There's no sense denying it, I'm a font snob. I spend far more time choosing a font for a presentation than I actually do coming up with content! My husband completely doesn't get it… I've even showed him things in Comic Sans and then a fabulous font like Basic Title and he just can't even tell the difference. So, instead of wasting my time on him, I thought I'd gather up 10 free fonts that I'll be using this fall and share them with you!!
Cafe & Brewery///Honey Badger///Chemistry///Aaargh///DK Sleepy Time/// nixie one///Neo Retro Draw///Veron///Kiwi School Handwriting///Harting/// Here's my take on a few of them… There's something I'm loving about Honey Badger- can't put my finger on it, but I'm drawn to it! Chemistry is all Breaking Bad and awesome, but not illegal- don't worry! Neo Retro Draw has recently made it's way to our sidebar pics- I love the simple hand drawn look! Vernon, oh wait… it's VERON… Apparently I loved the N so much I added an extra! oops! I love simple, clean fonts with stretched letters. So modern and fabulous!! And just for good measure… the"hello" is Learning Curve (a teacher go-to I might add) and our EC2 watermark is Hype. So… go download your favs, but first tell me… Which is your favorite?
Since you all enjoyed the free canvases we shared last week, we thought we'd give you a little treat this week too! We love hooking you up with freebies!!
Have you heard of Paper Coterie? If you have, you're way ahead of us since we've been hiding under a rock and didn't know about their fabulousness. Basically, they sell super cool, trendy, fun ways to document and record all the important moments in our lives. Photo books, greeting cards, birth announcements, planners, journals. Awesome stuff, people. Check it out:
I Love Swatchbook (Great Father's Day gift! 30 pages, only $15!)
Memorykeeper (perfect for storing kid's artwork!)
Set of 12 Hello Cards (a personal favorite!)
Live the Life Planner (Calendar + Notebook + Personal Pics = Awesome)Here's what Monica picked with her $15:You might remember that I got an iPhone last month and I'm loving up Instagram (You can follow me at eastcoastcreative) well I saw this journal and knew it was for me.
I used four pictures that make me smile and voila. I plan to use it as kind of a prayer journal. Life can get a tad busy sometimes and often I don't take enough time to talk to The Big Guy. I find that writing helps. I loved that I could choose a fun font (I'm a font snob) and text, so I named it,"Hey God, It's Me Monica" (a little play off of Judy Bloom).
Here's what Jess picked with her $15: Ok, we're lame because we both picked journals, but I just started a new job (as a Trip Coordinator at the same continuing care facility I've been working at for the last two years) and I know there will be tons of details, little reminders, and future trip ideas I'm going to need to jot down on a regular basis, so this will be the perfect fit!
Simple, clean and of course, features my favorite picture of my kids ever.
Here's how you get your Free $15 at Paper Coterie! Click HERE and then use the code GIFTFAVES at Checkout! So what will you get with your $15?? Let us know what you choose! Have a great weekend!
We've been keeping a secret from you. And it's a good one. But don't worry! We're about to let you in on it…ready??…ok, here goes: Six weeks ago we asked several amazing bloggers to join with us in a collaboration group we called Blogging 2 Better. We're a bunch of like-minded home, DIYand crafting bloggers that want to learn as much as we can about blogging, while also sharing ideas, encouraging one another and sharing each other's awesome projects as much as we can. We're so fortunate to be part of a blogging community that encourages sharing! (If you write a blog, we strongly suggest getting a group of girls together to learn from. No one understands all that blogging entails except for other bloggers! You can find more about that in our Part-Time Blogger series here.)
Anyway, these girls are really, truly talented and it was a lot of fun getting to know them better. For our final week, we had Beckie from Infarrantly Creative give us a list of materials that we all needed to incorporate into an awesome project. It's like our version of a Nate's Crate Challenge! Woohoo! And today is the day we get to see what everyone's been up to!! Once you finish taking a look at what we created, make sure you hop over to the other gal's blogs to see what they made.
Here's the list of the supplies from Beckie:
And here's what we came up with:
We struggled to come up with a clever name for it, but basically it's a rustic/industrial storage bin. A very easy project that turned out adorable, if we do say so ourselves. You know we love a good pallet project (we've done several here and here), but we also keep loads of barnwood on hand, too. We picked one that was already the perfect length (yay! no extra cutting required!)
We also scored these three wire bins at HomeGoods for four bucks a pop! We didn't love the color, but knew immediately that this is where we could use coral! We spraypainted them with Valspar's Hacienda Tile- the perfect coral.
Next we found a font that we liked and printed number 1 through 3 large on regular, old paper. With a pen, we traced the number while pressing down to leave the outline on the barn wood.
Have you tried paint pens yet? They're so easy to use, but they still looks like paint. We carefully filled in the stencilled numbers with a black Sharpie paint pen.
Once the paint on the bins had dried, we brought them in and laid them down in front of the wood to determind the placement. We measured the board, divided it into thirds and then marked where the hooks would go.
Monica drilled pilot holes where we had previously marked and then we screwed in the eye hooks …Six hooks for three baskets.
Then I gently sanded down the numbers to distress them a bit.
Monica whitewashed the entire board with a mixture of paint and water to give the piece a little more depth. (Side note: working as a team makes the project go faster! We're so fortunate to have each other.: ) (I totally Agree! -Monica)
The last step for the wood piece is to add a coat of water-based polyurethane (water-based won't change the color of the wood!).
To hang it, we took chain, cut it to the length we wanted with wire cutters and screwed threw one of the links directly into the wood. Make sure your screw isn't so long that it goes right through to the other side!
Then we hit a creativity wall. Booo. We could not for the life of us figure out how to incorporate fabric into this project. We toyed with lots of different ideas, but finally decided on a cute hanging pendant banner for one of the baskets. Recently we came across a shop called The Finest Kind and we couldn't get over how cute their stuff is! We decided to purchase three of their typographical tags to use on our pendant. You'll probably catch the significance: EC2.: ) First, we spraypainted the little cuties blue.
Next, we took apart three 2x3 frames so that we could use the cardboard backing. Wierd, I know, but there's always an untraditional use for everything!
We wrapped the fabric around the cardboard and mod podged it right on.
Before the Mod Podge had dried, we stuck our tags on, and voila! An adorable pendant honoring our blog for the basket!
We were thrilled with the finished product, and it has now made it's home in my dining room. And just so you know, it totally inspired me to rearrange my living room and gave me the motivation I needed to start our dining room makeover!
To be completely honest, we liked this project better without the fabric banner, but do think it makes a super cute accessory!
And now for the REALLY fun part! We were so excited to see what our blogging buddies came up with using the same materials, and they did not disappoint!
Please stop over at these amazing ladies blogs to see what their projects. Share the EC2 love with them and tell them we sent you! Clockwise from top right: Kim from Sand & Sisal: Surfboard Pallet Art Brook from Being Brook: Fabric Wall Map Allison from House of Hepworths: Dangle Earring Frame Jenna from SAS Interiors: Monogrammed Chevron Pallet Tray We had SO much fun putting this project together and consider ourselves lucky to be in the company of these awesome bloggers. If you don't already follow them, shame on you! But it's not too late, go ahead and do it now.: ) We want to know: What would YOU do with those materials?
** And if you're loving up all the wood ideas, this one is one of our favorites! Check it out!
**If you're visiting from one of the other bloggers' projects, thanks for stopping by! If you like what you see use the links below to stay up to date with all of our projects and ideas!
I can't believe Father's Day is next weekend. I have nothing planned yet (ugh! Slacker wife!) so, I thought I'd share some Father's Day Gift ideas that I found throughout blog land. Now, I have to warn you that my hubs isn't into ties, golf, or the TV remote and I found SO MANY project ideas like that, so if you want that stuff look on Pinterest. These are just ones that I thought were really cool and that I'd actually try myself. Free Printable Props from Paper Coteriefind them HEREI know my kids would have a blast taking pictures with these props! Even if we didn't print them out, we could show dad a silly slideshow!
Wall of Surprises from Oh Happy Day find the tutorial HERE This idea is my favorite and I think that we'll be trying it out next weekend. I was thinking that each of the kids could pick one activity they'd like to do with Daddy and we'll do them throughout the day. We might even include a few clues leading to our big present!
Personalized Book from Paper Coterie Use this link and the code DADSDAY to get 60% off!
I love how this book can combine pictures, printed words, and kids drawings & writing. My hubs isn't a big fan of crafts (I mean he likes the ones my kids make) but he LOVES photo books and things written from our kids. This is on my to do list tonight.
Scrabble Frame from Just Another Day in Paradise find the tutorial HERE This project has been on Pinterest since it started and I still love it just as much. I love the simplicity, but how it instantly grabs your attention.
Father's Day Photo Collage from Positively Splendidfind the tutorial and downloads HEREThis is really creative and cute. If I have time before next weekend we might give it a whirl!
The font wasn't totally my style, so I threw together another image that I'll use for the writing. Feel free to save as and use it too! Amy's tutorial uses Picasa, but I'm loving PicMonkey's collage tool and will probably use that for mine.
I hope this little Round-up got your wheels turning. What do you have planned for the fathers in your life?
Source: tumblr.com via The Real Housewives on Pinterest Is it just the English teacher in me, or is this funny? I seriously laugh every single time I see it. Perhaps this picture is what inspired me to shoot for a non-traditional fall mantle this year. I'm usually a warm colors, traditional fall mantle girl. Not this year. I wanted something with cooler tones and some personality. Enter the Poe Inspired Mantle.
The black & white pumpkin and the raven are both from Hobby Lobby. (My daughter claims it's a crow, but it's a raven to me, heck it even squaked"Nevermore" the other day!) I was thinking of getting sticks for the vase, but I saw these peacock feathers and they just screamed"AWESOME" so I went with them and some spoooky branches. The owl is adorable and will become a permanent part of my decor somewhere.
I still really struggle with having the TV above the fireplace because it cramps my decorating style, but it's definitely the most practical. Sorry, for the BTR promo… when you have 4 kids, sometimes you gotta let them watch tv so mommy can take blog pics. Who knows, maybe BTR will want to be featured on our blog? Ha! (If you don't know BTR, then you clearly don't have an 9yr old) In addition to finishing my fall mantle, the babies and I (perhaps at 2 and 4 they're not babies, but we call 'em that) did a little fall craftin' with some scrap particle board. DIY Scrap Fall Sign Nothing fancy about this wood; I think the builder left it. It's really poor quality particle board, but I saw its inner beauty! Well…actually… I was just glad it was free.
My famous paint can shot (can something be famous just because I declared it so?) I just used some leftover paint that Nate left here. Oh, who's Nate you ask?? Umm, just my pal Nate Berkus. We're tight. (hahah!) This paint did come in the Nate Crate though.
Did you know that Jess and I like to paint topless? KIDDING!! I let my kiddos do the painting… you thought I was a hoochie for a second there didn't you?
We did a very rough base coat. I didn't want it 100% covered. Then it was time to stencil the letters and I needed to get it straight, so rather than take 2 minutes to find a ruler, I just used a scrap piece of paper and a piece of chalk to make some guide lines.
The stencil I used was the Helvetica font and I got it for $7.99 at HobLob.
I love these little bracket symbols. Jess and I probably over use them, but we can't help it. They're cool.
Some of the letters require a little work. First, stencil in the shape as is…
Then, you need to fill in where the plastic was for support. I just used two little pieces of painter's tape. It fills in nicely as you'll see in the finished product.
DARN my lack of planning. LEAF PILE was too long… I had 2 options… pretend"AF PILE" is a cool, family inside joke, or come up with a plan B…
I went with plan B. I painted over the AF…
and decided that a visual would work. Kaden ran outside and picked out two leaves that he liked the most. I pressed them on the wood and did a light stencil around the edges to create the shape of the leaf
I'll be the first to admit: 1. This is not a fancy-schmancy masterpiece 2. It's really hard to read. (Fall sorta looks like"fail"… The hubs was confused why I wrote the word"pile" until I explained it… and yes, there is a P missing from"pumpkins" for the sake of space)
However, even with all its quirkiness, after a final light sanding, I was really happy with the finished product.
I think it's a fun, personal addition to our front porch.
Sure, it's no crazy-cool subway art, but for $7.99 it's cute and kept me and my kids busy making it for at least an hour. That scores one in my book!
So, do you have any junky wood sitting around that you can make a cool family sign with? Give it a try and let us know how it turns out.
P.S. I have to confess, there are many things I wanted on this sign that didn't fit… Starbucks and Pumpkin Spice Latte just to name a few!
Okay, so two years ago Vista Print entered my life… yes, it sounds dramatic, but man, it Rocked My World! Maybe you've heard of Vista, and maybe you know you can get FREE pens and oodles of business cards, but that really doesn't excite nor apply to you. Well, I'm hoping that some of these ideas will get you almost as sold on Vista as I am (and no, I don't get commission- lol.) Ok, so with Vista Print, you sign up for their emails (and yes, you'll get a lot, so don't use your everyday email address unless you want to. I have one email account for all my"junk" emails I subscribe to and one"real" account that I use daily) Every few days, Vista will send you FREE products you can order- you only pay shipping. There are 3 shipping options, so the price is decent and totally worth all the products you'll be getting for free!
Now onto the fun part… what you can create in Vista! The suggestions I'm giving in this post were all made without using Photoshop or any professional design programs. Vista has designs to choose from or you can create your own and upload a completed design. I do a lot of both. Idea # 1- Mommy Cards These little cards are perfect for the playdate lovin' mom. Keep them in your purse and when your child makes a friend at the local park, you can give new friend's mommy one of your super-cool cards so that you can meet up again. If you're like me, you've jotted down a mom's cell number on a scrap of paper, only to completely lose it and then feel awful that you never called. 250 Mommy Cards Printed as business cards = FREE!
Idea # 2- Shower Invitations You don't need to pay insane prices for cool, trendy invitations. Get ideas online and then design your own! Baby Lucas (after Luke Skywalker) was due to arrive last summer and of course we needed fabulous Star Wars invitations for our Star Wars themed Shower. The pictures were simply pulled from Google Images and the font was free online. 50 Invites Printed as Oversized Postcards = FREE!
(sorry for the blurry parts, but I wanted to get rid of the personal info) Have I mentioned I have the best, most super-fun friends ever?
Idea # 3- Children's Birthday Parties I haven't bought an invitation in two years. Small postcards, large postcards, notecards, or invitations can all be used to create your invites in Vista. This is Kenzie's Spa Party invite. She had so much fun helping me design it! This one was one-sided, but the back can be personalized as well. We put them in 5x 7 envelopes and voila! I only needed 10 invites, but 100 were Free, so we have lots to use as scrap cardstock. 100 Party Invitations = FREE!
Idea # 4- Christmas Cards Can you believe how much Christmas cards have changed in the last few years? Gone are the days of the painted, snowy scene cards and in are awesome photo cards and more! The only problem is that it can cost a small fortune to send the nice photo cards to everyone. These were our Christmas Cards from 2009. I used Picnik (free editing software) to edit our pics, create a collage, and add some bling; and then I uploaded it onto the oversized 5 x 7 postcards.
I think my favorite part was that I could fully customize the back and had plenty of space to say exactly what we wanted to share. Another bonus was that I could mail them as postcards and didn't need envelopes. Score! 100 Christmas Cards (2 orders of 50) = FREE!
Idea # 5- Kids Pretend Supplies Last Christmas I used Vista to put together a Vet Kit for Kenzie. She loves animals and loved playing vet, but she was getting a little"old" for typical pretend play. So, we made pretend"cool" again by giving her a present of real vet supplies. Her vet supplies included: a Pet Vet Poster, a personal stamp, business cards, a personalized pen, a tote bag, stationary and printed forms (I went online and grabbed a basic vet form.) She LOVED it and had so much fun playing vet again, since now it seemed a bit more grown up. You could do this for anything your child is into… Doctor, Builder, Photographer, Ballerina, etc. Oodles of Pretend Play Supplies = FREE! Pet Vet Poster
Personal Stamp
Idea # 6- Totes for Everything I mean everything! Every time I put in an order I add a tote (umm they're free, why not!) Here are some ideas: Library Book Tote, Sports Tote (the one below was for Kenzie's cleats, shinguards, and water bottle for soccer.) Books for the Car, Snacks for on-the-go, Sleepover Bag (sized just right for one night and you could write something cute on it), Pretend Shopping Bag. What ideas do you have? Share them and I'm sure I'll order one! Everything Tote Bag = FREE!
Idea # 7- Gift Tags These are just business cards repurposed into gift tags. I used these for Christmas presents and they matched so well. I used a hole punch in the corner and attached them with coordinating ribbon. You could also make some non-holiday tags to have on hand. You could even make a set from each child for all the class birthday parties. My kids love when I have things personalized. To: _____ From: Kaden. I haven't done that yet, but I will be soon! 250 Gift Tags printed as Business Cards = FREE!
Idea # 8- Teacher Gifts Want a great, personal gift for a teacher? How about giving them a collection of coordinating, personalized supplies? Hit up Target's dollar bin for a cute container and your gift will be the talk of the teacher's lounge! Here are some items that you could include: notepads, sticky notes, pens, postcards, notecards, and more! I plan to do this for my kids' teachers this spring, so I won't give all my ideas away, but stay tuned for some inspiration! Personal, Thoughtful Teacher Gifts = FREE Notepad with magnet on the back
Matching sticky notes
Phew… that was a long post, but hopefully at least one of these ideas made you ready to jump in and give VistaPrint a try. I promise you'll be hooked! Use this link to sign up for Vista today and be sure to share your creations with us!
Ok, we're back, as promised, with all the information about our Thanksgiving centerpiece and place card ideas! If you didn't see the segment today on the Channel 69 Sunrise morning show, you're in luck because you can watch it here! First of all, I just have to say, that Monica and I love doing this show. It is so much fun, so laid back, and Eve Tannery is a total pro! Plus, she actually reads our blog so we know she's legitmately a fan (thanks, Eve!)
And of course, we had to include a goofy one…
I just have to mention one funny thing that happened this morning before our segments. Monica and I were setting up the table and Mo started to light the candles in some of our centerpieces. I wasn't sure if we were allowed to, so I caught Jaciel's (the other anchor) eye while Eve was doing her thing and mouthed"Can we light these?" He didn't hear what I asked, and said,"Do I like those? It looks so nice." We were cracking up thinking about what he must think of us asking if our table looked nice as he was giving the news. Maybe not so funny to you, but stinkin' hilarious to us that early.: ) Ok, now on to the good stuff: Centerpieces The Gourd Vase We like to keep it simple, bring the outdoors in, and use things you can find around your house. This centerpiece meets all of those requirements, so I'm one happy camper!
I (Jessica) went to a local farmstore called Penn-Vermont Farms (which is fabulous by the way!) and picked up a bunch of different sized gourds. The gourd I used for the vase is a kershaw gourd, but you could also use a birdhouse gourd. You want to choose a gourd that is not top-heavy so it can hold the weight of the branches and leaves. Then, I drilled a small hole into the top.
I recommend making this centerpiece on the actual day of Thanksgiving because once you cut the branch, the leaves quickly die. Ask me how I know that. You could easily use berries or bare branches and this centerpiece would still look amazing. (Curious about my table runner? You can check out how I made that using a dropcloth here)
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- The Candle Log
This centerpiece is so simple, but really pretty. Monica made this using a birch log, but any kind of wood will do. First measure the length of your tray (Mo picked this one up at Michael's!) so you can determine the length of the piece of wood. You'll want to leave a few inches on either end. Cut the sheet moss to the size of the bottom of the tray and lay it down lengthwise in the tray.
Place the candles on the log and mark where you want them to go.
Using a circle drill bit (this one is 1 1/2 inches), partially drill the holes until you have enough depth to place your votive candles.
Wrap the whole thing with a pretty ribbon, and voila! An easy, rustic centerpiece!
Fall Tray with Cut Log Pieces and Candles
I found a great oversized tray at ReStore, and could not wait to put it to good use! Monica had recently cut a bunch of birch logs for a project (more on that to come later!), so I used them to fill my tray. Use a chop saw to cut your log into 1-2 inch circles.
I surrounded the birch discs with a bed of yellow and red leaves and then placed 3 orange pillar candles in the center. You could easily do a more modern, less rustic, take on this by leaving out the leaves and adding white pillar candles for a sleek, cool look.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Place Cards Modern Name & Menu Napkin Rings
Monica made these using regular cardstock in two fall colors. Decide on the font you want to use, type it up in a word document, and then print it out. Layer the printed paper onto the opposite color paper and wrap around the napkin. Mo used extra fabric she had laying around to make a napkin and laid the utensils on it, followed by the place card. Finally, lay the whole thing onto the plate and you're done! Remember: you don't have to spend a million bucks to create a beautiful tablescape for Thanksgiving. Use what you have on hand!
Pair it with the candle log and you're table practically sets itself! (BTW- do you notice the name Mo used on the place card? Greyson. She secretly wished she had named one of her children that. Now the secrets out.: ) ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Chalkboard Mason Jar Mugs & Tin Buckets
This is one that the kids will enjoy because it uses chalkboard paint. Let them write the names of your young guests on these mason jar mugs and place them around your kid table. They'll love being involved and will be thrilled they have their very own cup! Or for a more mature version, grab a few tin buckets and paint with chalkboard paint. Fill it with a few pinecones, or a few after-dinner treats.
Anyone can do this, and it adds instant fun to your table! ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Pinecone Placecard Holders
Michael's has loads of scented pinecones for sale right now, but you could also take a nature walk and collect them yourselves for an even less expensive way to decorate. Enlist someone with some muscles, because cutting into a pinecone is no easy task! Use a hack saw to create a"slot" in the top of the pinecone and then slide your placecard right in. Mo used cardstock, but you could get a little fancier if you wanted because you saved a bundle by using pinecones!: )
Of all the placecard holders, this just might be my favorite. Take a couple of the wood slices you cut for your centerpiece, and create a slot in the wood using a hack saw or a sharp knife.
To make the placecards shown here, find two complimentary pieces of cardstock and scrapbook paper. Cut to size and layer them. Add a tiny clothespin for interest and write the name of your guest on the card. That's it! Use this with the fall tray centerpiece and you're able to maintain continuity of your design throughout the entire table.
Ok, I saved the easiest for last. Make your placecard with cardstock and write the name of your guest on it. Punch a hole and tie it around the stem of your gourd. Easy peasy and adorable! ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- We hope you liked our table decor ideas for Thanksgiving- we had a blast coming up with them! We'll be making another appearance on the Channel 69 News Sunrise show in December and would love to hear what YOU would like to see us create or design! Leave us a comment with your thoughts.: ) T minus 16 days until Thanksgiving. Get decorating!
Hey Everyone! I'm so excited that I can finally share my Christmas Countdown with all of you! I had to wait until P&G was ready for it on their pgtryit.com site, so I'm sure you've already created yours for 2012, but hey, Pin it for next year! Tomorrow is Jess' Christmas home tour and I don't know about you, but I'm really super excited (okay, yes I've seen it all, but not in pictures!) ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Hope your Thanksgiving was awesome and you're ready for the crazy holiday marathon that is the next few weeks! I don't know about you, but the time between Thanksgiving and Christmas is probably the most exciting time of the year for my family. It's also really easy to get so busy that we miss taking time to do some of the things we love! As the Trend Trio Home Expert from P&G’s Have You Tried This Yet? I'm going to share with you a fun craft that you can make to ensure the month doesn't pass you by!
Christmas Countdown Tutorial Christmas Countdown Tutorial This is not yo mama's countdown where you just get a little piece of candy that most likely was packaged last year… This is an interactive family activity that I know your family will love. The best part is that it will ensure that none of the special activities and traditions slip through the cracks. Step 1- Start with a plain Jane piece of plywood. I'd recommend looking for one that has really cool patterns in the grain like this one does!
Step 2- Lightly spray paint. I gave the wood the lightest possible coat of white spray paint. Keep the can far back and move it back and forth very quickly. The spray paint got rid of the warm brown tones and began to highlight the grain. Step 3- Paint the grain to highlight the details. I used about 1 part paint to 3 parts water to paint over the awesome grain! I dipped my brush in the mixture and then dabbed it dry on some paper towels. I used a really light hand and tried to feather the paint on, so that it looked natural.
Step4- Use Stencils to title your board. I used a simple, industrial font and stencils that are adhesive backed. They make my crafting life so much easier.
Step 5- Spray paint 25 wooden clothes pins. I picked a cool-toned grey blue color that would pop on the white-washed plywood.
One tip about spray painting- have an old drop cloth handy. I use this piece of plastic when I need to paint in my garage so that I don't get it all over the floor.
Step 6- Choose some washi tape colors. Washi tape comes in almost every pattern imaginable these days. You can order from a huge selection online, but I actually got these colors at my local craft store. Washi tape is really versatile and can be used on all kinds of surfaces.
Accent each mini envelope with your washi tape and then either hand write or stamp your countdown numbers.
Step 7- Measure, Place & Hot Glue your clothes pins. The easiest way to do this is to just lay it out on the wood and then measure your spacing to keep it consistent in each row.
I just love the end result!
Step 8-Plan 25 Awesome Family Activities. Write down 25 things that you want to do. Each day you will open an envelope and do what's written inside. I recommend using a calendar to plan out your activities before putting one inside each envelope.
Our activities range from something as simple as reading a holiday story as a family to going out to see all the Christmas lights in our neighborhood.
I hope your 2012 holiday season is super special and that your family enjoys all the awesome activities you plan for them!
The countdown is on! What kinds of activities will you choose for your family to do this month?
Make sure you check back to keep up with all of the Trend Trio videos, blog posts, and product tips to help make this holiday season the best one yet!
Anthro Ordinal Dresser Knock Off So, I have to be honest… When Jess and I told my hubs that we were taking his"Toolbox Dresser" he wasn't thrilled (it's been holding his tools in our garage for 5 yrs) and he might have been a tad skeptical that we could turn it into Anthro's Dresser. We're a wee bit competitive, so he gave us just the challenge we needed.
Step 1: Sanding There were many layers of paint to remove. Don't be intimidated. We got through white paint and the original glossy finish. We did use some 60 grit sandpaper because the higher numbers were just taking too long. Yes, it was 11 pm and yes, it was dark, but a girl's gotta protect her eyes!
Each drawer needed to be sanded and then all of the framework for the dresser. Every trace of creamy white paint needed to go! (And No, we didn't plan to wear matching, frumpy outfits…)
We used an orbital sander and a little mouse sander as well. The mouse is great for getting into the nooks and crannies! We did have one minor injury, but that's kind of expected when crafting at 11pm.
Step 2: Template & Cut We just free-handed a template of the little shape that we needed to cut on each drawer. It was a bit annoying and took us a few tries to get it centered and even, but once we did, we just traced around it and were ready to cut. For the bottom of the dresser, we needed to get rid of any scrolly-ness, so we drew on some straight lines and said,"bye bye old school scrolls!" as we cut.
Sometimes we're a little intimidated by power tools, but the more we use them, the easier it gets. We did all the cutting with a jigsaw. It's as simple as tracing a line (well…with a quickly moving blade!)
Step 3: Create a Faux Metal Finish While I was busy doing a jig (AKA jigsawing), Jess used a few spray paints to get the faux metal finish we were going for. We used Rustolium's Hammered Metal and Valspar's Metallic Finish.
At first, it looked like graffiti gone wrong… So we added more of the metallic spray and then we used Martha Stewart acrylic paints in copper and metallic turquoise.
And we liked the results much better.
This is where we called it a night for work night number one. It was about 1am… bedtime!
Step 4: Fill the Holes The Anthro dresser didn't have any holes, but unfortunately ours had 6 holes per large drawer. Have no fear… mod podge is here! Using a little woodworkers trick, we took sawdust from the sander and added modpodge (glue was recommended, but I only had glue sticks). Just mix it up until it's nice and thick and can be molded with your hands. The ratio was about 3:1 dust to modpodge.
We used the end of a kids paintbrush to neatly push it into each hole. Two reasons this method rocks: #1- it's FREE and # 2- it almost perfectly matched the wood because we were using sawdust from the same piece of wood. Step # 5: Stain the Wood Stain always scares me! It can ruin all your hard work. BUT… at least we knew we could just sand it down again if we made a mistake (which we did). The Anthro dresser had amazing wood tones and we needed to replicate that, so we used a grey stain that we had left over from the Farmhouse Table Remix.
And now for the mistake we made… See the big, globby brush mark of stain on the left? FAIL! We quickly learned that if we held the brush completely parallel to the wood and just barely touched it, we'd avoid ugly blobs. When the staining was done, we did a quick sanding with some 120 and 220 grit, just to make it seem more natural.
Step 6: Poly Time This is such a fun step because it gives instant gratification. The second you brush it on it reveals all the rich, woody, goodness!
Step 7: Add Numbers We had purchased a stencil, but the font wasn't a perfect match, so instead we printed letters using our printer and then traced them firmly with a pen to leave a tracing indent. Oh, you think it's hard to see? We did too! I think I went a little blind trying to paint inside the lines. We know there are other methods to do this, but once again it was past midnight and we were in"Get-er-done" mode.
The numbers looked a little bold at first, but the next morning we gave it a final sanding and made them look more weathered. We also did a final coat of Poly once the numbers were finished.
Step # 7- Hardware We had two extra drawers, so we decided to grab some cool hardware at Lowes. We love how it fit with the style, but still made our piece a little unique.
Phew! That was a lot of work! Two very tired bloggers! (Yes, we make our husbands take cheesy pics of us at midnight… poor guys!)
So there you have it… Ugly Dresser turned Anthro Ordinal! We hope this has inspired you to look past what you see at first and unlock the potential in something you might already own! My hubs openly admits he was wrong and he was pretty impressed with what we did to his"Toolbox Dresser" (and don't worry, we'll buy him a new toolbox!)
Linking up to: Tutorials & Tips, Tip Me Tuesday TT & J, Show & Tell Saturday, Sundae Scoop, Sunday Showcase
After C2 was born, I was looking for something to put on a shelf in his bedroom. I came across this awesome print below on Etsy.
The Paper Tray
I loved the idea of having one of these made for C2 that I could frame and put in his room, but it cost $23.00. That's not outrageous by any means, but I knew that if I put a little effort into it, I could make something similar. I had the frame and mat already (both from Ikea), and I used regular old printer paper, and here's what I came up with:
I painted the mat a green color that I already owned to match the colors of his room.
He likes it!
Obviously, it's not exactly like the original print, because I changed the font to one I thought was a little more fun, and the spacing of the letters is a bit different, but it works! Wouldn't this be a great gift for a couple getting married? Or someone having a baby? Or even to put your kids names on to hang in a playroom? Unlimited possibilities!
Sometimes all it takes is a little time, confidence in your abilities, and a tiny bit of creativity to save a few bucks and create something you love!
I know for many summer is well underway, but my kids just got out of school last week and I still have a week left. So, I might be a little behind the eight ball on this, but we finally sat down this weekend and created our summer bucket list. This year I wanted to do something fun and visible, so that it would be a daily reminder of all the fun things we have planned!
I decided to put together a pennant banner that I could print out quickly and easily. After designing the template, the whole thing took me about 10 minutes to put together! Score! I used this template, which you can download for free HERE.
Then, in Picasa I added the words using this font (which you can get HERE)
To put the banner together, I just hot glued the pennants onto grosgrain ribbon and then added some buttons at the ends for a little added detail.
I just used regular computer paper, but I would recommend using a heavier card stock so that the light doesn't shine through. These pictures were nearly impossible to take with all the back light.
Here's what's on our Bucket List for Summer of 2012: Family Bike Trip Newport Beach with our Cousins Phillies Game Camping Outdoor Movie Night Sleepover with Friends Tubing Down the Delaware Dorney Park See Fireworks Bonfire Family Bike Trip
I'm pretty happy with our cute summer bucket list and I'm super excited for all the fun things we have planned!
Welcome to Day 2 of our mini-series on spicing up your front door for the holidays! Yesterday, Jess showed you how to make your own snowman wreath, and today I'm going to give you a super fast and really versatile (not to mention, it looks awesome!) way to change things up and get rid of those old, dated Christmas wreaths- c'mon, you know you have them. I like to call it the Anti-Wreath.
You may remember that last year, I made an Autumn Anti-wreath using some gilded pumpkins, orange ribbon and a frame that I spraypainted purple. (You can find the whole tutorial here)
I love it, but the purple frame just isn't cutting it for that Christmasy feel. Enter Anti-Wreath #2.
We debuted this baby yesterday on the morning show at Channel 69 News — you can see the whole segment here- Needless to say, we have a pretty fun time with Eve & Jaciel!
Anyhow, back to the Anit-wreath…it's going to make it's home on my front door as soon as I get back from London (the countdown is on!!)
The other thing you can do to dress up your door is to add vinyl words to it. This option is perfect for those of you who aren't ready to make a permanent change, because it can be removed when the season is over. The options are endless! We just got a Silhouette Cameo and are learning the ins and outs, but so far it's awesome.
I just picked a free font I liked (Janda Safe and Sound), typed in the"Be Merry" phrase and printed it out. The cutting is done for you, so all you have to do is peel the letters off the backing and adhere them to your door. Easy peasy!
If you don't have a Silhouette, no worries! Check out these other fun vinyl phrases I found on Etsy:
Willow Creek Signs
Mulberry Creek Well there it is, my second, successful Anti-Wreath! Do tell, are you a wreath lover or a hater like me?
I've been so excited to share this project with you, but I promised myself I'd hold off until our Fall Kickoff! Way back in May, I shared my foyer with you… This might jog your memory.
Then, I asked for some help to come up with a solution for this space…
I was leaning towards something like this, but you guys gave me some amazing ideas! Seriously, I was wishing I had like 5 foyers, to try out a ton of different ideas!
Well, in the end, I did go with something graphic, and something with letters, but something that is so much more my personality than just"Hello"…
There you have it…"Shut the Front Door" Seriously, I chuckle to myself every time I walk upstairs. I have a weird sense of humor and this is just so me. Honestly, what I love the most is when people say,"Oh do your kids always forget to close the door?" I just go,"Oh, yup! Those rascals" Ha! The double meaning just kills me and I love that I have a 4x6 foot little joke in my house. Now here's my soapbox about designing your home how YOU like it… I totally could have just gone with a"Hello" or a"Welcome Friends", or even worse"Home is Where the Heart Is," but honestly I think I'd break out in hives if I had to see that every day. My home is a reflection of who I am, and like it or not, I'm sorta sassy and I think cheeky jokes are funny. So forget what other people will think and embrace your own personality. What would your walls say? How to Add Personality with Wooden Letters: I was super lucky that Janenifer from The Finest Kind contacted me about my foyer. She was just opening her shop and suggested I try wooden letters to add more depth than just vinyl or paint would. After seeing what she created for her own home, I was sold!
Isn't that awesome? (Her prints were made using the Good Old Staples Print Trick!) Jennifer's business is 163 Design Company…
You definitely need to check out their store. Your options are endless and they have awesomely reasonable pricing. I loved that I could choose my font (Chunk Five) and Janenifer was so awesome to work with while I planned out my words. She didn't even judge me when I told her what I wanted to write on the wall! LOL. I used 3M Command Strips to hang each letter- they're not heavy at all. The letters are made from Eucalyptus wood, which let's be honest. just sounds plain cool.
I planned my general layout…
Applied my Command Strips, Did a little measuring…
And then had the hubs help me hang them. He went up and I did lots of"A little to the left, no right, now down, back up…" You get the idea. He loved it! We did use a chalk like to get straight lines to work from. I definitely recommend doing that!
We painted our letters white, but left the sides the dark color they turned from the laser cutting. I really like the effect it has.
There you have it… my new foyer!
Seriously, I'm chuckling now, even as I type this…
This is the view I see from my kitchen and I think it's awesome! (We had our kiddos' artwork displayed all summer, but it's been relocated now. More on that fun project coming soon!)
163 Design Company is offering East Coast Creative Readers 15% off their order for the next two weeks! You might not be ready to make such a huge statement like I did, but I totally encourage you to add some of YOU to your home somewhere! Use the Code ECC15 and get 15% off your order, now through September 30th.Click HERE to go to their online store.
So tell me… What do you think of my foyer update? And, what would you put on your walls? Linking up to: Tutorials & Tips
You've probably heard by now that Picnik has been taken over by the ants! On April 19th it will be gone and that was going to cause a major issue for this blogger. We relied on Picnik for all of our editing and for creating collages for our posts. Boo!
We’d heard that many of Picnik’s tools would be moving over to Google+, and while that at least kept me from hyperventilating, it still didn’t leave me too happy. (Tip Junkie has a good post on using Google + to edit pics) Then I heard a rumor about some new program that was in the works that was going to be completely awesome and nicely fill the void in my heart that Picnik had left. I waited anxiously, and finally got the email that it was ready!
Let me tell you, it took me all of about 5 seconds to start my little “PicMonkey is awesome and saved the day dance!” The creators are actually some of the original Picnik crew that knew that there were lost souls wondering how they would ever photo edit again.
PicMonkey replaces Picnik
The functionality is really similar and so far I haven’t seen anything I didn’t love. Let me give you a little tour. A few things right off the bat… "Collage and more” are coming soon, so that’s one thing I’m still waiting on, but I’m already sure it’s going to meet my needs just fine. Another cool thing to know is that for a limited time the premium features are being offered for free- sweet! Okay, so I loaded up a picture of our Nate Show dresser turned buffet and got to work comparing the two sites. Basic Edits- You have the exact same basic edits, even in the same order, just with some funky-fun images on the sidebar. They were super simple to use and that made me happy!
Effects- One of my favorite things about Picnik was the fun, easy to use effects. Have no fear… PicMonkey is here! All my favorites and a few more were there for the takin’! Applying effects is done exactly the same way, but no Mr. Frog staring you down anymore.
My favorite effect is Cross-Process, so of course I gave it a try on both sites and was over the moon to see it worked perfectly!
PicMonkey also had an effect that caught my eye… Cinerama. I love it! Look how cool our buffet looks now!
Text- The text feature works perfectly, and although there isn’t as large of a font selection on PicMonkey yet, I’d bet money that there are more fab fonts coming soon!
Stickers- Not like little kid reward stickers, but I do think those are fun too… We use stickers for all kinds of graphic design work. Layer them up and it’s amazing what you can create. Similarly to the text options, the stickers are limited at this point, but I imagine we have big things in store for us!
One thing I’m hoping for is a huge selection of tags and fun shapes. In Picnik I used to use the Christmas tags whenever I wanted a fun header. So far I didn’t see anything comparable in PicMonkey, but perhaps I’ll leave a request on their Facebook page.
Frames- Last but not least, I wanted to make sure all my frames were intact! And by now, you’re probably seeing a trend… they had them all (okay, almost all, they didn’t have camo, flowers, or Christmas lights etc., but honestly I’m pretty happy about that.) They did have Polaroid, which I don’t use much, but I do love!
You might be wondering about some other features, but I’m not going to give you the play-by-play for every single tool, so head on over and give PicMonkey a whirl. I have a feeling you’ll be pretty happy. My hubs was slightly weirded out by the fact that I was dancing around our kitchen, making up songs about how PicMonkey saved the day!
Let us know what you think of the new site… did it produce any kitchen dances for ya?
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