Like many of you, I'm obsessed with card catalogs. When I see them on Pinterest my heart races and I'm filled with disappointment that I have never, ever found one for sale in my area that wasn't already snatched up! I decided to take matters into my own hands and create the illusion of those endless yummy little drawers with the help of Walnut Hollow and some inexpensive Ikea dressers. I even found a way to separate the drawers.....well sort of! Remember, if you can find it, find a way to create it. One more thing, always Make Your Mark!
I've been seeing amazing Boho Bags and Purses all over Pinterest so I thought it was time to make a few. Since I save every scrap of fabric and piece of yarn, it just made sense. So this project even more fun, I enlisted the help of my awesome assistant, Julie. When we were done with our bags we had a serious "modeling" competition so you'll have to watch the video and vote for WHO WORE IT BEST! In the mean time, grab your big box of craft stuff and go to town making these beautiful boho bags. Remember to mix up your patterns and textures.
I'm a huge fan of everything blue and white! I have pieces from all over the world and from every different time period. Blue and white porcelain first became popular in China in the 14th century, but there are many pieces that predate that. After the printing techniques were discovered in the 18th century, blue and white became extremely popular all over Europe and America with popular patterns like Blue Willow, which I have been collecting most of my life. Yes, I was an old lady at birth! Because I love it so much, I thought it might be fun to make some of my own with a few bottles, jars and vases I had cluttering up my cabinets. I also gave a Jack Daniels bottle a sweet makeover, too! This project was almost as fun as finishing off that JD, btw! Remember to recycle your old items for DIY projects and always Make Your Mark!
They look lovely filled with branches from my trees
As fluffy as my behind is, I still like a nice padded bench to sit on when I'm dining outside on my patio! These benches are the perfect addition to my outdoor seating to make everyone feel like they're sitting on a cloud. I picked up the outdoor fabric at JoAnn's and then picked the orange and vintage green paint to match once I could see it in the light. Since my patio table is an odd size, it was easy to customize this bench design to fit perfectly. Also, each bench only requires 4 pieces of
1" x 12" pine board, so I decided to make two of them. Remember, if you can't find it,
figure out a way to make it. Oh, and always MAKE YOUR MARK!
I love mixing patterns
The ombre stencil on the sides added just the right touch
Now everyone is super comfy when we're eating outside!
1. & 2. Using Amazing Goop II Max, glue a 17" board to the side of the 44" board
3. & 4. Measure down the center of the 17" board (for nail placement) and nail to the 44" board
5. & 6. Repeat on the other side to create the bench base
7. & 8. Add more Goop II Max across the top of the bench and then center the 48" board on top
9. & 10. Mark along the center of the board (for nail placement) and then
nail the top of the bench in place
11. Paint the base of the bench (not the seat) with Vintage Effects in Orange
*Wipe away the excess to show off the grain of the wood
12. Dry brush Vintage Effects in White on the base of the bench to give it a weathered look
13. -15. Tape your stencil in place and with a cosmetic sponge, paint the outside of the stencil with Americana Outdoor Living in Adirondack and the inside of the stencil in Harvest
*Blend the colors where they meet to give an ombre effect
HERE'S HOW (PART 2)
16. & 17. Place the bench face down on the batting, trace around it with a marker and then cut it with a craft knife
18. & 19. Squirt E-6000 Fabri-Fuse on the top of the bench and then glue the foam in place
20. Cut a piece of batting large enough to go over the foam and extend 1" on the underside all the way around
21. & 22. Staple the batting in place around the foam on the underside of the bench seat
23. Cut fabric so that it fits over the foam and extends on the underside about 2" and then pin it in place on the top of the bench so it doesn't shift
24. & 25. Fold the raw edge of the fabric under and staple all the way around the
underside of the bench
26. Staple down the fabric along the base of the seat all the way around the bench
27. - 29. Add a generous line of E-6000 Fabri-Fuse all along the base of the bench seat, then glue & pin the trim in place until it dries
30. Done!
Pretty and comfortable!
My new favorite place to sit and paint on the patio!
A few weeks ago on my weekly visit to JoAnn Fabrics, I picked up some beautiful floral cotton fabric (even though I had no idea what I was going to do with it at the time). I know you know what I'm talking about! Finally, I decided on a blazer makeover since I haven't made a fashion DIY in quite a while. At first I was not convinced this was going to turn into something I wanted to share, but I kept at it. Finally it turned into what I like to call "Laura Ingalls Wilder meets Elvis". I love the mix of glitz with floral. When I got my fall fashion magazines and saw all of the glizty floral on the runways, I knew this jacket is right on time. Remember to UP-style your old clothes with embellishments, be fashion fearless and ALWAYS
Seems Unicorn SPiT is quite magical....Not only is it amazing on furniture and fabric, you can dye paper with it! How cool is that?! I needed a funky lampshade to jazz up my living room and could NOT for the life of me find something that worked. When I saw the brilliant colored dyed pages, my new lampshades were born! While I was at it, I also decoupaged a little mirror that needed some spice AND stitched up some envelopes for future birthday wishes. SO much you can do with beautiful paper......so much! Remember to dye everything beautiful colors, experiment with
If you've followed me for a while you know that I save every little scrap, jar wood scrap and cardboard box that comes into my house. I can't help it because I just KNOW that eventually I'll use it for something down the road. This week I used my wood scraps to make some beautiful, chunky wood beads! Truth be told I went a little crazy and cut several hundred of them because I couldn't stop. We'll get into the psychology of that another time. In their raw form they were pretty but plain, but after I marbled them, the bead party really started! My favorite product this year is the Marabu Marbling Paints. They ROCKED my world AND these wood beads! Remember, save your scraps, use them with abandon and always Make Your Mark!
Love the turquoise squares so much!
I finally mastered the nail polish marbling technique!
1. - 3. Cut and sand wood beads on a band saw or with a jigsaw and then sand the edges
with a Dremel sanding attachment or sandpaper
4. Drill each bead with a drill press or carefully with a hand drill
5. & 6. Base coat each bead with different colors of Americana Acrylics
METHOD 1
7. Spread Americana DuraClear & 5 colors of Americana Acrylics on wax paper and drag a toothpick through the colors to swirl them
8. With a toothpick in a painted bead, press each side into the paint and let dry
METHOD 2
9. In a plastic cup of water drip several colors of nail polish on top of the water
10. With the base coated bead on a toothpick, carefully swirl it in the floating nail polish, and poke the other end of the toothpick in cardboard to allow it to dry
METHOD 3
11. In a cup of water float several colors of Easy Marble on top of the water
12. With the base coated bead on a toothpick, carefully swirl it in the floating Easy Marble to pick up the colors and then poke the other end of the toothpick in cardboard to allow it to dry
13. Coat everything with more DuraClear Gloss Varnish and let dry
Can't wait to rock these on a keychain or make my friends some funky jewelry!
