DIY: "Spring" Letters

So spring is just around the corner and we cannot wait.  Hoosier Homemade's blog has just the DIY project to get us going on spring related projects so we can be ready to roll!

This one is a "Spring" decor idea that brings color and happiness to any room!  Be sure to check out their blog for more DIY.

I just love how it turned out! Doug did an AMAZING job on it…don’t you think?

The concept for the scrapbook paper being applied to the wood is similar to the St. Patrick’s Day Door Hanging we made, but the letters were a little curved on the edge, so Doug had to cut out the paper before applying it to the wood. It was a little more time consuming, but well worth it.

And we couldn’t help but take pictures outside in the beautiful Spring weather we have!

Let’s gather our supplies…

Spring Craft Supplies:

• Wood – We used a piece of baseboard from our local molding outlet (length will depend on how many letters)
• Letters
• Scrapbook paper
• White paint for the edges of the letters
• Pre-stain and stain for the wood
• Spray adhesive to apply paper {not pictured}

Wood Preparation:

1. Cut your wood to length. Doug cut this piece, 5 inches longer than what we needed, leaving 2 1/2 inches on each end.
2. Using a rag, apply the pre-stain. Pre-stain is needed when staining soft or porous types of wood to prevent the finish from being blotchy.
3. Let sit 15-20 minutes to allow to soak in, wipe off any excess.
4. Apply stain evenly with a foam brush and allow to sit for 5-10 minutes depending how dark you want the final product to be, carefully wipe and excess stain off. {We used a combination stain/polyurethane product to speed up the process}

Letter Preparation:

1. Slightly sand the edges of the letters with 180 grit or finer sand paper. {the higher the number the finer the grit}
2. Paint the edges (2 coats) we used a satin latex that we had on our shelf {the washers are just to keep the letters up off the drop cloth}
3. Glue a small block of wood to the back side of the letters to give more area to glue to base.
4. Trace the letter onto the back of the scrapbook paper and cut out

Decorating the Letters:

• Spray the back side of the paper with adhesive and carefully adhere to the wood letters
• To attach the letters to the wood, use a hot glue gun {note: Doug tried wood glue and even super glue, but the glue gun worked the best}

DIY: Valentine's Day Mantel

So, it is that time of 2013 when all the stores remove any last remnants of Christmas and New Year's items and start overloading on pink and red Valentine's Day jazz!  We are getting in the spirit to with this great mantel decoration idea from My Blessed Life.

We think that this would be easily adaptable to an office / cube space if you feel like making your work spot more interesting.

We hope that you find this as inspiring as we did and gets you into the mood for pink and red EVERYWHERE!

I love the layered simplicity of how the mantel turned out.  I kept the background {old window and vintage ceiling tile} that I used for my Christmas mantel and I switched out the printer’s drawer for another one that is a bit lighter. My hubs and I dug out the V-day decor out from last year and I had a blast making it work on the mantel!

I love my DIY “Be Mine” Topiary from last year.  I also used my Ruffled Satin Heart Wreaths and little balls.

Are you tired of seeing aqua insulators in just about every mantel I decorate? Ahem. I love ‘em, so they aren’t going away anytime soon. My Burlap Valentine’s Wreath from last year adds a fabulous texture to the mantel. The white vases with pink tulips make me smile because they are simple and calm.

An old cigar box and salvaged piece of trim {from Southern Accents} created a perfect stand for my little white vase.  The pink leather flower is part of a boutonniere from our wedding…almost six years ago. Wow.

This yellowing, falling apart framed “art” was a gift to my husband back long before he was my husband.  It is sentimental and I love seeing it every day.  Oh, if you haven’t read our story, it’s a good one!

So pretty!

DIY: New Year's Eve Confetti!

Head on over to "Homework: Today's Assignment: Be Inspired"'s website for this awesome DIY New Year's Eve confetti!  This is so easy to whip up and would make for a great last minute party idea.  The only problem?  Vacuuming it all up!

DIY: Gold Dipped Glasses

Having a New Year's Eve party?  These gold dipped glasses would make the perfect edition to any party night!  These come to you from Momtastics' blog - so go check her out! 

Supplies:

• Mettalic gold spray paint
• Masking tape
• Newspaper
• Wine glasses

Wash wine glasses thoroughly. Wrap tape around the base of the wine glass leaving the area exposed you want to paint gold. Cover the rest of the glass with paper

I taped up the sides too to be extra cautious

Spray from a good distance, at least 1 1/2 feet to get a nice even coat.

Do the same with the other glasses in your set.

DIY: Black and Gold New Years Eve Party Hats

We love these party hats from Studio DIY's website, especially since they are black and gold (UCF colors - and we have knights in the family)!  They look so simple, it's kinda ridiculous and marvelous all at the same time!!  So, get on it.  ;)

Supply List:

Paper Mache Cone  

Gold Spray Paint

Black Tissue Paper
Black Tape
Hot Glue
Black Cardstock
Black Fringe Trim
Headband
Gold Filler Balls or Other Trimming (Optional)

To Make:

Spray paint your paper mache cone gold and let dry. Meanwhile, cut your tissue paper into five inch squares. You’ll need two for each party hat. Grab one square in the middle and pinch it, then twist so it keeps its shape slightly. Repeat with a second square.

Hold your two squares together at the twisted bases and wrap black tape around them to secure.

 

Hot glue your tissue poof to your paper mache cone. Add some fringe trim around the bottom of the cone, covering the base of your poof you just added.

 

Cut out two circles from your cardstock the width of your cone’s base. Hot glue one to the base of the hat. Now sandwich your headband in between the cone and the other cardstock circle and secure with hot glue.

 

Add some fun gold fillers or beads if you’d like, or leave it plain. As you can see, I did both!

DIY: T-shirt Pom Poms

Lebenslus Tiger's blog is a fun DIY site for a litany of crafts!  We love t-shirt crafts and this one is definitely one we'll be doing.  Don't fret if you were hoping for another ornament tutorial today - we'll be doing two blogs today (the next one being an ornament tutorial)!  Check out their blog for more fun DIY if you need even more!

Don't they look like hundreds of little rosebuds bound together?

I did them traditionally with two cut out cardboard discs and gave them a little haircut afterwards...

DIY: Quick and Easy Felt Magnets

Everything Etsy is a ridiculously cute blog with great DIY projects you need to see.  We especially love this one showing how to make quick and easy DIY magnets in a variety of designs.  Go grab some felt and start making (this would make some awesome stocking stuffers...)!

Felt Magnets are a sweet and simple project…perfect for Summer Camps and sleepovers, or while you’re enjoying a little afternoon coffee break.   It’s no surprise to see another felt project on my blog, I’m sure. I love felt!

Here’s how I put together these fun little magnets…

Gather up a selection of beautiful felt for inspiration.  This is all wool felt…I love the colors!

Bring out you collection of embroidery floss…more pretty colors!

You can find these business card magnets at your local office supply or craft store.  Just peel off the back and use it as a template for your background felt.

Cut you rectangle out and stitch a sweet little something on it.  Then carefully line up your felt creation and stick it to your magnet.  How easy is that?

Quick and easy felt projects never fail to make me smile!

I’m planning to make a few more to keep on hand for gifts.  Tie a few together with some pretty ribbon and you’re sure to make someone’s day.

DIY: Neon Paper Bead Earrings

Plaid 130508 Mod Podge Dimensional Magic 2 Ounces (Google Affiliate Ad)

Dollar Store Crafts has done it again - another amazing and easy tutorial that we just can not wait to try!!

You must go to their blog, you'll love it.  Trust us.

I created some circular beads with the help of some neon paper, Mod Podge, and Mod Podge's cousin Dimensional Magic. I love the possibilities of turning a little piece of paper into a decorative bead you can use for lots of different kinds of jewelry! Read on to find out how to do it.

Project Materials:

• Assorted paper (I used neon), on hand
• Paper punch (I used a 3/4" round punch), on hand
• Small hole punch, on hand
• Mod Podge, on hand or about $5 and up a bottle
• Dimensional Magic, about $5 a tube
• Earring Hooks, on hand or $1 and up
• Black thread, on hand
• Foam brush, on hand
• Wax paper, on hand

Total: $5 and up

Supplies: I had all this stuff on hand. If you have the Dimensional Magic on hand, this project is basically free. If you DON'T have any DM on hand, I recommend it because it is a very fun supply! What is Dimensional Magic? It's a water-based glaze that has the look of resin, but without the mess, the mixing, or the uncertainty. 

One thing you need to know about Dimensional Magic is that it takes several hours to dry, so plan on an afternoon, or overnight, for creating these beads.

How to Make Dimensional Magic Paper Beads:

1. Mod Podge the paper you want to use, and allow it to dry. Then Mod Podge the other side.

You need to seal the paper before you coat it with Dimensional Magic, and it is easier to Mod Podge it before you punch it as well.

2. Punch the Mod Podged (and dried) paper. Make sure the paper is completely dry, or you will muck up your paper punch.

3. Lay a piece of wax paper on a sturdy surface (such as a cookie sheet), and put the punched out paper discs on top of it.

4. Put a light coat of Dimensional Magic on each disc. You might want to use the "royal icing" technique of piping around the edge of the disc, and then flooding DM inside the bead. Don't use too much DM. A light coat will do.

Allow the Dimensional Magic to dry completely - at least several hours or overnight.

5. When the DM is totally dry, turn discs over and cover with Dimensional Magic and allow to dry.

6. When completely dry, you can punch a hole in the disc with a small hole punch. You might have a little leakage of Dimensional Magic on the edges of the beads. Just trim it off with scissors.

7. String as desired.

To Make Neon Paper Bead Earrings:

1. Tie some black thread around each bead.

2. Tie thread to earring wires.

3. Rock the earrings.

4. Get kissed by boys.

5. Get made fun of for wearing earrings that look like they're made of garage sale price tags.

6. Yes, this blog is cheap, but it's not THAT CHEAP.