I'm pinching myself in disbelief that I'm one of the bloggers participating. It really is such an honor for me and I can't wait to show you what I've been working on!
Today's Fabulous Find...
Handmade Holidays at Under the Table and Dreaming
11.14.2011
Handmade Holidays
Hi Everyone! Just popping in quick to tell you about a fun event that just started today over at Under The Table and Dreaming. It's called Handmade Holidays and will feature the projects of 25 Bloggers over the next five days. That's five new project ideas each and every day that you won't want to miss!
11.10.2011
DIY Children's Nativity and 100 Ideas of Christmas Wonderful!
This week I've been working on a children's nativity set to share at Design Dazzle's '100 Ideas of Christmas Wonderful' event and today is the day it's being featured. I'd love to show you how to make one if you have a minute or two to click over and take a peek. :)
First, I want to tell you a little about what 100 Ideas of Christmas Wonderful is. Toni at Design Dazzle has put together an event that is just what the title says--wonderful! Guest bloggers will be sharing Christmas crafts, home decor ideas, kids crafts, recipes, free printables and even more, all throughout the event.
Yesterday Toni got things rolling and showed us how she made some fun Christmas book bags to hold the books that her family reads each day throughout December, which is such a 'wonderful' tradition!
I really am looking forward to seeing all of the fun ideas that will be presented throughout this event and wanted to let you know about it so you don't miss out on some great Holiday ideas!
First, I want to tell you a little about what 100 Ideas of Christmas Wonderful is. Toni at Design Dazzle has put together an event that is just what the title says--wonderful! Guest bloggers will be sharing Christmas crafts, home decor ideas, kids crafts, recipes, free printables and even more, all throughout the event.
Yesterday Toni got things rolling and showed us how she made some fun Christmas book bags to hold the books that her family reads each day throughout December, which is such a 'wonderful' tradition!
I really am looking forward to seeing all of the fun ideas that will be presented throughout this event and wanted to let you know about it so you don't miss out on some great Holiday ideas!
Today's Fabulous Find...100 Ideas of Christmas Wonderful!
11.04.2011
Thanksgiving Subway Art Prints: Second Edition
My intention when I opened last years Thanksgiving Subway Art file was really only to change the date and repost it again for this year. When I looked at it though I thought I'd just change one little thing, then there was another thing, and another....until the next thing I knew I had completely changed the whole design. Funny thing about this, it wasn't until after I printed the image in the photo below that I realized that after all of the changes I'd made, I forgot to change the number. Oh yes I did, lol! I wasn't about to reprint it, so I printed the right date and taped it on. Can you tell? It wasn't my brightest moment for sure. :) (At least we all know now that it's really easy to cover the number if you want to use last years print.)
FOR PERSONAL USE ONLY
You can easily change the colors of the two black and white images above and the two below into any color that you'd like. Just click here to read my tutorial on how to recolor a subway art image or print them onto colored/patterned scrapbook paper.
I hope you have a wonderful Thanksgiving season. Whether we're experiencing good times or things are a bit rough, it seems to help when we have our family and friends close by and take time to reflect on the blessings we have in our lives.
You can read about how to make the burlap flowers (in the photo below) in this post. Can you see how the words look a bit stretched? This is because I resized it to a 5x7. (I inserted it into Microsoft Publisher and then printed it on a full size sheet of photo paper. Directions on re-sizing are at the end of the post.)
There are 12 designs to choose from.
FOR PERSONAL USE ONLY
If you would like to share this subway art with your readers I ask that you use one of the photos or the color choice image above and then link back here for the prints.
Please don't post the prints on your blog. Thank you! :)
You can easily change the colors of the two black and white images above and the two below into any color that you'd like. Just click here to read my tutorial on how to recolor a subway art image or print them onto colored/patterned scrapbook paper.
To download: You must first click on the image to open it in a new window in it's highest resolution. Right click on the image and either copy and paste it into a document (to size and then print), or click on save image as to save it to your computer. You will need to size it before you print.
To size the prints: The prints look will look the best printed as an 8x10 or 4"x5" (for a card), but can be stretched to other sizes if you insert them into a document using a program like Microsoft Word/Publisher or Photo shop. Insert the image, click on it, then drag the sides of the image to the size that you want. (A 5x7 will look a bit stretched with this design.)
*You can also save the image to your computer and then use your computer's picture manager program to print it as an 8x10.
Print them on white or colored card stock, scrapbook paper, or (for the best quality) on photo paper. (Check your dollar store for photo paper, I buy packages of 8- 8 1/2 x 11 sheets for only $1.)
I hope you have a wonderful Thanksgiving season. Whether we're experiencing good times or things are a bit rough, it seems to help when we have our family and friends close by and take time to reflect on the blessings we have in our lives.
Today's Fabulous Find...Thanksgiving Subway Art
Linking to some fun parties: Under the Table and Dreaming Today's Creative Blog Thanksgiving Party at Somewhat Simple I Heart Naptime Be Different Act Normal Tator Tots and Jello Pocket Full of Pink Funky Junk Interiors Serenity Now Just A Girl
11.03.2011
DIY Mantel Shelf and How to Hang It
Awhile back, I was browsing through a linky party and came across this amazing shelf that Sarah made and posted at Faded Country. All I had was a skinny black shelf that seemed really wimpy compared to Sarah's mantel shelf. I got excited when I read through her tutorial and realized that it really wasn't too complicated to make...and....I could make it for next to nothing, which if you've read my blog before, you know that this REALLY gets me excited!
Because I knew I wanted to use it as a full mantel shelf and wanted the freedom to put larger items on it, I used a1x8x10 for my shelf. I bought the wood at Lowe's and they were kind enough to cut it for me into two 4' long boards, and then 2 end boards that matched the width of the board.
Edited to add: I didn't realize that I neglected to add the rest of the measurements for the boards when I went back and added the directions to the post. (After looking over my shelf again, I think that I actually bought a 1x8x8, not a 1x8x10.) The top and bottom of the shelf are cut from a 1x8x8 and are each 4' long. The front of the shelf is a 1x6x6 board and was cut down to 4' long. The rest of the 1x6x6 was used for the sides of the shelf. When I had the boards cut at Lowe's, I had them cut the 6" wide board down to 4' long for the front, then set the top of the shelf on it (lining up the corners) and then set the remainder of the board in place on the side to measure and mark it for the cut. (The shelf looks taller because the trim hangs down longer than the bottom of the shelf.)
There are a few things that I did differently, not because I wasn't already in love with Sarah's shelf (believe me I was), but because I wanted to use a piece of trim that I already had in my garage that was just waiting for a project to come along. Also, I actually forgot that the tutorial called for brackets to hold it together, so I just pre-drilled my holes and used screws instead, which worked great.
One thing that was a bit of a pain is that my trim had already previously been painted white, so I took the extra time to sand it down enough so that I could stain it dark brown for the distressing at the end. It wasn't a fun time I'll tell you that, but remember...it was free. (That's what I kept telling myself when I was tempted to run for new wood.)
I stained the wood using dark walnut, then painted it with some leftover enamel paint that I had. Quick side note: I really love this color, it's called Alabaster and is from Sherwin Williams. Their enamel paint for doors and trim in semi-gloss is pretty pricey (using a coupon helps), but it's really good paint. I used it to paint my kitchen cabinets last year and it has held up better than I could have imagined.
I'm posting some pictures so you can see where I placed the screws, etc. The lip at the top of mine is @3/16". I'm not going to go into detail about the rest of the project because Sarah has written an excellent tutorial on how to make this shelf and I don't want to steal her thunder. :)
Don't worry too much about unsightly gaps (the consequence of using an old miter box), some caulk will take care of it.
Edited to add: Sarah's tutorial is no longer available, so I'm adding some steps to the post.
After I stained it, I used a foam brush and primed it first. I usually don't prime first when I'm distressing, but the color was so dark that I was worried it would take too many coats of paint to cover it up. I've done it with and without primer, so really either way will work. Just keep adding coats of paint until the brown isn't showing through. I sanded the shelf with sandpaper to distress it when the paint was dry to the touch, but wasn't completely hardened yet. It seems to 'peel' off better and leave more of the stain underneath, when you distress it, if the paint still has a bit of a rubbery feel to it. You can fold your sandpaper in half and use the straight edge to get the straighter distressed lines. Next comes the glaze (optional). I put some dark glaze on a rag and wiped it over the corners and edges and into the inside corners to make them darker. You can also wipe on a light coat of glaze over the rest of the shelf. The last thing I did was to spray it with a clear acrylic spray in the matte finish. I think that it richens the colors and makes the shelf look finished.
Edited to add: I received an e-mail with questions on the construction and supplies, this is my reply. I apologize that this post is so disorganized! At this point I might need to rewrite it. :)
I used wood glue and screws to put the shelf together. It's been awhile since I made my mantel shelf, but I'm pretty sure that I pre-drilled the holes before I screwed the wood together. If you use a drill bit smaller than the size of the screw to drill a pilot hole first it prevents the wood from splitting.
The top and bottom of the shelf are cut from a 1x8x8 and are each 4' long. The front of the shelf is a 1x6x6 board and was cut down to 4' long. The rest of the 1x6x6 was used for the sides of the shelf. When I had the boards cut at Lowe's, I had them cut the 6" wide board down to 4' long for the front, then set the top of the shelf on it (lining up the corners) and then set the remainder of the board in place on the side to measure and mark it for the cut. (The shelf looks taller because the trim hangs down longer than the bottom of the shelf.)
Supplies you will need:
wood (1x8x8 and 1x6x6) I hope I'm remembering this right!
wood glue
screws (I just used some that I had on hand, if you ask at the home improvement store, they can direct you to some that will work.)
sandpaper (medium and heavy grit)
electric sander to sand the rough edges of the boards before and after you put it together (could sand by hand)
paint brush
stain
finish nails (to nail on the trim molding)
wood filler (to fill the holes from the nails and screws)
caulk (make sure it is paintable) and caulk gun (to fill in any cracks in the corners of the trim)
2"x2"x4' long board for hanging the shelf and extra long screws (this part is in the tutorial)
decorative trim molding (12' long or two 8' lengths)
saw (I used a hand saw and miter box to cut the trim. It was a bit tricky to cut the angles and I messed up, but was able to fill the holes with caulk and they look great now.)
If you enlarge the pictures in the post I think they will help a lot on seeing exactly how it all fits together.
I hope I didn't leave anything out, if you have any questions I'd be happy to answer them. This way isn't the only way to get the look, but it's what worked for me.
One thing that I do want to share though is how I hung it, this thing is heavy! I got the idea from someone who posted about hanging a headboard this way, but unfortunately can't remember where I saw it.
How to hang a box mantel shelf:
1. Cut a board just smaller than the opening of the back of the box mantel shelf. Mine was a 2 x 2 1/2, I think (almost square). It was a leftover from a past project and turned out to be the perfect size.
2. Use a stud finder to locate the studs in the wall and mark them, then mark the placement on the mounting board.
3. Pre-drill the holes in the studs just smaller than the screws and in the mounting board as well.
4. Next you will pre-drill holes in the mounting board to attach the shelf to the top of it. Stagger them between the holes you've already drilled.
5. Use a level to make sure the board is level and then screw it into the wall.
6. Put the shelf next to the board, mark the placement of the drill holes, and pre-drill holes in the top back of your shelf.
7. Place the shelf over the board, lining up the holes, and screw it to the mounting board. I put in three screws. You'll need someone to hold it for you, trust me. :)
That's it, admire you're new 'mantel'!
So just for fun, here's a look at my unfinished Fall Mantel with the black shelf. So, so wimpy.
And how it looks now with my new mantel shelf. Now that's a shelf!
I've never had an actual real mantel shelf to decorate, so this was an especially fabulous find for me! My total cost was $10.40, which is simply amazing for such a big shelf!
Update: It was just brought to my attention that Sarah's blog is no longer available. If you have any questions about the construction of the shelf, please leave a comment and I'll try to answer it for you.
Because I knew I wanted to use it as a full mantel shelf and wanted the freedom to put larger items on it, I used a
Edited to add: I didn't realize that I neglected to add the rest of the measurements for the boards when I went back and added the directions to the post. (After looking over my shelf again, I think that I actually bought a 1x8x8, not a 1x8x10.) The top and bottom of the shelf are cut from a 1x8x8 and are each 4' long. The front of the shelf is a 1x6x6 board and was cut down to 4' long. The rest of the 1x6x6 was used for the sides of the shelf. When I had the boards cut at Lowe's, I had them cut the 6" wide board down to 4' long for the front, then set the top of the shelf on it (lining up the corners) and then set the remainder of the board in place on the side to measure and mark it for the cut. (The shelf looks taller because the trim hangs down longer than the bottom of the shelf.)
There are a few things that I did differently, not because I wasn't already in love with Sarah's shelf (believe me I was), but because I wanted to use a piece of trim that I already had in my garage that was just waiting for a project to come along. Also, I actually forgot that the tutorial called for brackets to hold it together, so I just pre-drilled my holes and used screws instead, which worked great.
One thing that was a bit of a pain is that my trim had already previously been painted white, so I took the extra time to sand it down enough so that I could stain it dark brown for the distressing at the end. It wasn't a fun time I'll tell you that, but remember...it was free. (That's what I kept telling myself when I was tempted to run for new wood.)
I stained the wood using dark walnut, then painted it with some leftover enamel paint that I had. Quick side note: I really love this color, it's called Alabaster and is from Sherwin Williams. Their enamel paint for doors and trim in semi-gloss is pretty pricey (using a coupon helps), but it's really good paint. I used it to paint my kitchen cabinets last year and it has held up better than I could have imagined.
I'm posting some pictures so you can see where I placed the screws, etc. The lip at the top of mine is @3/16". I'm not going to go into detail about the rest of the project because Sarah has written an excellent tutorial on how to make this shelf and I don't want to steal her thunder. :)
Don't worry too much about unsightly gaps (the consequence of using an old miter box), some caulk will take care of it.
Edited to add: Sarah's tutorial is no longer available, so I'm adding some steps to the post.
After I stained it, I used a foam brush and primed it first. I usually don't prime first when I'm distressing, but the color was so dark that I was worried it would take too many coats of paint to cover it up. I've done it with and without primer, so really either way will work. Just keep adding coats of paint until the brown isn't showing through. I sanded the shelf with sandpaper to distress it when the paint was dry to the touch, but wasn't completely hardened yet. It seems to 'peel' off better and leave more of the stain underneath, when you distress it, if the paint still has a bit of a rubbery feel to it. You can fold your sandpaper in half and use the straight edge to get the straighter distressed lines. Next comes the glaze (optional). I put some dark glaze on a rag and wiped it over the corners and edges and into the inside corners to make them darker. You can also wipe on a light coat of glaze over the rest of the shelf. The last thing I did was to spray it with a clear acrylic spray in the matte finish. I think that it richens the colors and makes the shelf look finished.
Edited to add: I received an e-mail with questions on the construction and supplies, this is my reply. I apologize that this post is so disorganized! At this point I might need to rewrite it. :)
I used wood glue and screws to put the shelf together. It's been awhile since I made my mantel shelf, but I'm pretty sure that I pre-drilled the holes before I screwed the wood together. If you use a drill bit smaller than the size of the screw to drill a pilot hole first it prevents the wood from splitting.
The top and bottom of the shelf are cut from a 1x8x8 and are each 4' long. The front of the shelf is a 1x6x6 board and was cut down to 4' long. The rest of the 1x6x6 was used for the sides of the shelf. When I had the boards cut at Lowe's, I had them cut the 6" wide board down to 4' long for the front, then set the top of the shelf on it (lining up the corners) and then set the remainder of the board in place on the side to measure and mark it for the cut. (The shelf looks taller because the trim hangs down longer than the bottom of the shelf.)
Supplies you will need:
wood (1x8x8 and 1x6x6) I hope I'm remembering this right!
wood glue
screws (I just used some that I had on hand, if you ask at the home improvement store, they can direct you to some that will work.)
sandpaper (medium and heavy grit)
electric sander to sand the rough edges of the boards before and after you put it together (could sand by hand)
paint brush
stain
finish nails (to nail on the trim molding)
wood filler (to fill the holes from the nails and screws)
caulk (make sure it is paintable) and caulk gun (to fill in any cracks in the corners of the trim)
2"x2"x4' long board for hanging the shelf and extra long screws (this part is in the tutorial)
decorative trim molding (12' long or two 8' lengths)
saw (I used a hand saw and miter box to cut the trim. It was a bit tricky to cut the angles and I messed up, but was able to fill the holes with caulk and they look great now.)
If you enlarge the pictures in the post I think they will help a lot on seeing exactly how it all fits together.
I hope I didn't leave anything out, if you have any questions I'd be happy to answer them. This way isn't the only way to get the look, but it's what worked for me.
One thing that I do want to share though is how I hung it, this thing is heavy! I got the idea from someone who posted about hanging a headboard this way, but unfortunately can't remember where I saw it.
How to hang a box mantel shelf:
1. Cut a board just smaller than the opening of the back of the box mantel shelf. Mine was a 2 x 2 1/2, I think (almost square). It was a leftover from a past project and turned out to be the perfect size.
2. Use a stud finder to locate the studs in the wall and mark them, then mark the placement on the mounting board.
3. Pre-drill the holes in the studs just smaller than the screws and in the mounting board as well.
4. Next you will pre-drill holes in the mounting board to attach the shelf to the top of it. Stagger them between the holes you've already drilled.
5. Use a level to make sure the board is level and then screw it into the wall.
6. Put the shelf next to the board, mark the placement of the drill holes, and pre-drill holes in the top back of your shelf.
7. Place the shelf over the board, lining up the holes, and screw it to the mounting board. I put in three screws. You'll need someone to hold it for you, trust me. :)
That's it, admire you're new 'mantel'!
So just for fun, here's a look at my unfinished Fall Mantel with the black shelf. So, so wimpy.
And how it looks now with my new mantel shelf. Now that's a shelf!
Click here for tutorials on all of the items pictured above.
I've never had an actual real mantel shelf to decorate, so this was an especially fabulous find for me! My total cost was $10.40, which is simply amazing for such a big shelf!
Many thanks to Sarah for sharing her tutorial!
Update: It was just brought to my attention that Sarah's blog is no longer available. If you have any questions about the construction of the shelf, please leave a comment and I'll try to answer it for you.
Today's Fabulous Find...DIY Mantel Shelf
11.01.2011
Thank you's, Shabby Apple Dress Winner and 10% Off Code
Did you have a fun Halloween?
At times it sure seems like a lot of work to have it come and go so quickly, but it's totally worth it! :)
My kids each carved their own Jack-o-lantern. It's fun to see from year to year what they come up with for the design. The pumpkin third from the left says puke and had pumpkin 'guts' spilling from the mouth. It's kinda gross, but looked so funny! :)
Thanks to all of you who entered the giveaway for the Shabby Apple Dress.
We have a winner!
The winner of the Shabby Apple Da Vinci dress is Missy who said:
"My favorite is definitely Madison Ave. :) "
Congratulations Missy!
For those of you who didn't win, you can still use the code "fabfinds10off" to get 10% off of your order until November 19th.
Thank you's
Each month I put together a list of the blogs that have featured one of my projects. It's my small way of saying thank you. If you have a minute, read through the list to see if there are any you aren't familiar with, you might find a new fun blog. :)
Printable Halloween Countdown
Game Night in a Bag
Fall Subway Art
Photo/Quote/Recipe Block
Thankful Decorative Charger
15 Gifts under $2
A big thank you to The Messy Roost for passing on the Versatile Blogger award to me. While I haven't taken the time to fill the requirements to accept the award, I want to thank Rhonda for thinking of me! :)
Also, it was such a thrill to see that my Fall Bubble Burlap Wreath was chosen as the top pick at The CSI Projects' Fall Wreath Challenge. There are so many beautiful and fun wreaths that were entered. If you are looking for some inspiration, this is a great place to start!
Do you know what the CSI Project blog is all about? Each week there is a new challenge, a guest judge, and a linky party. The guest judge visits each link and chooses her favorite #1 project and a top 10 project list. It's a lot of fun! Visit the CSI project and check out the list of upcoming challenges on their sidebar. This week is kid's spaces and places which I'm excited about!
Hope you have a wonderful day today!
Thanks for reading.
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