Simple and Quick “EAT” Wood Letter Project for Your Kitchen

Posted on May 18, 2013 | Leave a comment

DIY painted letters for kitchen

I’ve always loved seeing the large wood letters in various pins all over pinterest.  Our 11 year old Maddy said we needed something fun in the kitchen, maybe some words or something.   So the words EAT it was (mostly because there was no more rooms for any more letters…) I’ve seen loads of this type of ideas on pinterest and just love the look!

Let’s get started.

Supplies & Instructions:

  • Wood letters - I got mine at Michael’s craft store, but any craft store should have a variety of these.
  • Spray paint and primer in the color of your choice (I used cherry red for ours)
  • Command adhesives to hang the letters.

Steps:

  1. Lay out your on something you don’t mind getting painted.
  2. Spray 1 coat of prim
  3. Spray  3-4 cost of paint, LIGHT coats!  Let dry in between.
  4. Hang your letters with the command adhesives

eatsignhorizontal DIY painted letters for kitchen

Happy Crafting!

Lindsey

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Posted in Home Decor, Paint, Tutorials, Uncategorized, wall art, Wood

DIY Backyard Climbing Wall

Posted on May 7, 2013 | 1 Comment

DIY Backyard climbing wall tutorial

Living in the city, with a relatively small lot, we are trying to get super creative with fun activities for the kids in the backyard. We decided to build a climbing wall on the side of the garage! It’s 16 feet wide by 7 feet tall, so it’s short enough for safe use! we are also adding rubber mulch and will bring out an inflatable mattress as needed.

mackie climbing

 

backyard climbing wall diy tutorial

hunter on climbing wall

Here is how we built our climbing wall. If you choose to build your own following my instructions, you do so at your own risk ;)

Supplies:

Tools:

  • Miter Saw
  • Drill
  • Stud finder
  • paint supplies
  • Level

Tutorial:

Step 1: Find Studs on your garage wall, you want to find the edges of the studs then measure out 3/4″ from each edge. this is where you are lining up the 2/4′s so that the stud is center on your 2×4′s.

finding studs on side of garage for backyard climbing wall

Step 2: Using the Bronze Star Heavy duty exterior wood screws #10 3 1/2″  and the star bit that comes with the screws, grab your level and drill and start screwing up the 2×4′s on the wall, where you marked the stud lines. Use the level vertically to make sure your 2×4′s are level. I put a screw every 6-8″ I had to make some cuts to go around the window, I just used my miter saw to do this.

stud framing up for climbing wall kids

Step 3: Put up the plywood using the bronze star trim head exterior wood screws #9 x 2″ I used the same ratio putting a screw in about every 6-8″.   I also trimmed out the top with the 2×4′s to make it a nice clean line ;) use your miter saw to make any cuts to the 2×4′s that you need.

plywood all up and secure for background of climbing wall

Step 4: Paint! this part was so much fun! I’m soooo NOT NOT NOT a painter, I first rolled a coat of primer to make it more of a clean surface to paint on.   I just printed out some inspiration images and did my best to sketch out a skyline, have fun with it! be whimsical, it’s much more fun than a boring plywood background.   Ward and I had a blast at about 10 at night, drinking wine and finishing up the painting.

starting to paint skyline for background of outdoor backyard climbing wall

climbing wal painting background done

Step 5: Spray 4 coats of the Rust-Oleum semi gloss clear coat to seal in the painting. let this set dry then move onto the final step!

Step 6: Attach the climbing holds! We just did totally random, a mix of large and small holds from Atomik. we will make any adjustments as the kids play with it over time, but just start by doing a totally random pattern ;)

ready to mount the climbing holds

backyard diy climbing wall screw on holds atomik tutorial

Happy climbing! I’ll start updating post as I get pics of the kids climbing. let me know if you have questions!

Linds

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Posted in Home Decor, Paint, Stuff for Kids, Tutorials, wall art, Wood

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Tutorial: Industrial Plumbing Pipe Curtain Rods

Posted on April 15, 2013 | Leave a comment

plumbing fixture curtain rod tutorial

Lately I’ve been totally digging an industrial look, with a girly edge to it. Too much industrial and it feels cold and uninviting, just the right amount and touch of industrial and it feels cozy and inviting.

I’ve seen others use plumbing pipes as curtain rods and figured I’d take a stab at it. the basic parts and pieces you need for the curtain rod I made are:

I used all 1/2″ pipe fittings so I could easily slide my curtains right on the plumbing fixtures.  Btw,,, it’s a bit of a puzzle to put these together, as once all the plumbing pieces are put together you can’t fit over your curtain (unless you have the clip on kind) so you have to piece this together in some sense of order.

Supplies:

  • (2) 1/2″ floor flanges
  • (2) 1/2″ nipples that are 1-2″ long
  • (2) 1/2″ 90 degree elbow
  • (1) 1/2″ pipe to the length you need for your window, keep in mind at most hardware stores you can custom cut and they will thread your pipe for you, so you aren’t limited to stock on hand.
  • Goo Off
  • Sharpie
  • Level
  • Drywall anchors
  • Tools needed: Drill with drill and screw bits

supplies for plumbing fixture curtain rods

Tutorial:

Step 1: Measure your window and how wide you want your curtain rod. Get al supplies and your long pipe cut 6″ less than the measurement of how wide you want your curtain rod (this accounts for approx. 2-3″ for the floor flange and elbow etc.) then use goo off to clean off all the grease and stickers.

Step 2: Assemble the curtain rod in this order. Take 1 floor flange, connect to the nipple, then connect to the elbow. Do the same thing for the other set. Then screw in the long bar piece.

Step 3: You need a 2nd set of hands for this, but hold up the curtain rod where you want it, use a level to make it level and you’ll need as sharpie to mark the holes on each of the floor flanges on the wall

Step 4: Dril and Place all wall anchors into the 8 sharpie marker spots you made (4 for each side).

Step 5: Unscrew the bar from the center and put on the curtain. After the curtain is on, then re-screw the middle bar back on so you have the full unit and screw it into the wall anchors you places in step 4, finish and enjoy!

 

plumbing galvanized pipe fixture for curtains

plumbing fixture curtains how to tutorial

Let me know if you have any questions!

Happy DIY’ing

Lindsey

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Posted in Bungalow Restore, Home Decor, Tutorials, Upcycled

Tutorial: Turn a Vinyl Record Into a Unique Notebook

Posted on February 10, 2013 | 2 Comments

  upcycled record notebook

Ever since I made the Rockin’ Desk lamp, I’ve been noodling around with fun ideas to make from old Vinyl records. I’ve also managed to love the sound of music on Vinyl and now have a record player … so I only use scratched records that have no life left in them to make these upcycled notebooks out of vinyl records.

This project is quite simple and requires just a few items:

Supplies:

Step 1:

Lay down the paper you are using and trace it onto the records with your sharpie so you know what size you’ll be cutting the record at. Center it where it looks good for you. You need 2 records to do a front and back for the notebook

upcycle record into notebook tutorial

Step 2:

Heat up the records in the oven one at a time until it’s super pliable. (About 2-3 mins in a 250 degree oven) remove it and start cutting with scissors on your sharpie line. As soon as it starts to get tough to cut, put it back in the oven to soften it up. If you force the cutting you will crack the record. Do this as many times as needed to get both records cut out completely

cutting out record for notebook

Step 3:

Put hole punches in your paper, then put the paper on the record pieces that are cut and mark with your sharpie where you want the hole punch lines. Then put the front and back pieces back into the oven and then hole punch. Same with this you don’t want to do the hole punch with a non pliable record as you will crack the record if you try it and it’s not soft.

Once you’ve done the holes, put the front and back piec of your notebook back in the oven to warm it up until it lays totally flat (it will be all wonky from cutting and hole punching)

flatten record in oven for notebook

Step 4:

Open the binder rings and put your notebook together and enjoy!

vinyl rings and binder rings record notebook

binder rings atached to notebook

finished vinyl record notebook

Partying with these fabulous link parties: the more the merrier Mondays, craft o manic Mondays, Finding Fabulous, Motivate me Monday, Mop it Up Monday, Craftastic Sew can do Mondays, under the table and dreaming, Think Pink Sundays,

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Posted in Tutorials, Uncategorized, Upcycled

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Little Miss and Mr. Men Twin Comfortor DIY

Posted on February 7, 2013 | Leave a comment

little miss and mr. men mr men comforter twin size beddding kids diy fabric

Super bummed that I didn’t really document this comforter to make a tutorial, but I found this awesome fabric at Fabric.com (apparently they are sold out!) you may need to search Ebay if you like this to find more.

I remember these characters when I was a kiddo in the 70′s -80′s and just loved them! So I busted out my ruffle foot, blanket satin, and this new fabric and made my girls matching twin comforters.

The trick, is that instead of making it with quilt batting, I found twin comforter covers at target (washable ones) and sewed it right into the project so that its’ all one piece and can be thrown in the wash. It also provides that ultra fluffy, cuddly warm duvet feel.

Happy Crafting! – Lindsey

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Posted in Home Decor, Sewing, Stuff for Kids

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Mustache Cookies and Cream Cake!

Posted on February 1, 2013 | Leave a comment

Mustache birthday cake with cookies and cream frosting

This was such a fun birthday cake to make! Chocolate cake, with a cookies and cream frosting and a Mustache!

To make the cookies and cream frosting, I took home made frosting and then put in Oreos into my Cuisinart and blended until it looked like “cookies and cream” the decorated the cake like normal with the frosting ;) then I sprayed it with purple spray frosting ;)

I used a toothpick to trace an outline of a mustache on the cake, used the green frosting to outline it, then filled it with crumbled Oreos.

I also used a toothpick to write the words :) so I had a guideline before writing with frosting!

this cake was SO Yum! I’ll definitely be making more cookies and cream frosted cakes!

If you want specifics/more recipe details, let me know in the comments.

Happy Crafting!

Lindsey

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Posted in cakes, Food & Baking, recipes

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DIY Lego Ikea “Alang” Lamp Hack!

Posted on January 6, 2013 | 1 Comment

diy lego lamp tutorial ikea alang lamp hack

Working on remodeling a 1928 Bungalow, I’ve grown a bit obsessed with lighting fixtures, which has now carried into table and floor lamps :) add that to a childhood love of Lego’s and you get this Ikea Alang Lamp Hack with Lego’s!

This was such a fun project and great for a boy’s room. Super easy, creative and fun for everyone in the house!  4 simple supplies,

  1. Lego’s – I purchased a mixed lot on eBay about 700+ lego’s
  2. IKEA Lamp ( the one I used is a $19.99 adjustable height “Alang” Ikea Lamp)
  3. Hot Glue Gun/Glue sticks
  4. E600 glue (for gluing base of Lego to base of lamp)

diy lego lamp supplies hot glue gun alang lamp ikea hack legos from ebay

It’s super easy.. and fun for the whole family, literally everyone in the house got involved :) I was on core “square” duty, making sure the core square stayed the same, and then everyone else built around all the cool additions!

Step 1: determine the height you want the lamp, and lock down the little screw bracket on the lamp in place, then hot glue over that joint so you know it never moves.

mid build lego lamp

Step 2: Build a square base around the lamp bottom and glue that with the E600 glue. Whatever size looks good to you. The base of the Lego part needs to be super solid and permanently attached to the lamp base so you don’t have any issues with your Lego structure moving (I initially did hot glue, and then had to replace it with E600 as hot glue wasn’t strong enough to attach Lego to the metal base.

midbuild

Step 3: Build up your Lego’s! the best advice I can give is hot glue every so often, you don’t need to glue every piece. and only LIGHTLY add glue to the bottom of the Lego piece you are gluing, you do NOT want it to ooze out.. if it does, wipe it off quickly so you don’t have ugly glue sticking out.

While building, make sure to keep your core “square” all closed. this means that even if you have cool pieces sticking out, that each level of the square is closed (no openings on your square as this could affect the integrity of your shape and make it wobbly. so let’s say I add a window piece. I’d likely glue that piece down then build up row by row next to it until I can include it in the square “core” pieces.

Step 4: Build up unit you get the height you like. then go through and wiggle any pieces that stick out to see if any are coming off easy and hot glue. once it’s all sturdy, put in your light bulb and enjoy!

ikea hack alang lamp lego tutorial

lego lamp close up diy tutorial alang lamp ikea hack

lego lamp diy tutorial ikea hack

Happy Crafting!
Lindsey

Partying with these fabulous link parties: the more the merrier Mondays, craft o manic Mondays, Finding Fabulous, Motivate me Monday, Mop it Up Monday, Craftastic Sew can do Mondays, under the table and dreaming, Think Pink Sundays,

 

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Posted in Home Decor, Kids Art, Stuff for Kids, Tutorials, Upcycled

Wilton’s Gingerbread Tree… the Box Image vs. Actual

Posted on December 15, 2012 | Leave a comment

wiltons wilton's gingerbread tree house

Instead of the gingerbread house. I decided to buy the tree (secretly hoping it would be easier).  Last year, when I did the gingerbread house,  it fell apart and I had to buy another one and add way less water to finally make it work.  I fully admit this may be me doing this all wrong and I may be the only one that has had issues with the frosting :) ).  The recipe that comes with the box for the frosting has been way to runny for me … Sometimes I feel like my measuring spoons may be like a loose bartender.. but whatev’s…

So this year, I got the tree thinking it would be safe.. . and I have to say, I like the crooked runny tree we made WAY better than the perfect tree on the gingerbread tree box from Wilton’s… but I had quite the giggle with the “Picture” from Wilton’s vs. the “Actual”.. the kids loved putting the candy ornaments and Goopy frosting.. it was awesome.. but I’ll take  a crooked, sliding to the side tree any day over a picture perfect one ;)

If you want to make your own awesome tree, here’s the kit we used ;)

Happy crafty holidays

Linds

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Posted in Bloopers, Food & Baking, Holiday, Kids Art, Stuff for Kids

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DIY Snowglobe Fun! Warning, these are ADDICTIVE to Make!

Posted on December 10, 2012 | 8 Comments

snow globes DIY tutorial how to snowglobes make

Ok so have about a dozen mason jars leftover from another project I was working on and wanted to do the fun snow globe mason jar’s I’ve seen around online. They are as easy as they look and so much fun! I made 6 with the kiddo’s and I think I’m more addicted to them then anyone else ;)

snow globes DIY tutorial how to snowglobes make trees

Here’s what you need:

  • Mason Jars
  • E6000 glue
  • Ornaments or plastic/ceramic figurines (that fit through the lid of your mason jar)
  • Glycerine
  • Water
  • Glitter
  • OPTIONAL: Paint if you want to paint your lid

Tutorials that I used to make mine, thought I’d list a couple so you can choose the one you like best, but all of them use the same essential supplies above.

snow globes DIY tutorial how to snowglobes make snowing glitter snow globes DIY tutorial how to snowglobes make tree

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Posted in Gift, Holiday, Home Decor, Kids Art, Stuff for Kids, Tutorials

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How to: Make Your own Sassy Glitter shoes on the cheap! (and what NOT to do!)

Posted on November 30, 2012 | 3 Comments

glitter shoes diy tutorial easy cheap thrift upcycle mod podge holiday party

I have a holiday party this weekend for work and I have this fabulous electric blue dress and sparkly cardigan that were screaming for glitter shoes! I refused to spend an exorbinant amount of money on heals that are way to high for my 36 year old feet! So I searched online and found some great inspiration for DIY glitter shoes!

before and after diy glitter shoes tutorial and #craftfail

Here is where I got the inspiration for this project:

  1. DIY Glitter shoes from Make
  2. Henry Happened DIY glitter shoes

diy how to glitter shoes mod podge glitter tutorial christmas holiday cheap sparkle

Both of these inspiration projects have tutorials as well, but I want to share with my tutorial what NOT TO DO! I think I’m fairly crafty savvy but did have some bloopers on this, probably due to the fact that I am such an impatient crafter, I jump in before doing the proper prep work :)

Supplies:

TIP - First of all, you want to use super fine glitter, I used Martha Stewart’s brand. Here’s a picture of what the difference is. you will get LUMPS with the chunky stuff and a more polished finish with the fine stuff.

which glitter to use for glitters shoes diy big or fine

Step 1: tape off your shoes! tape off the bottom soles the insides, etc. just tape anywhere you don’t want glitter. Do NOT do what I did and try to freehand it, you will get glitter everywhere if it drips.,

prepping shoes for diy glitter

 Step 2: Mix mod podge with glitter, make sure to use the super fine glitter! this pictures shows me mixing the chunky stuff, because I forgot to take a pic when I was mixing the correct stuff!

mod podge and glitter diy tutorial shoes how to

Tip: to keep your mixed mod podge from drying between coats, cover it with saran wrap

keep mod podge from drying cover with saran wrap

Step 3: Paint on coat by coat letting it dry between coats (add a littler helper, makes it much more exciting!). I did about 4 coats to get the coverage that I wanted.

diy glitter shoes

Here it is after 1 coat

first coat of glitter shoes.

Step 4: once it’s all dried to your liking, then spray it with the clear matt finish, just put something in your shoes (like a paper towel or something) so you don’t spray the inside of your shoes!

Then voila, you have fabulous DIY glitter shoes! here’s they are modeled by my 4 year old ;)

DIY glitter shoes tutorial mod podge cheap thrifty DIY glitter shoes tutorial mod podge cheap thrifty

#CraftFail – OK and here is the fabulous #CraftFail portions of this project.. and what NOT to do.. this is how I got to the fab tutorial above :)

#craftfail goopy mess diy glitter shoes

#craffail tape bottom of shoes

Happy Crafting! let me know if you have questions ;)

Lindsey

Posted in these fabulous link parties! Make it Monday – pinkapotamus - Anti-procrastination Tuesdays - craft o manic mondays - C.R.A.F.T. -

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Posted in Bloopers, Holiday, Mod Podge, Tutorials, Upcycled

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