Typography

Another awesome trend in decor these days is Typography.  I blog-stalked for some ideas on how to make my own.  Almost all the blogs I found, started the DIY with "go to your local craft store and purchase some paper mache letters."  Well, I'm here to tell you, I don't have a 'local' craft store.  I have a distant craft store..almost 100 miles to the nearest craft store.  le sigh.   I know, I know, you're thinking, but Dana, there is alway online shopping.  BTDT!  I bought initial letters for our stockings over Christmas and they ended up being like an inch tall.  I have to see it.

So, I made my own.  I had an old 2x6 laying around.  We had actually cut it down, and I had painted it already for another craft. I  used it anyway. Again...rebel. 

I made my letters with Photoshop using good ole Arial Bold font at about 500pt.  My letters are about 5" tall. 

I copied the letters to my board. 

Then, I cut the letters out using a jig-saw.  A scroll saw would have been easier; as I was informed by my Maintenance Man as he was helping me with the 'A' cut-out. 

Here they are, nevertheless.  I used 60 grit sandpaper and sanded all the letters by hand.  For some reason, the wood was pretty torn up after cutting, so I needed the course-grit paper.  

I used an extremely cheap primer (like 1.89 cheap because it didn't scan when the cashier scanned it :oD) and Valspar Metallic spray paint.

After one coat of primer:

 

Then, I applied two coats of the Valspar paint.

To hang them, I just gently bent a soda can tab and hot glued it on the back.

You can see I left the back unfinished.  Very rustic. :)

Here they are hanging behind my stove.

I can tell in this picture that I must have had some little helpers in my paint.  Those fingerprints are not visible IRL, how strange.

Sharing: Serendipity and Spice's Manic Monday, C.R.A.F.T's Making Monday Marvelous, Making the World Cuter's Making the World Cuter Monday,  Sumo's Sweet Stuff's Market Yourself Monday, Our Delightful Home's Show Me What You Got, 

Plastic Jugs to Bird Feeders

Our trash service company does not provide a  recycling option.  So, I am still trying to repurpose much of the plastic that goes through this house.  Today, I decided Kolby, Riley and I would make bird feeders out of some of the plastic jugs we have laying around.

We gathered our supplies:

1. various plastic jugs

2. fishing line (very hard to see in the mid-day Texas sun)

3.  assortment of acrylic paints

4. wooden dowels

5. kitchen scissors

6. the razor knife is under Riley's arm (safely closed)

7. assortment of paintbrushes

8. two eager boys.

Then, with the razor knife, I cut holes into the jugs.

I let the boys paint away:

And the dowels

Is it just me, or does he not look happy with his results..He wasn't.  He thought it looked 'too clumpy'.  I told him it will be out in the weather and as long as it's good and dry, it will be fine.  

After they dried, I used the razor knife again to cut 4 smaller holes to poke the dowels through and thread the fishing line through.  

Not too bad..I don't think.. Come on Tweety

Linkin to:

 

From Creamer Jar to Straw Holder

I have been trying to use up my 'honey, I'm going to use that' pile.  But, coming up with crafty things to do can be a bit challenging.

They say 'necessity is the mother of all invention'.  Have you ever wondered who 'they' are? I do, sometimes.  

While making the 5 year old 'blue juice' or chocolate milk, I was digging through the junk drawer for a straw.  What a mess!  The straws were scattered all over in that drawer.  I had emptied my jar of creamer just last week, and thought it would make the perfect straw holder. {I'm sure I'm not the first to think of this, but I like to think I am :)} I apologize now for the crappy photography. 

Gather your materials:

scrapbook paper or scrap material (I made my own scrap book paper)

Spray adhesive

Scissors

old creamer jar

I started by spraying the jar with the adhesive and working the paper around the jar.

Once I finally got it around the jar (without my fingers attached), I cut out 'straws' that I printed using Howser font at 36 pt and glued that on as well.