Repurposed Magnet Board

I had this old metal magnet board that isn’t being used. It was covered in a lime green paper that just did not go with my green desk (wrong green).

I’d been trying to figure out what to do with it forever. I finally decided to re-cover it in my all time favorite paper from Paper Source. Kraft paper with gorgeous colors & type- what’s not to love?

Here it is when still wet. I put a coat of modge-podge down, then while still wet put the paper on, then 2 more coats on top. I didn’t do such a great job of working out the wrinkles/bubbles, but modge-podge is pretty forgiving. Once the coat dries, it becomes clear.

 

Here’s the finished magnet board hanging up on the wall. It’s not perfect- but so happy that I get to look at my favorite paper every day.

Sock Monkeys for Craft Hope

All week I’ve been busy making sock monkeys for kids in Texas.  Craft Hope puts together these projects for kids periodically. I’m not that great at sewing so I haven’t yet participated, but this project looked easy enough, and they have tutorials on their site. We found some cute socks at Target and gave it a try.

I made a couple monkeys that I tested out on my own monkeys first (actually, they hijacked them), but it helped me realize my first ones were not strong enough to survive the abuse that kids will put on toys After re-attaching some limbs we were back in business!

 

The Good Life

I’ve been taking Amy Tangerine’s class called The Good Life over at BPC. This class has been so fun, and is one of the big reasons I’ve been inspired to get crafty again   She makes the cutest reverse applique t-shirts, and the first week she taught us how to make them. It’s a bit addicting!

My first attempt at a camera t- came out a bit crooked! I wouldn’t have gone w/ this combo but it was the only plain non-vneck shirt I could find in my drawer.

I pulled some of my favorite t-shirts that the girls had grown out of, and have been cutting them up to make the appliques. My favorite is this Gap rainbow tank top – I was so sad when Julia grew out of it, and now at least we can use some pieces of it again. Hard to see the bird in this shirt, but it’s about the only good picture I can get of a constant-in-motion almost 2 year old

Here’s my very first ones – Amy Butler fabric on the left, one of Ryan’s very first baby outfits from the Gap on the right. I’d been holding onto that little Gap bodysuit forever. Everything else I gave away except that. What on earth was I ever going to do with it? Glad I found a good way to use it

Family Photo Canvas

Ever since we moved to our new house I’ve wanted a family picture on the front steps. So, with all the chaos of moving and having 2 little girls and a full time job, that didn’t happen for a couple of months (let’s just pretend in happened in July, right?)  In September, Tim finally set up the tripod and we got some really cute family shots. These days, I’ll settle for all people looking at the camera

 

I thought this one turned out great, so I ordered it on canvas from Easy Canvas Prints.

Love how it came out – what do you think? 

It was much easier than I thought, and I loved that you could crop the picture right on their website to make it easy to see everything that would appear on the canvas. I also had the image wrapped around the sides, although I think next time I would go for the option of having the sides be the deeper 1.5″. I just love how it turned out, and captures our family right now.

I have a whole wall of photos of the kids through the years in our mudroom (yay we have a mudroom!). This little nook needed something, but I couldn’t figure out what. The 11″ square canvas turned out great in this spot.

Right now they’re having a sale for 25% off and free shipping- love the free shipping!

Fall in New England

We’ve been busy here – moved this summer and am just now getting around to finding some much needed time to be crafty again. I have been keeping up with my Project Life though, and will post a big catch up post on those soon.

It’s chilly here today and the leaves are starting to change…. no denying that Fall is in the air! Definitely the best time of year in New England.

Today’s card is one I made for a Shoebox Swap last weekend at my good friend Liz Ballard’s.

I decided to try and make my own embellishments- similar to the cute one’s the Girl’s Paperie had out last fall. It was pretty easy with some crepe paper streamers and punches (and much less expensive!). Used one of my favorite Studio Calico stamps to make the chevron background. Love their stamps-so happy Hero Arts is making them now.

Have a great weekend!