Contributors Archives - Page 3 of 9

Friendly Ghost Pencil Toppers

September 17, 2013 By Michelle Barneck 1 Comment

Happy Halloween folks! I’m Kelly from Smart School House sharing a fun Halloween craft with you today! Ok, well, maybe it isn’t technically Halloween yet, but you know it will be here in the blink of an eye (or a googly eye in this case!). Do you have kiddos in your life that enjoy arts and crafts? Then this one is for you!

As a teacher, I love anything to do with pencils and crayons (as you can see in THIS fun post). I think these friendly ghost pencil toppers would be fun to make in the classroom OR at home, no? To get started, you only need some very, very basic (and cheap) materials:

pencils
white craft foam
googly eyes glue
polka dot ribbon (optional)

I drew a ghost free hand, but this can be done with a stencil if you have one on hand. Each pencil topper has TWO foam ghosts, so cut out as many as you will need depending on how many pencil toppers you want to make. Psssst: here’s a tip, if you’re working with kids, make extra! There are bound top be craft mishaps, and that is all part of the learning process:)

Once you have cut out your ghosts, connect them together using glue. I used hot glue because it is quick! But again, if you’re working with kids, plain white glue will also work. Of course, it takes longer for white glue to dry. Only put a little glue around the top and sides of the ghost though! I like to say, “Dot, dot, not a lot!” when I’m working with kids. Simply show them to make small dots of white glue along the outer edges so that the pencil can be pushed inside.

There you have it Halloween lovers! A cute and kid-friendly craft to celebrate the fun! It is always such a pleasure being here. I’d love for you to stop by my blog, Smart School House, and see the other festive crafts (and sweets) that I have up my sleeve these days!

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Thanks Kelly! I am dying over the googly eyes with the eyelashes! So fun!

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DIY Faux Wood Picture Frame

September 10, 2013 By Michelle Barneck 2 Comments

Hello again Friends! It’s Aly from Entirely Eventful Day. I hope you love Fall like I love Fall! Today I am sharing a project perfect for Fall, or anytime of the year. It’s a faux reclaimed wood picture frame. We all know how “in” reclaimed wood is right now. But I don’t have time to go out and reclaim wood, do you? Didn’t think so. That’s why I created this little beauty for you.

If you would like to fill your DIY wood picture frame with this cute I “leaf” Fall printable, come on over to my blog and download it!

Start with any ol’ picture frame. Mine was painted red from this Valentine project.

You will also need wood printed wrapping paper, Mod Podge (I used gloss), scissors, and a brush.

The first thing I did was apply some scrap pieces to the corner. I wanted a miter cut look and it was apparent that I wasn’t going to be able to get the perfect in the corner. So I cheated. It worked perfectly, couldn’t tell at all.

Then I lined up my paper, making sure I had the right amount to fold into the inside, and cut the angle.

Follow the directions on the Mod Podge bottle to apply the paper. You want to apply it both under and over the paper.

When it was time to do another corner, I simply made sure that the miter cuts overlapped and my red frame didn’t show.

I found this particular wood print paper at Hobby Lobby.

I hope this project starts your Fall off right. I can’t wait for apple cider and falling leaves!

Painting Tips for All Experience Levels

August 27, 2013 By Michelle Barneck 1 Comment

Hello, it’s Ali from House Vintage… back again! Summer is over and school has begun. To celebrate back to school, I am sharing some lessons I have learned about painting furniture. I have divided these simple tips based on your ability, so even if this is the first piece of furniture you have ever painted, it will turn out great.

Estate sale globe painted with spray paint.

Beginner

A great finished product, starts with proper preparation. Sandpaper and a good primer are your best friends.
Practice makes perfect. Buy second hand furniture at garage and estate sales to refine your technique.
Pick the right paint. Spray paint works well for smaller pieces with lots of nooks and crannies. Latex paint is fine for larger pieces.

Intermediate

Once you have honed your skills, try some of these tips to up the ante.

Mix your own paint colors. I like to use leftover latex wall paint to make custom colors for furniture.
Try different painting techniques like distressing. Paint a base color, then a contrasting top coat. Use sand paper to remove the top color in areas that would typically show wear like corners.
Change up the paint finish you are using. High gloss gives a modern look, whereas a flat finish will look primitive.

Advanced

Now you’re an expert…have some fun.

Mix your mediums. Paint and stain are a great combination, or mix your paint colors for a contrasting look.
Decorate with paint. Try polka dots for a child’s room, or stripes in the entry way. If you don’t have a steady hand, use painters tape or stencils (buy or DIY).
Try different types of paint like chalk or milk paint.

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Thanks for the tips Ali! I am always surprised how paint can totally transform things!

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Framed Feather Art

August 20, 2013 By Michelle Barneck Leave a Comment

Hey guys, Vanessa from Our Thrifty Ideas popping over again today. I’ve been super busy lately, as we found out with less than 30 days notice that we were moving down to St George Utah, and made the big move middle of last month. It was super duper quick, and we are now just settling into life in the hot land, and our new fun house! It’s been crazy trying to decorate a whole new house, as it took over 2 years to get things how I liked them in the last place. But already there’s little details I have incorporated in this new place, that I love so much. Today I am sharing how I livened up my bedside table. When we moved, one of the big decor pieces from this table broke (enter sad meltdown, a slight argument with the hubby, and maybe even a cold shoulder to those helping us move). But I
~~quickly~~slowly got over it, and decided that I needed to just find something new and fun to replace it.

Framed Feather Decor from OurThriftyIdeas.com

I had this inexpensive frame from IKEA, and when I saw the feathers for just $1 (after coupon, of course!) at Michaels I knew immediately that they would look fantastic with the new yellow, blue and grey color scheme of our Master Bedroom. I cut a background piece of paper to the size of the frame opening. Then first laid the feathers on the glass in the position I wanted them, layered the background paper, and then closed up the back. It really was that super simple and looks so cute sitting with my other items atop my bedside table!

It is such a simple way to decorate, but makes a great POP for a small space. Hope you liked the little (and quick) piece of decor. I can’t wait to share more with you again soon!

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Thanks Vanessa! It’s always nice to have a quick decor idea up your sleeve!

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