WIMW - Grandma's Birthday Gift

Don't worry, she's already received it, so I am not in jeopardy of ruining any kind of surprise. :~) Also, pretty sure my mom doesn't read my blog anyway, or she would have already seen the pictures included in the gift! Anywhoo, a while ago (before Christmas) I came across this pin on Pinterest.

Original Pinsperation

 I had every intention of making something like it for Christmas presents, but I never actually got around to it! Thank goodness, my mom's birthday is in January so I hadn't already forgotten the pin. There isn't a link to any kind of tutorial with the pin, so I kind of had to come up with my own. In the original, it looks as though it was simply a wood plank painted or stained and then the words must have been PAINSTAKINGLY applied by hand (NO WAY I was going to do that!!!). Here is my version of the project. I will explain, roughly, what I did after the jump. I was running behind as usual, so I didn't take any "during" pictures. Also, sorry for the poor picture quality, it's really quite ridiculous.

My version.

Okay, so I am going to try and explain how I made this (in ten simple steps). Here goes nothing.

1) I bought a raw wood plaque from Hobby Lobby.

2) I measured the face of the plaque (the whole rectangle, I worried about the corners after the fact).

3) I created a document the size of the face of the plaque. (I use PhotoShop, but MS Publisher would be just as easy)

4) I added a background to the document, but really, if you wanted you could just print text on scrapbook paper or something like that, and I added the text.

5) I printed the document on linen look cardstock, placed it onto the plaque and folded the corners to see where they needed to be cut.

6) I uses Mod Podge to adhere the document to the plaque, covering the back and the front of the paper completely (note, the red ink runs....boo). I also Mod Podged the edges of the plaque.

7) After the Mod Podge was dry, I painted the edges of the frame (and slightly over the edges of the paper).

8) When the paint dried, I Mod Podged over the entire project again.

9) Next, I used Amazing Goop Craft Glue to attach the tiny clothes pins to the plaque.

10) Finally, I painted the top of each clothes pin and embellished them with (you wont believe this) clip on earrings with the backings removed!!! The earrings were in a bucket of old costume jewelry which didn't sell at a friend's garage sale. So glad I picked it up!

My mom really seemed to like the gift. Hopefully this little project will spark some creativity in your life as well!

What I Made Wednesday - Thriftstore Purse Revival

In an attempt to keep up with blogging a bit more, I am really REALLY trying to find a way to become more organized (read: blog more) while still giving myself some breathing room. In addition, I would LOVE love LOVE to find a way to incorporate all of the activities that I, well, LOVE. I realized as of late that this space has become kind of a virtual mish-mash of all of the goings on in my life (recipes, photos, crafts, etc). It was seeming a bit disheveled, but I still liked it. I mean, who wants to have a one track mind, right? ;~) Any-whoo, here is what I am thinking: 

Monday - "Monday Munchies" - This is where I get to incorporate my love of cooking into the blog. Posts might include meal plans, recipes I like (or tried but didn't like), ways to organize family dinners, etc.

Wednesday - "What I Made Wednesday" - I loosely borrowed this idea from Lindsey over at The Pleated Poppy. She includes "What I WORE Wednesday" in her blog, BUT, since no one wants to see a photo collage of me in yoga pants every.single.week, this is where I am going to post about my latest "projects".

Friday - "Photo Friday" - I am NOT a photographer....at all, but, one of my goals for the year is to make the photos I do take BETTER and the best way to get better at anything is to practice, practice, practice. So, here is where I will share various photo snippets from our little world.

Now that the logistics are out of the way, I welcome you to read my FIRST "What I Made Wednesday". Enjoy

A while back, I picked up a sturdy, yet super 

ugly purse at the Salvation Army for right around

a dollar. When I saw the purse, I thought, "Hmm, I

think I may be able to do something with that!" 

So off I went to the fabric store (this is a no-sew

project, have I mentioned how much sewing scares me?). 

I purchased a quarter yard of jewel-toned fabric,

which I love, so warm and inviting, jewel-tones, and

promptly headed home.

This was really so easy. I laid the purse on the fabric,

traced around the edges with fabric marker, cut out the

fabric and then mod podged it to the purse with a

sponge brush. Yep, you heard me right I MOD-PODGED

the fabric straight onto the purse! Yay, no sewing!

I let the whole thing dry and VOILA, a "new" purse.

It really looks super cute with jeans, boots and a scarf

OR with yoga pants! (haha!)

  PS - I tend to enjoy ugly trendy purses, so you won't hurt my feelings if you are currently screaming "EWWWW!".   :~)