on my own to make it up. I started by making a pile of papers in the colors I thought I'd like to include. A little yellow and green, but mostly dark blue, because I have so much of that color in my living area. I went round-by-round, adding different designs and colors. He started out like this, and honestly, I thought I was finished after the 5 hours work I put into it. But as soon as I put his body on top of his tail, I knew I needed to change something....

So I found a piece of paper the same color as the quilling paper I used for his body, glued his body to the front of it, and cut it to size. It was just what his body needed to pop in front of his tail. 

Then, I realized it wasn't done enough for me, so I worked on it another night and added a few more rounds of quilling and color! I ended up with the peacock you saw above. Now that he's finished though, I wonder if the frame is not right for him....