Keepsake Tray!

My sister in law recently married the love of her life in a beautiful outdoor ceremony and reception. I wanted to give her a keepsake of different mementos from throughout the day, but in something either compact or useful. Enter, the keepsake tray. This is my first attempt at making a tray like this and I am adapting it from the concept of a breakfast tray I am working on for myself. I bought the tray at hobby lobby and used simple craft paint to make it a deep purple color, the main color for her big day. A single sheet of scrapbook paper with words like "I do" and "Love", trimmed to be the right length, purple and green gems to line the left side e and pearl strands to line the right side make the bottom of the tray. Then on top of those I used two peacock feathers (part of her decorations), the front and back of her save the date (also purple) and two wine bottle gems they gave as favors. Then I poured an epoxy over the top (this is the part that I am nervous about as it's only my second time using the stuff) to hopefully harden into a a surface they can either use for an actual tray (breakfast and bed or even to display their unity candle) or to put brackets on the back to hang on the wall as a shallow shadow box or as artwork itself.
This is a photo without the epoxy on top. What do you think?

Bed frame project

The headboard and foot board are now sanded and primed. Ready for some paint and embellishments, and perhaps some distressing! There are just so many color schemes and ideas to choose from.
Darn you Pinterest!!

Bookshelf Bed Frame Make-Over

Hello readers, Jessica here! All the ladies in the family have taken it upon themselves to get a little dirty and get down to business with a fabulous flea market find. We found a bookshelf bed frame last weekend for $20. It's a full size bed frame with head board (complete with shelving compartments), foot board and side slats to make a full frame.
It looked in rougher shape than it really is. I will post pictures as we go along, right up to our finished project we hope to sell sometime this summer.
Here's our before! (Side slats and supports not pictured)

Pallets Part 1 (Info)

Pallet Board Crafts are becoming more and more popular everyday. I know I was hooked once I saw pallet related pins on Pinterest a year ago when I first joined. 

Pallets are a great way to find salvaged wood of different sizes. The possibilities are endless when it comes to them.

I got my hands on some pallets a few months back. I still have a bunch of them in the back yard just waiting to be used. 

Wood Pallets can be found most anywhere.  But you don't want just any old pallet. There are things you should look for:

Check for the HT!

- Firstly the biggest most important thing to look for on a pallet is to see how it is treated. You want a Heat Treated pallet. Most if not all pallets made in the USA are to be Heat Treated by law. These pallets will be marked with a HT some where on it. Heat treated pallets are safe to be in your home and around your family and pets.


- If it is marked with a MB stay way and let it go. MB stands for Methyl bromide. This chemical is very dangerous and is a pesticide. It is much like Lead Paint...you don't want that in your home. A lot of over seas pallets can be MB treated. So check to be sure.

-If you find your pallet isn't mark you have two options. Either walk away and let it be or inquire with the current owner where it came from. Most likely it is safe but I myself would rather just walk away from a unmarked pallet. If anything you gained some firewood.

-Be cautious of pallets that transport food. For food and hold pathogens and bacteria like E coli.  Try to find pallets that were made for transporting house hold materials such as wood, bricks, shingles, etc.

Did I scare you? I hope I did...this is something to not take lightly. I want you and your family to be as safe as can be.

So where do you find pallets that are safe to use? 

-Well the best way to find some is to just ask. Ask your Facebook friends. Maybe they have some or know a person who has some. Farmers are very likely to have some in a barn. Anyone you know that is having work done on their home. A lot of times the materials the contractor is using will be shipped on pallets. But make sure you ask the contractor or the home owner before you start taking them.

-Hardware stores and Lumber Yards have an abundant supply. Again make sure ask first before you start loading them up in your truck. A lot of stores and businesses might get money for them if they return them from to the original supplier. So be sure to ask. 

-Also you can inquire at any furniture store. There is a local store who actually advertises in the local paper for people to come buy pallets off them for fire wood. So they are around you just have to look and ask around.

Pallets come in different shapes and sizes. The condition will also differ from pallet to pallet. The things that change the condition of the pallet are as follows:

-Age
-Exposure To The Elements
-How often it was used
-What it was used for

The things that will help you decided what kind of pallet you want is the project you are wanting to do. 

If you are looking for a more rustic look then a more weathered board is what you want. If you are making furniture you might want a nicer piece that hasn't been worn out and splintered.

Once you find out what project you are doing then you will know what kind of pallet you want when it comes to it's condition. 
Remember that if your pallets have been outside or in a barn for longer periods of time then there is a good chance there are bugs some where on it. Be sure to clean off what ever it is that you are using. Use a wire brush, a hose, or whatever means are necessary for your wood to be as safe and lovely as possible.

Ok so once you found your desired pallet what now? Pallets are not the easiest things to take apart. If you find yourself wanting and needing to dismantle a pallet board. You can try to us a pry bar and a hammer to get the boars off, but you will run the risk of splitting the ends of the boards. Especially if it's a very old or very weather pallet. The newer pallets you might have better luck doing it with these tools, but let me tell you...there is a easier way!

Now you will need a second person to help you with it...for this is at least a two person job if not three. Depends on how strong you are and how strong your grip is.

Grab a Sawzall. Yes this is a power tool. It is very dangerous if not used properly. Luckily for me I have a very a great dad who is more than willing to help me out. Basically what you are going to do is cut the boards off. There are 2 ways you can do this.

-If you are wanting the full board you are going to cut the nail that holds the boards to the joyces. Doing so will cause a lot of vibration and can cause the pallet to shift. This is where the extra people comes in handy. Cut through on one end, then cut through on the other. then you will cut through the center. This makes quick work of a pallet. It also leaves the nail heads in the boards which gives it character.

-If you don't want to cut through the nails you can use the Sawzall or even a circular saw for this part. Cut the boards right next to the joyce. Now in doing this you are going to lose 4 inches on each end. Cut on both ends leaving the center joyce. After this is done you can use your pry bar and hammer to pull the boards off. Since the center part of the boards are less likely to be cracked you have a better chance of taking them off with out splitting the wood.

So now that you have your pallets apart all you need to do is figure out what you are going to make with them! Stay tuned for part 2 of this blog where I show you what I have made thus far with my pallets!

Restore Frame Turned Earring Display Holder

Hey All! How's it going? Come across any good pins lately? Well I sorta did.

A while ago my sister Jessica asked me if I could come up with a way for her to store and display her Earrings. Mainly her studs. So I went to work surfing Pinterest for hours looking for ideas. I even went to Google a few times. 

I finally came across the idea of using a picture frame and burlap for a earring holder. There really wasn't any tutorial so I had to come up with my own method.

Here's what you'll need:
-Wood Picture Frame
-Paint of your desired color
-White Paint if you need a base coat
-Paint brush (unless you chose to use spray paint which would work just fine too)
-80 grit sand paper
-Burlap color of your choice
-Hot Glue and Glue Gun or a Staple Gun and Staples. (I used hot glue for I was out of staples for my staple gun)
-A small doll rod if you are using hot glue...or you can use anything that will work...even your finger if you don't mind getting hot glue on your fingers....
-Twine or Ribbon if so desired

First off you need a wood frame. Of any size, shape, or design. It's up to you so have fun with it. The frame I used I got from the Local Habitat Restore for just a $1.

Restore Frame!!!

Yes this frame has some....character if you will, but I knew it would be perfect for this project.

So once you have the frame you would like to use and all of your supplies gathered it's time to get your craft on!

Prep your work area to protect the surface you are working on with news paper or packing paper like I like to use for such a project.  or even cardboard. Which I also like to use for such a project. Makes clean up so much easier seriously :)

I first took the time to do a base coat on my frame, I used white acrylic craft paint, but you can use primer as well if you feel so inclined to use it.

The reason for this is that my wood frame was so dark, I didn't want the darkness to show through my paint color of choice. It also saves you time and money on how many coats of paint you use.

Getting it's first coat of paint...the Base Coat :)

Okay got that done? Great! Now repeat with the base coat if needed. You make the call. I did a touch up layer where it dark wood showed through more than I wanted it too. 

Once the paint is fully dry it's time for your color! I did to coats of this. Let it fully dry between each coat you do or you will risk pulling the paint right off which you do not want. There is no rush in doing this. And if you are using acrylic paint the dry time won't be long in the first place. 

Once your frame is painted how you want and it's fully dry...time for that sand paper! 

What's the purpose of the sand paper you ask? Well the sand paper scrapes some of the paint away to give your project a weathered and distressed look. 

You be the judge on how much you want distressed. This part is totally up to you!

Once you have sanded your project to the distressed look you want be sure to wipe the frame off with a rag or a cloth to get any dust dust off. Sand paper you know causes such a mess :)

Okay time for the Burlap! 

You are going to cut your Burlap bigger than the frame by at least Four inches. This will give you a lot of wiggle room and ways to be able to grab and tight your burlap as you go.

I also made my cut of burlap twice the length that I need for I folded it over and did a double layer. I did this for Burlap lets a lot of light through and I didn't want to be able to see the wall color behind it. 

Spread your hot glue where you need it. Work quickly or in small portions at a time for hot glue dries fast. I had a lip on the inner part of my frame that I glued my burlap too. I used the doll rod to press the burlap into the glue. As you turn your project to work on the next side you want to keep the burlap as tight as you can get it. You may need a second set of hands here if you can't hold it tight and glue at the same time. Keep doing this until it's glue on. Fold the long flap over and glue again. 

You will then cut any excess burlap off. Go around with the glue gun and glue down any loose parts of the burlap. 

Now add your twine or ribbon that you wish to hang your project from. I used twine. 

Now add your earrings! Hang on the wall and enjoy!

Isn't it pretty?

So now that you know how to make one of these awesome earring display pieces go out there and get your craft on!

I would love to see what you come up with! Please feel free to share your photos and your comments below!

Happy Crafting and Happy Pinning!

Jenny

Update: This is what it looks like with my sister using it!

Old Window Revival

A few weeks ago I came across an old paned window. It had a broken window but the frame was in great condition. I bargained for it and got it for $2! Yes that's right $2! I was very excited for my find. I packed my new treasure in my car and headed home.

I pondered over what to do with it for a few days. I search Pinterest for awesome ideas and how to's but didn't come across anything that spoke to me. Don't get me wrong there are a lot of awesome ideas for projects for old windows out there...but this one was different.

The wood frame was in great condition. It was dirty but there was barely and water damage on it and it wasn't painted....it was bare and ready for it's new life. 

I thought and thought about what I would do. I wasn't really wanting to paint the frame and ruin the beautiful wood. If it was previously paint in it's first life I would have stripped it and painted it...but like I said...this was different. Even my Dad told me not to paint it. 

I thought about staining it but wasn't sure what stain color to use. Then the idea hit me....BEESWAX! Bees wax is an awesome thing to use on wood. It's a natural element so when you use it you don't have to worry about stains and chemicals. For those who don't know what Beeswax does it naturally brings out the true color of the wood. It also helps already stained wood come back to life. 

So I knew what I was going to do with the frame but what was it going to be come? After much brainstorming I came up with a Mirror/Accessory holder. 

So with the help of a crafty handy dandy Dad he showed me how to get the glass out with out hurting the frame.

This is a lot of work. Since I had no need for the glass we discovered it was easier to break the glass first before going at the putty seal on the back that holds the glass in place and keeps it weather proof. 

And let me tell you...that stuff may be brittle but wow is it hard as a rock! I used a putty knife to get it all off. I would advise to where safety glasses and gloves when doing this. Keep a box near by for the broken glass if you are not using or keeping the glass. You will also need needle nose pliers. There are little metal pieces holding the glass in under the putty. They come out easy with this tool. 

You will make a mess so do this out in the garage or something and have a shop vac handy. 

Once the frame is free of the glass and putty you will want to wipe the frame down with a clean cloth to get any dirt and dust off the frame. Then take some steel wool and wipe the frame down to get any excess dirt and grime off. 

Next you are ready for the Beeswax. I got mine from Menards. It didn't cost more than $5! They keep it back with the all the cans of Stains back in the paint section. If yo can't find it ask for help. It comes in a bottle and looks like beeswax. Follow the instructions on the bottle. And soon you will have your old frame looking amazing! Who knew my old dirty frame had such rich red tones in it!

After the frame is dry from the beeswax you will want to drill your holes for your knobs and adjust the length of the knobs to fit your frame...you don't want it to scratch the wall do you? Once that is all set you will want to have your mirrors ready.

I got my mirrors from a local glass company. They had my mirrors cut and ready to go in under 30 minutes. I'm sure they would have installed your mirrors to your frame if you ask them but I didn't want the extra expense. 

Carefully place your mirrors into place. Now you can secure your mirrors in any way you see fit. My dad thought it would be best to calk them into place. We used your basic white calk nothing special. Let it dry before you flip it over. You don't want the mirrors to come out!

Once that's done add what you need to hang it on the wall! And presto it's done!

By the time it was all said and done I spent roughly $32 on the frame, beeswax, knobs, and mirrors. I am loving my new piece..but I am trying hard to let it go and sell it for a nice pretty penny. I hope you got a new idea and try something new....maybe use some beeswax with your next wood project and not paint or stain.

Happy Pinning and Happy Crafting! 

Jenny

Packing Paper Has Unlimited Uses!

Packing paper...ya you know the stuff. You go to a store such as Hobby Lobby lets say and you buy something breakable. What does the cashier do? She wraps it in paper. And what does one usually do with the paper? Throw it away or recycle it right? Well before you go crumbling up that paper and throwing it in the trash can there are a few other options for that paper.

I love this paper. I recently have started saving this paper for a few different reasons. And so glad I have!

Here is a list of things you can do with this paper.

1. Put in your own craft area for scrap paper (you could always use scrap paper right)
2. Donate it to your local DayCare or Pre-School. I work at one and let me tell you the kids go gangbusters over big sheets of paper. 
3. Give it to your kids for their own art's and crafts. (painting or coloring)
4. Use it as a drop sheet when you are painting a craft or project when you don't have newspaper.
5. Store it away for the next time you move and need to pack breakables.
6. Keep it in a bin for when you are packing up seasonal decorations.

I'm sure there are more ways to reuse this paper that just haven't been thought of yet. Let me know what you use it for!