silhouette plate

I made two silhouette plates as holiday gifts this year. One with each of my nephews on it.  I found the tutorial on Prudent Baby.

Here is my result for my nephew Joshua.

I some how sent Isaac's without taking a photo, so hopefully my brother or sister-in-law will send a photo that I can post here to show it off.

Here is the plate of my nephew Isaac:

(Thanks for the photo Brandie!!!)

I had a photo of each nephews silhouette, I then put it on top of black paper and cut out the two layers with an x-acto knife.  Then I mod podged it onto a plate (from goodwill).

Hanging Bookshelf

My good friend Liz approached me and asked if I'd be willing to make/decorate her a small hanging bookshelf for a cozy cottage bunk bed room. I happily agreed!

The only things she said were:

• I should take a paint chip to match the yellow of the other furniture
• She showed me a particular quilt that would be living in that room
• She had the dimensions she wanted for the shelf unit.

The room has a yellow dresser and side table, a top twin sized bunk and a bottom double sized bunk.  I took a paint chip from the dresser so I could match the paint and went on my way.

I sat and thought a lot about how I was going to find a book shelf matching the dimensions... I normally create my projects from things I find in peoples trash or on craigslist. I did a little research and learned that there is a custom wood furniture/shelving place right around the corner from where I live. I talked to them and they said they could make me a shelf fitting those specs.  Perfect!

I went to the paint store in hopes of them matching the paintchip I had. Unfortunately I didn't bring enough of the paint color for them to match using their fancy machine, so it was up to my eye and Peters encouragement to get the right color or at least a close match. I finally settled on what would be the yellow and hoped it would match. IT DID!

I sketched out a number of designs for it, that incorporated the wedding ring quilt idea. I settled on one design and began. I painted the whole shelf yellow. Then I made a stencil, traced it on to the side of the shelf and painted it white. THEN came the decoupaged quilting.

The pictures can tell you the rest of the story.

I cut out paper 'patches' out of decorative paper. I decoupaged them onto the shelf using Mod Podge and a polycrylic top coat.

Next time I am at Liz's cottage I will try to take a picture of the whole room. You can see the quilt in the very last photo. I had fun making this for her, and am glad that it fits in so well with the rest of the decor.

Ode To The Mustache

HAPPY FATHER'S DAY!

Today my dad and mom came over for a bagel brunch including fresh bagels from the bakery down the road, lox, chive cream cheese, cucumber, red onion, grapefruit juice, espresso, a chocolate pastery, and almond macaroons (my dad's favorite)!

My dad is an amazing guy with an amazing mustache. It has become part of his persona over the past few years. It has had shorter days, longer days, curlier days, and down days... No matter what kind of mustache day it is, my dad is the proud wearer!

 

Of course this day has to include a craft project. This time it was the card that was the craft and ode to the mustache! 

I took a piece of foam core board, cut it to shape and covered the 'stache with some fun paper, wrote a message on the back, and attached it to a small gift. I am a FUN socks kind of gal and thought what better to give than something you yourself love.  I saw these and could not refuse!!! If they had come in a smaller size I would have gotten them for myself too.  Socks with MUSTACHES! 

These beauties are from Sock It To Me, I think I am in love and have found a new favorite store!

Image care of  www.sockittomesocks.com

I Love You Dad!

Coasters

I made my mom and my mother-in-law coasters for mother's day!  They turned out pretty well if I do say so myself. A couple of tiles, a few images, a little mod podge, some polyurethane, cork contact paper, and some satin ribbon, along with a paintbrush, a glue gun and some free time, got these puppies done.  I was inspired by a tutorial I saw on Prudent Baby.

The set for my mom has wrens on them, she has some nesting in her yard.

The set for my mother-in-law has different animals on them. A kangaroo rat, a bee, a chicken, and a seahorse.

Blue & White Tissue Paper Trash Table

I found this little table at the Habitat for Humanity Re-Store for I think $4.  It was cracked and the top would not stay on so the man gave it to me for half price, $2!  I glued, clamped and fixed the table so it was sturdy again.  I found some sweet tissue paper at Target. I knew it had to turn into something, and this little table was it. I sanded, painted and decoupaged it.  Decoupaging with tissue paper is a little bit harder than with a sturdier paper. It rips more easily and creases more easily, but I was up for a challenge.

BEFORE:

I know what you're thinking. Why ruin such a good looking table. Don't worry, it looks like nice wood, but it is really particleboard disguised as fine wood. I have an affinity for wood, and leave it alone if it's anything of note. (I'll post about my craft dresser another time!)

 

This is where I probably started yelling upstairs to Pete saying, "I'm doing this project, here is what I need you to do." Laying the table top was probably the hardest part.

AFTER:

I think it came out pretty cute.  Now if it only matched the other things in the house. . .

Monkey Rocker

My nephew turned ONE in January.  I decorated a childs rocking chair for his gift. The chair was unfinished wood, I got it at Michaels. This doesn't really constitute "trash" furniture as it was new, but that's the category I am putting it in.  I painted it, and decoupaged it with some cute paper.

I painted his name on it too!

Jason & Shanon's side table back-blog

Jason and Shanon, friends from grad school bought a house. As a house warming present I made them a piece of what I like to call 'Trash Furniture'.  I went to the local Habitat for Humanity Re-Store and found a cute little table for minimal $. It was kind of blond colored wood to begin with. Unfortunately I do not have any photos of it BEFORE.  So I painted it and decoupaged it with some awesome paper from The Paper Source. Here are some photos of DURING and AFTER.

This is painted, note the bulbs on the feet are not yet painted.

Painted and decoupaged. 

I lined the drawer, and got some cute matching green knobs!

The table in its new home. 

(Yes I knew the color of their couches, but didn't realize the pillows matched too!)