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DIY Under $5: Task Board

May 11, 2011 By Michelle Barneck 10 Comments

Old Window + Personal Kanban = Task Board

If you’re like me you always have a million projects in the works. I have become the queen of multi-tasking which leaves me at the end of the day with a whole bunch of things worked on, but not much to show for it. I decided I need a new system. Something to whittle down the tasks so that even if it is only a few, at the end of the day there are tasks done and off the list.

Kanban definition in a nutshell: task management made visual and simple, limiting work in progress

Task Board

Supplies needed:

Old window {donated by the fabulous Stacy of Not Just a Housewife}
Electric handheld sander and/or Sanding sponge
Heirloom white spray paint
Clear contact paper
Letter decals
Post-its
Pen

Total cost: FREE I had everything on hand. Though I will be buying some hanging supplies to attach it to the wall.

1. Take an old window and give her a nice sanding. I used our hand held electric sander and then went over it by hand with a sanding sponge. I didn’t get all the areas all the way down to the wood because I liked the texture and chippiness.

Before………………………………………………………….After

2. Then, I cut clear contact paper the size of the glass and adhered it to keep the paint off the glass.

3. Spray paint. I only needed one good coat. I use Rustoleum 2x paint so you may need more with another brand.

4. Rough up the edges using the sanding sponge.

5. Add the decals to label your different areas. I did four: list, prep, doing, and done because that is the Personal Kanban system. Plus, it helped that my window had four panes. 🙂

Can you see the perfect little nook for my pen there at the bottom? The little hook holds it in place.

6. Fill with a sticky note for each task in your list. You could also do dry erase markers. Kanban likes you to use something physical that you move along the system so you can actually see and track the tasks getting done.

Now it’s time to link up your $5 projects!

Please remember:

Only link to your own projects that cost you $5 or less (price does not have to include items you had on hand)
You can link past projects that fit the dollar limit
Please link back so others can join the party and so you have the opportunity to be featured on Saturday!

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Rod Works Mother’s Day Giveaway

May 4, 2011 By Michelle Barneck 423 Comments

With Mother’s Day around the corner why not give yourself a little gift? I have a little something for you at the end of this post, but for now let’s chat about Rod Works. Have you been there? Am I the only one who has been living under a rock?

They invited me to come visit their store (I visited the one in Draper) and let me tell you this could be dangerous. My husband will not be pleased with this discovery! They have so may wonderful items, but I love that the store is still small enough to not be overwhelming.

I love this black, white and green combo! That pear print belongs with me I just know it.

My light switch plates hide themselves in shame compared to these!

I love this memo board. Just goes to prove that a command station can be beautiful too!

They had tons of cute clocks and miniature dress forms and lanterns. Oh, my lanterns. I am still pining over those alphabet eggs.

Would you look at that fan?! I have a big crush on it and may have to slip a little hint to the hubs for mother’s day. No way to say “You’re a hot mama” like giving a vintagey fan.

I came home with two lanterns, some awesome decor balls, and an ant made out of bells (sound weird, but it is adorable) that is going to be too dang cute this summer beside my wooden watermelon. They will be debuting in my home in the near future. I had so much fun roaming the store and plan to head back soon.

Want a taste of the Rod Works goodness? They want to reward two lucky mamas (or future mamas) with a fun gift. You have the chance to win one of the following prizes:

Family Tree frame (value $50)

Bench gift set (value $65)

To enter: leave a comment saying which prize would be your first choice.

You must be able to pick up your prize at one of their Utah or Vegas stores.
The 1st winner will get their 1st choice and the 2nd winner will get the remaining prize.

Extra entries: leave a separate comment for each entry

Sign up for the Rod Works Newsletter (they will send you coupons, etc.)
Like Rod Works on Facebook
Follow Rod Works on Twitter

Giveaway closes Monday, May 9th. Good luck!

Disclosure: Rod Works sent me a gift card to try out their store and is also providing the prizes. The opinions are 100% my own.

P.S. Don’t forget to sign up for free Tipsy updates via RSS or email.

We have decided to truncate our feed to help protect against stolen content. I apologize for any inconvenience. Please love us anyway. 🙂

DIY Under $5: Phone Book Wreath

May 3, 2011 By Michelle Barneck 10 Comments

It is just taking up space in your cupboard and all the info you need is online anyway, so pull that dusty phone book off the shelf and make use of it! You’ve seen the book page wreath, but have you seen the gray and yellow loveliness of the phone book wreath?!

Phone Book Wreath Tutorial

Supplies needed:

Phone book
Yellow Marker
Wreath form (mine was covered in burlap from another project)
Hot glue
Door hook (optional)

Total cost for me: $1 for door hook
Total cost if you buy everything: $4

1. Find a phone book with gray pages and a few yellow highlights. (Ours was just dropped off a few days ago. I had been waiting and waiting for the right one!) Color the edge of the gray pages with a yellow marker.

2. Start rolling the pages by ripping out a page, folding it in half and then rolling it in to two circles by rolling the ends opposite ways into the middle forming sort of an S.

Here is a video of how I did it.

Did you catch the glimpse of my massacred laptop in the background? Yep, she has been disassembled and will soon be selling in parts. Poor Bubbles, she was good to me for a while there.

3. Start with the back layer. Roll and glue them on one at a time. Just put a line of glue at the end of each roll and glue it to the form. Then, turn it over so it is the back.

4. For the next row, do the same thing, but fold the end of your roll so it is a bit shorter and glue the bottom of the fold to the wreath.

5. Continue with rows until you almost cover the whole form.

6. For the last row, do the roll as usual, but do not bend the end. Glue the bottom of the tube shut and glue them on to the middle of the wreath form like in the video.

a shout out to my fave thrift store. 😉

7. I hung mine using this hook from the dollar store. I just hooked it right on the wreath between some of the rolls and put the door part on my shutters.

I love how my phone book wreath turned out!! All fluffy and made from recyclables. 🙂

Now it’s time to link up!

Please remember:

Only link to your own projects that cost you $5 or less (price does not have to include items you had on hand)
You can link past projects that fit the dollar limit
Please link back so others can join the party and so you have the opportunity to be featured on Saturday!

P.S. Don’t forget to sign up for free Tipsy updates via RSS or email.

We have decided to truncate our feed to help protect against stolen content. I apologize for any inconvenience. Please love us anyway. 🙂

Point of View: Spring {Popcorn Popping on the Apricot Tree}

April 22, 2011 By Michelle Barneck 40 Comments

Welcome, welcome to another month of Point of View where we each show you our takes on a particular theme. This month’s theme is SPRING. Take a look at the fun projects we have lined up for you!

1. ME & here you are for the tutorial!
2. Camilla {Rosy Red Buttons}
3. Gwen {Gwenny Penny}
4. Stacy {Not Just a Housewife}
5. Jonie {Just Between Friends}
6. Amy {Ameroonie Designs}

Now for a little tutorial on how to make a
Popcorn Popping on the Apricot Tree Display

One of my sons favorite songs is “Popcorn Popping on the Apricot Tree.” The beginning lyrics go a little something like this…

I looked out the window and what did I see?
Popcorn popping on the apricot tree.
Spring had brought me such a nice surprise.
Popcorn popping right before my eyes.

We are lucky enough to have an apricot tree right in our backyard so we get to see that beautiful “popcorn” each year.

I love that tree when it blossoms (so much more than when it covers my lawn in yuck a the end of the year), but this year it blossomed and literally the next day, SNOW! Dang that snow stealing my lovely tree.

So I decided to make my own and these blossoms will never be killed by snow!

Supplies:

branch
lilac bunch (Dollar Tree)
hot glue
window
letter stickers (Dollar Tree)
large glue dots

1. Trim a branch from a tree. I love that mine had some remnants of the actual blossoms.

2. Make sure it is the right size for your window and trim as necessary.
(I asked where to get a window on Facebook and Stacy had some from when they replaced hers and was kind enough to give it to me! Isn’t it divine?! I love that it has the metal fixtures and is all chippy.)

3. Pull all the blossoms off your lilac bunch.

4. Hot glue them to your branch.

5. Pin your branch between the window and the wall by leaning the window against the wall and securing the top with large glue dots.

6. Add your letter stickers to say “I looked out the window and what did I see.” I liked the stickers because they are gray and somewhat transparent and look nice and subtle on the glass. You could also use vinyl.

That’s it, you’re done! Enjoy your bit of spring indoors!

Now link up so we can see your Point of View on SPRING!

Link up your own current or past projects as long as they fit the theme: SPRING
Link back so others can join the party and so you can have the chance to be featured by one of the six Point of View girls!