Do-Over! of my Rustic Chunky Frame

Remember when you were a kid and you would call out "DO-over!" Don't you have days where you wish you could do that now? lol

Well, I mentioned a bit ago that this project was ok the way it turned out, but I kept thinking it needed something else. It is another repurposed item from old fence wood, but this time made into a big, wide, chunky frame.

So...inspired by the rustic trunk shown in the repurposes tab here, I decided to add some flourishes too it.

Before:

 After:

Then add some family pics around it and I am even more in love!

Before: Again, it's ok, but the frame is just...there...

After: Love what it adds!

 What do you think? I think I love the outcome! I think it adds so much. 

AND I love that I have a matching trunk in the same room in the corner. 

 And it really was so easy!!

Here's a really short, basic tutorial if you want to see how I did it.

I furst cut out the stencil I wanted to use on my SIL. OR if you have another stencil you already have, any stencil should work. I took it and placed it where I wanted it on my old wood. In order to get a bit tighter/cleaner look to it, I used some straight pins (or thumbtacks would work too) and tacked it down around the curves and edges. I had to cut it in places to have it go to a different level and just lined the design up.

Then, I took it out to my backyard and grabbed some flat black spray paint. I used short, quick, little bursts when spray painting it and held it directly over the stencil. You don't want it at an angle, because then it can spray under the stencil.

 Took the paper off and...wala! So quick and easy!

I'd love to see any stenciling projects you have done. Link them up in the comments! 

I just have to say that the wonderful photography on my wall was done by the wonderful Amy Casas Photography too!

Ice Cream Sundae Onesie Tutorial

Got a great onesie you want to gift? But want a cuter way to display/wrap it? After I came up with my line of onesies, I wanted a super easy and cute way to give them away, so I came up with Ice Cream Sundae Onesies! Or are you hosting a baby shower and want some great decoration ideas? How cute would a tray full of these be on the table?!!!

 The only supplies you will need are these:
1-Treat cups
2-Onesie
3-Tulle
4-Toothpicks and washi tape (for the flag) OR Cherries (Pom-poms on a stick OR you can attach them with glue dots if you prefer)
5-Your onesie

 So easy! Take your onesie and fold it in half long ways. (If you don't want the print to show, fold the print onto the inside.)

Then fold it in half AGAIN long ways.

 If you are going to add a toothpick, do it now as you start at one end (I like to start at the bottom of the onesie.). Start rolling the toothpick into the onesie.

 As you continue to roll the onesie, layer the rolls, so that you can see each layer and so that the onesie, starts to get taller.

 Next, you'll want to have a bit of tulle already pre-cut. I cut one of mine in a large square and the other was a roll that I used a strip of. It doesn't really matter. If you have a larger square (about 12inx12in) you can set your rolled up sundae/onesie in the middle.

 Then just randomly gather the tulle around it on all sides. (If you have a strip of tulle, I actually placed the rolled up onesie into the treat cup and then kind of stuffed the tulle into the cup around the onesie.)

 Then pop it into your treat cup! And top it off with a cherry! or a cute washi tape flag! So adorable! You could even add a plastic spoon to it and make it look even more fun!

 SOOOOo fun and sooooo easy! Why not make a whole tray of them?!!

A Tree for all Seasons

Remember this tree I made for my Nativity Advent/12 Days of Ornaments? You can use it year round!

I never did a tutorial and had meant to, but it was REALLY easy. So here are some quick and easy basic instructions on how I made it.

First gather the materials you will need to make it:
1. a branch from a tree
2. a container to put it in. (I have used a flower pot before, but this time I used a metal can I had on hand and spray painted it with a matte black.)
3. Plaster of paris
4. Water
5. White spray paint
6. Optional: string of lights and ribbon to decorate the base

After you have gathered all of your materials, you are ready to start assembling the tree.

Instructions:
Start by spray painting the branch white. It dries super quick too.(I did a couple of coats, b/c some of it is soaked up into the branch.)

Then you mix your plaster of paris and water (I just followed the directions on the box it came in.) and pour it into your container. (Note:Don't rinse out the container you mixed in, in your sink. I know! It ends up in your pipes and hardens and your husband isn't too happy as he takes the pipes apart under the sink...but really it was partially his fault. I didn't dump it down the sink. I just put water in it to soak and he dumped it not knowing what was in the bowl. lol)

Next, you hold your branch in the center of your container as the plaster of paris dries. It doesn't take too long.

You really are pretty much done at this point, other than some simple decorating add ons if you want.

So easy! AND great for displaying year round!

Here is how mine is displayed now:

 Last year I made these cute little felt hearts with little rosettes on them and hung them in a line from my ceiling above the buffet in my dining room. This year, I left them on the fishing string and just kinda draped them all over the tree.  Set them on top of my piano next to some snowmen and love it!

If you ever make one of these, I would love to see what you decorate it with. Link it up as a comment!

Using vinyl as stencils

Had to share!

Love the way this rustic sign for our bathroom turned out and it took me less than 15 minutes start to finish! First off I started with a shortened old fence board (courtesy of the side of the road) :). I cut out my vinyl and used the background (rather than the letters this time). I stuck it directly onto my weathered board and made sure to push down as much as I could around the edges of the letters to make sure the paint wouldn't seem through. 

 Then I took it outside and painted it real quick.

 Came back in with it and literally within 1 minute from painting it, took the vinyl off and got this!

As soon as I get it up in the bathroom, I'll show you how it looks. Thought it would go great with this sign I already have in there:

Yeah for fast and easy projects!

Tutorial for Ornament Inserts

Whether you are wanting to make the nativity ornaments or the Minecraft, the inserts all work the same. And they are sooooo easy!

Supplies you will want to already have to make them are:
1. Your Ornament Bulbs (I use both glass and plastic. Bulbs are 2 5/8 in that I use-typical size ones you buy)
2. Your ornament insert
3. Fake snow (Optional: I didn't use this with the minecraft creeper ornament. Your choice.)
4. Ribbon for a bow and to hang the ornament with
5. Hot glue
6. Optional: tweezers...if you need them to help arrange the insert once it is already inside the bulb.
That's it!

The inserts come with the vinyl already applied to the acetate. The acetate is in the shape of an ornament. (see in the pic below:)

Get your bulb ready and pop the top off the bulb and set aside.

You want the little tab on the insert to be at the top of the ornament. Take your insert and roll it up so that it will fit through the opening of the bulb.

Slide the rolled up insert into your Christmas bulb. 

Hang onto that little tab as you get the inset in.

This is where you might want the tweezers. As you let the insert go, it will automatically unroll. If it isn't positioned exactly the way you want it...get your tweezers and move it with them. (You can see below in the pic the tab sticking up at the top in the neck of the bulb. That will keep the insert in place.

This next step is optional. Take a small funnel or just your fingers and drop your fake snow into the bulb on both sides of the insert. Make sure not to fill it too full that it covers up the image inside. 

                                               

After that, you just place the top/lid of the bulb back on. You can add a bow or ribbon to hang it with and you're done!

They are so very easy to make and they make such impressive, gorgeous ornaments! Hope this helped! Maybe I'll try making more tutorials. It was kinda fun. :)