Reclaimed kitchen paneling ‘LOVE’ sign

Technorati Tags: reclaimed wood,diy,crafts


 

While on vacation a few weeks ago, I had some projects planned that I wanted to try and complete.  One of them was this ‘love’ sign that I’ve had in the back of my mind for a while now. It is made from repurposing some old paneling that came out of our kitchen after I painted in there this past spring.  I’m kinda excited about this piece because I can already see all its multi-functions;  Prop in the backyard during a family outing, display it in our home one the million ways I’ve already thought about, or lean it on the porch which is where I have it now.  I’m really digging the fresh country look its offering our door step right now.
Since it is reclaimed from our kitchen I had to use the back of the paneling because the front was coated in several layers of paint.  The back needed a little conditioning before I could use it.  The wood was kind of rough at first so I had to sand it down really well.  I should have used a palm sander but I did it by hand and so it just took me a little longer.  Than I cleaned it off and stained it a dark walnut color.  When that was dry (overnight) I added a few coats of polyurethane to give it a nice sheen. Later I painted my letters with white paint and added the heart I made a few days earlier.  I made the heart out of ruffles made from left over drop cloth I had around from other projects.  I like the mix of textures in this sign.  It gives off a nice vibe. 

 
 

 
Here it is on the porch.  It’s a nice greeting for friends and family as they arrive.


What do you think? Besides needing to clean the porch floor I really, really like it!  So have you reclaimed anything lately or made a love sign all your own? If you have, I’d love to read about it!

Images: all  'My ruffled life'

I will be linking up here!
Craft-o-maniac Monday
More the Merrier Monday
Motivate Me Monday
Savvy Southern Style
Made to be a Momma
Wicked Awesome Wednesday
Someday Crafts
Whimsy Wednesdays

Fabric Rosette Pins

Sometimes it is so hard to stay away from the hot glue gun! 

 My latest project involves no other than that and a strip of fabric.  I wanted something to dress up my tank tops a bit so I decided to make a fabric rosette pin.  Actually, I decided to make three fabric rosette pins.  During these long, hot, summer days tank tops are pretty much a staple for me and so I thought it would be nice to have something to jazz them up a bit.  I was pleased with the results!

 

Here's how I made this super easy pin:

 

First I created the rosette as shown here.  Then on the back I glued a circular piece of felt and then simply added the pin.  I was sure to place the pin high enough on the back so to allow the rosette to fall right when pinned to clothing.  Easy enough, right!

 

I decided to try this on my handbag as well.

 

  

 

 Also, on my daughter's handbag.

 

 

 

 

 

 

So cute! We just love them.  Nothing like a little easy, breezy, summer bling!  

 

DIY Junck Jars

We have a junk drawer in our kitchen and quite literally it IS a junk drawer.  You could find everything from twine and ribbon to Lego's.  I've got a bad habit of picking up stuff off the floor when I vacuum and just tossing it in the junk drawer until later (which usually never comes but once or twice a year!)  Well, I went rummaging through this drawer earlier in the week and this is the mess I ended up with.  I thought, OK, enough, what can I do?

 

 I've been wanting to make some decorative jars for my office area down stairs and thought that project would work great for what I need here.  I dug through our recycling and came up with these jars. I thought the bigger ones would be good to put stuff in and still be able to get it out.  The smaller one would be good for things like tacks, screws, curtain hooks, and things like that.

 

 

I took some craft paper that I've had around and hot glued it to the jars.  Then decorated two with ribbon.

 

 

I think that they turned out pretty cute for my first time trying this but I think maybe they will be better with the caps spray painted white and some labels.

 

 

Here they are on the window sill going down to the basement. 

 

A little more organization is needed but for now not a bad start.

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Do you have junk drawer in your house? Does it ever get out of hand and what crafty ideas do you have to solve your junk drawer dilemma?

 

 

Fabric Flower Rosette

Hey Everyone!!!  Hope everyone is doing fantastic and enjoying the spring!  I've been catching up with some well needed yard work and gardening during this past weekend. 

 A little while ago I finished our spring wreath that I revamped from last years summer wreath.  On it, I added a bunch of these fabric flower rosettes.   I thought I would do a quick tutorial for anyone who hasn't done them yet.  They are super easy to make and I love that you can tweak them and make each one a little different. 

Okay, here we go.

First you cut your fabric into a strip.  I make mine as long as the width of a bolt of fabric and about two inches wide.

Next, I put a dot of hot glue in the top corner

and fold the fabric in half.

Okay, and another dot of hot glue and fold in half again.

Fold the top down like a triangle and glue.  Then keep folding for few and gluing as you go.  You should see the center form. 

Now, twist the fabric as tight or as loose as you want and keep going around and gluing every so often. 

You should see your flower start to form.

When you are all done hot glue the tail to the back.  You may also cut out a circle of felt slightly smaller than the flower and hot glue it to the back as well.

I love making these because they are SO easy.  Hope this tutorial gave you a good idea of how to make them.  I have a tutorial here for another kind of fabric flower that is also super easy. 

Thanks for staying with me and happy spring!!

xoxo 

DIY Summer Wreath

Here's our cute summer wreath.  I apologize for all the reflections in the window.  Photography is really not my strong point, however, in person, this wreath really is quite nice.  It adds a simple summer time touch to the outside decor. 

I like it on the door but I think I may move it and see how it looks elsewhere.  That's really a problem that I have.  I think that I like something somewhere and then I change my mind and move it!  But anyways, if you like this wreath too, here's how I made it.

Wreath tutorial:

Here is what you will need:

• wreath form
• string or yarn ( I chose green)
• ribbon
• glue gun
• scissors
• no-sew fabric flowers (tutorial here)

Wrap the string around the wreath.

Hot glue your flowers in place.

Tie a ribbon around it.  I bet you all make fabulous bows, mine needs a little help!

Now you have a cute summer wreath!

 

 xoxo


I linked up with these fab parties:
Tuesday:
Vintage Wanna Bee-Talent Tuesday
Sugar Bee Crafts-Take a Look Tuesday
All Thingz Related-Anything Related
Not Just a Housewife-Show me what ya got
Wednesday:
Savvy Southern Style- Wow us Wednesday, Elements Interiors-Whassup Wednesday
DIY by Desin-Swing into Spring, Handy Man, Crafty Woman-Wicked Awesome Wednesday
Eisy Morgan-Inspired by you Wednesdays
Friday:
French Country Cottage-Feathered Nest Friday
freckled laundry-Air Your Laundry Friday
The Shabby Nest-Frugal Friday
Frou Frou Decor-Fabulous Friday Finds
Finding Fabulous-Frugalicious Friday
504 Main-Tickled Pink

No-Sew Fabric Flowers

These little fabric flowers are so cute and I've seen them everywhere.  They're on pillows, pins, hairbands, bags and the list goes on and on.  Being the DIY girl that I am or at least turning into, I thought, Hey, I could do that!  So, I searched for some basic ideas and this is what I've found.  This little fabric flower is so simple (and addicting) that I just can't help but keep on making them! 

Tutorial:

What you need:

• Fabric for flower
• Sturdy fabric for back (felt or jean, etc..)
• Hot glue gun
• Scissors

1. Cut circles out of the fabric about 2 1/2 " in diameter.  I did this free hand because I like the sort of shabby chic look it gets from not being perfect.  For this flower, I chose to mix light and dark fabric together.  I used about 12 cirlces all together.
2. Cut one circle from your heavier fabric (I used jean) about 1/3 of the size of your previous circles.  This is so this fabric will not show through.                                  

3. Take a dark circle and fold it in half and then in thirds.                                          



4. You should now have a cone shape and the next step is to snip off the tip.  This is so the glue will get to all the layers of the fabric.


5. Dab the snipped tip with hot glue.  Careful of your fingers!!
6. Place it on the jean circle.  Continue until all four petals are down on the fabric as shown. 

7. Next, glue more petals to fill in the gaps.  Depending on the size of your flower will determine how many petals to add. Usually about four to six.

8. At this point, you can finish your flower in one of two ways.  The first is to glue a button in the center of your flower to finish it. 

The second is to take your last two circles of dark fabric fold the petals as before and glue them into the center of your flower. 

When the flower is done you may leave it as is or you go through and "open" the petals by separating the fabric and lightly tugging on it.  Sometimes I trim up the outside petals to make them more consistant with all the others. 

Now you have a wonderful little flower that is so versatile and may be used for so many things.

Happy Crafting!

 

I linked up with these fab parties:
Tuesday:
Vintage Wanna Bee-Talent Tuesday
Sugar Bee Crafts-Take a Look Tuesday
All Thingz Related-Anything Related
Not Just a Housewife-Show me what ya got
Wednesday:
Savvy Southern Style- Wow us Wednesday, Elements Interiors-Whassup Wednesday
DIY by Desin-Swing into Spring, Handy Man, Crafty Woman-Wicked Awesome Wednesday
Eisy Morgan-Inspired by you Wednesdays
Friday:
French Country Cottage-Feathered Nest Friday
freckled laundry-Air Your Laundry Friday
The Shabby Nest-Frugal Friday
Frou Frou Decor-Fabulous Friday Finds
Finding Fabulous-Frugalicious Friday
504 Main-Tickled Pink