Button Monogram

These have been floating around blogland for a while and I have been waiting for the opportunity to make one. I obtained all of these buttons from a cool site named Freecycle.com. It is similar to Craigslist but all the items are FREE! I put out a message that I was looking for some buttons and someone responded. I picked up three checkbook boxes full of buttons. I printed out the first letter of our last name (I used Elephant font) and traced it on a piece of cardboard backed canvas. Then I got out my trusty glue gun and went to town. This was an extrodinarily easy project. I just spent a little of extra time arranging the buttons.

I think it turned out great and can't wait to see it on my faux mantle once it is done. I may decide to embelish it a little more as well. Now if only we could have spring weather so I can get my painting done. We are supposed to get 5-8 inches of SNOW today!



Faux Mantle Score

I could not be more happy about this! I have been looking for a mirror for my mantlescape and what did I see on the curb yesterday?

This little beauty! I was so excited to show you all that I didn't even clean up before I took the picture. It got a healthy coat of spray paint last night and tonight I'm hoping to work on the other pieces. I'm also getting some pictures of the handsomest man ever printed tonight.


First let me tell you I debated sharing my Little D's picture on here but he is a part of me so here he is!

I'm looking forward to sharing my progress on the faux mantle this weekend!

Creating a Faux Mantle Introduction

After taking a few days off following my craft fair, I'm getting ready to takle my next project. In my living room there is a large wall that is the focal point of the room (aside from the TV of course). Since we don't have a fireplace (which I think is strange due to the house being built in 1840), I have decided to create a mantle look, without the mantle. I'm in supply gathering mode right now and am currently looking for the perfect  mirror to work in my space. I am planning a spray paint session tonight and will hopefully have a few sneak peaks for you soon!

Craft Show Prep!

Hey everyone! Sorry I have been MIA this week. I have been deep in craft show things all week long. Check back tomorrow for show details and a friends and family discount coupon!

I wanted to share this awesome project from Jen over at Tatertots & Jello:

Cute and Colorful Chore Chart



Easy Paper Banner

Today's post is short, sweet and simple. So simple, I don't even have process pictures for you! In preparation for the craft show I will be attending on April 9th and 10th, I wanted to make a banner for my booth. I grabbed my trusty Silhouette and got to work. As with most Silhouette crafts, this can also be done using a scissors or craft knife.

I chose the pennant shape from the Silhouette library and moved it to the size I wanted. I then used the Copy function so that I would have two pennants the same size. I then grabbed my DCWV scrap book paper that I got for a steal at JoAnn's this weekend. There is something about a fresh scrap book page that makes me just want to stare at it and not cut it. Its so clean and pretty in the book!

I chose the colors I wanted and went to work cutting out pennats, one for each letter in my business' name. I then chose a font and cut the letters for the words "Life's Expressions" out of a black patterned piece of scrap paper. Once I had them all cut out, I used Elmers No-Wringle Rubber Cement to adhere the letters to the pennants.

I love this stuff! It gives a nice clean finish since it dries clear and is super easy to use.

Once I had all the letters on and dried, I grabbed a 1/2 gross grain ribbon that I got from Wal-Mart for $.97 and used my glue gun to keep the pennats in place on the ribbon. 

Here's how it looks completed. (Pardon the glarey picture in the background) This will go up in my craft space once I have my desk in place (a whole separate post in itself!)



Here is a close up of  one of the pennants. This was such an easy and fun project, keep your eyes out for more of these to appear in my house!

Yours In Craft,

Kristen

I'm Linking this post Here:

Monogram Wood Block with A Little Knick Knack

Hello all!


I'm so happy to be here at Crafting with Training Wheels today! Isn't the name alone just wonderful? I love seeing all the variety of crafts, tutorials, recipes and furniture re-do's here! There are so many beautiful things to see, I can spend pretty much all of chore-time looking at this site!


Well, let me introduce myself. My name is Meg and I live over at A Little Knick Knack. I've been blogging for about a year and a half, and started partly to keep my sanity (3 kids under 5 - enough said) and partly to brag a little bit about what I've been working on! I realized my husband was tired of me going, "honey, what do you think about this? But do you like it? WHY??? " So, here I am! I love to have wonderful giveaways, product reviews and guest bloggers! I just finished a "SEW Basic" sewing series with another blog-friend, where we showed the step-by-step, BASIC (like, how to thread a needle) instructions and sewed a pillowcase. I also have a weekly link party every Friday called Everything but the Kitchen Sink, where the rules are--there are no rules. I'd love for you to come join!


Today, I'm going to show you how to make a monogram wood block. Catchy title, right? I found a nice 2" thick, 4' long board in the remnants bin at Home Depot for $.50. They cut it for me for free, into pieces about 5 1/2" long.


I took those pieces home and spray painted them various colors. These decorative finials I found in the furniture aisle at LOWE'S (they do NOT sell these guys at Home Depot...grrrr.....). They come 2 to a package for approximately $3/package. They are wonderful because they have screws in the bottom and are very easy to secure to your block.


I use floral form to stabalize them while I paint.

Of course, I realized I couldn't paint them all at the same time if I used different colors. Duh. So, they got painted in shifts.

While I waited for them to dry, I used my drill to  make a hole in the top and then simply screwed my finials into the hole.

Get your sandpaper (I use a really rough grain, from 100 - 150) and sand the edges and corners.


Here's the fun part. Grab some burlap, your craft bond adhesive spray, and your stayz-on ink...

Use the Stayz-on ink to lightly distress the sides, corners and top of the finial.

Cut a piece of burlap slightly smaller than the front of your block. Start to peel away the first 2-3 strings of burlap from each side, as shown below.

 You will get a nice frayed edge. Lightly spray the burlap with your adhesive spray and secure to the block.

Get your trusty hammer and your steel tacks (found at my local Jo-Ann's in the furniture rehupolster section, for less than $2.00 a package),

And simply nail a tack into each corner.

I printed off a monogram that I liked and used a small paintbrush to free-hand this onto the burlap. You could use freezer paper or make your own stencil and use any font you choose.

I hope you enjoyed this little tutorial! Thanks so much for having me, Kristen! Have a wonderful day!

Feature!

Exciting news! Today I am being featured on A Little Knick Knack! Head over to her blog to check out my ceremic tile coaster tutorial and how you can win some of your own!