T E A C H E R G I F T

 W E ~L O V E~ O U R ~T E A C H E R S

Crafty teacher gift idea.

Supplies

• jute (Jo ann's)
• 12 inch cardboard letters (found at Jo ann's)  $5.99 each
• fabric
• hot glue
• ribbon
• fray check
• ice for the hot glue gun burns....ouch!

Wrap...glue...wrap...glue...

I made one for each of my kids teachers.

~~~~~Finished product~~~~

Mrs. M

Mrs. T

Mrs. H

Every letter will need to be wrapped with jute.  It goes like this: wrap, glue repeat...wrap, glue repeat. This is a very time consuming a tedious process (easy, but takes a while).  I worked for several days.  I had to put it down and come back to finish.  My friend Kori said her mom made jute wrapped vases back in the day, so I guess this isn't exactly a  new idea.   Embellish your letter with whatever you want.  A easier and faster idea would be to spray paint your letters, maybe next year. 




Oh well, so much for next year!  Here is a bronze painted letter wiped with taupe paint with hand-made paper stars wiped with ink.  

Folded paper stars

 Merry Christmas!  

next:  80 year old couch

 upholstery craigslist find~ $20

5 hammer job is my guess...yikes!

L A M P Project

                                                                 L   A   M   P

Nurse Humor

Blue Magic Polish

A recent lamp redo was fired by my obsession with Pinterest.  The lamp motivator ended up being a FAIL.  I bought blue magic cleaner online to turn an old brass lamp into a chrome beauty.  In order for you to be able to rub the brass off it has to be plated, not solid.  dang!  The idea is that you take a wool pad, dip it into the blue magic, use LOTS of elbow grease and it turns into a beautiful chrome lamp.  

Here is a link to the idea:  http://www.remodelaholic.com/2010/09/turn-your-brass-to-shinny-chrome/

Krylon looking glass spray paint

Another fail!  The paint costs $11.99 at Hobby Lobby.  I did use my 40% off coupon, making the purchase a little less painful.  The paint went on just like the metallic silver paint, that is half the price.  Maybe I didn't add enough coats, but after 4 I decided to quit.  

This is what I wanted.

Before

Lamp on the left $1.99/ Lamp on the right $9.99 at the local thrift store.

This is after some serious polishing, solid brass.

After

I ended up with a pewter look after using the metallic paint and wiping it with a rag dipped in bronze spray paint.  

I'm still trying to find a shade big enough to fit the other lamp.  Going to try and find one at the thrift store and cover it in fabric.  Lamp shades are difficult to find used since they are so fragile.  Wish me luck.  I will post the end product.

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No before pics, but here is my chandelier redo.

• Ugly brass fixture, $7.00 at the thrift store. 
•  Package of crystals in the wedding section at Hobby Lobby 50% off at $5.00.
• Spray Painted bronze, wiped silver.
• Added a glass bead garland.
• Red to Red, Black to Black and copper to copper.

Months later I have added a drum shade that softened the light considerably.  A few snips and it fit onto the chandelier great!  Love it!

So much better than what we had before!

Next up:  completely crafty teacher gift

B A B Y B O Y S

Baby Shower 

What are little boys made of?
Snips and snails, and puppy dogs tails
That's what little boys are made of !

Craft Ideas for your next baby shower.

Banners, Poms, Pinwheels and Mobiles

Mobiles

These are not intended for over the crib.  Would be a perfect accent piece for the baby room, maybe over the changing table (some place where you don't leave your baby unattended).  

Supplies needed 

1. round hoop (wire, wood...anything round)
2. felt pieces (cut or pre-cut in packages at the craft store)
3. pom pom balls
4. clear thread or fishing line
5. ribbon
6. fabric to wrap your hoop
7. hot glue gun
8. fray check

How to:

• Wrap your hoop with 1 inch torn fabric.  Continue wrapping until the entire hoop is covered.
• Thread a needle with your clear thread.  Sew into the balls, felt pieces until secure.  Leave enough thread on the end to tie on the hoop after all is threaded and secure.  
• Attach all threaded embellished threads to hoop.  
• Tie ribbons and seal ends with Fray Check (so they don't unravel)

I picked colors that coordinated with the baby bedding.  Unique, adorable gift.  

        Banners                                            

Supplies: fabric, trim and a sewing machine

Pom Poms...so easy!  Hang from the ceiling with clear thread.  They look like they are floating.  Easy instructions on You Tube.  

Follow the link for easy instructions: 

 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EwEsNYFc4m0&feature=related

Pinwheels

How to:  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CYFmHinkhN4&feature=related

Next project:  Lamps

Drab....to Fab! Chair OVERHAUL!

My friend Traci and I have decided we are going to take each others fall family pics this year.  We were looking for some fun chairs to use in our outdoor pics.  This is my chair overhaul from some chairs that came out of an old barn. 

Spray paint...new fabric and fun new chairs!

Before

After

Drab...to Fab!

Thing 1, 2 & 3

F A L L

__________________F A L L-ulous!

Hair Bows

Pumpkin Hair Clip

Spider Hair Clip

 Fall Headband

 Halloween Headband

 Rosette clip for hat/headband or hair!

Summer bugs...just in case you can't quite let go.

___________F A L L___________

 

Shirts

 

Short/long sleeved embellished with ribbon and orange rosette.

White embellished with black ribbon and orange rosette.

_________________________________________________________________________________

Happy Birthday Wee-One!

Wee Newbee Hats
Perfect gift for the new mom!

Happy Birthday Baby Braedyn!

Newbee Hats:  $8

Paige is 6 years old!!!

 Birthday hats with a clip!  Easy to put in, no more bands around your kiddos chin!  Only requirements....Hair!  If your kiddo doesn't have any hair I can attach it to a headband.
These are so Cute!!!

F A U X your door!

Faux sure way to upgrade your home!

Cost only $52 and about 8 hours in time spent.

I also faux painted my front door to match.

How to do it:

1.  Power-wash or clean the surface with water and soap.
2. Warn your neighbors...the base coat for this project is penny orange.
3. Buy paint.  I use Sherwin Williams exterior satin (latex, not oil based).  1 quart of each color:  Copper Mountain, Sable and Java.
4. Paint the entire surface with Copper Mountain.

*see why the neighbors might need a heads up

5. Wait a day and then begin the faux process.  At every crevice or detail begin adding a dry brush of Sable, this will add the 3-d look.  This process will take the most amount of time.

6. Repeat process with Java color after finished with the Sable.

7. I also get a little bowl of water.  Dip a rag in the paint and then the water and wipe down the entire door for a darker, finished look.

Before

After

3 years later

I also realized that those awful moon shaped inserts in the garage door windows just pop out.  SCORE!!!

Now the only thing left to do is add hardware for the carriage door look.  I will post pics when that is done.

Good Luck!
 ________________________________

Another faux door

Before

AFTER
I think it turned out amazing!!!

Only one day of ugly orange, but well worth it in the end!