Stick Project

I have this project that has been slow going, and I'm not done yet, but I wanted to share a little of the progress.  I found this stick in my backyard back in December, and I bought it in to be dried out.  I cleaned off any bark that would easily fall off, and then let it hang out in my dinning room.  Cause that's our "work" room right now.  Strange I know, but we don't have a garage, and the basement isn't really a place I want to store anything.  Little less spend much time.  So we're short on project spaces, and we don't have a dining room table yet, and thus it's the project/work room.  Anyway here is my lovely stick.  It's about four feet in length, and I like it's shape and texture.  I think it's from a Norway Maple.  

I have some big plans for this stick, but first comes it's make-over.  A coat of white primer spray paint.  I sprayed one side from as many angles as I could, then flipped it over and got the other side.  I was please with the results.  I thought I'd have to spray on two coats, but I like the way one coat looks so I'll stick with this.  Though I haven't decided if it might be fun to spray it neon green.  I'll have to think more on that, while I prepare the space I want to use it in.  

Sorry it's so short today.  I had a long work day, and didn't get much time for crafting.  Happy DIYing, chris!

Magazine Christmas Tree Make-over

Last year I saw Martha Stewart make this awesome magazine tree, and she had covered her tree in gold glitter.  I'm not much of a gold glitter person, so I just let it be bare.  I thought it looked pretty cool as is, but this year I wanted to give it a bit of a make-over.  

I used flat primer spray paint, and this green spray paint, plus green glitter.  I wanted to use a clear top coat, that I thought I had, but I don't.  

I placed the tree on a large drop cloth, and started with the white layer, then I sprayed on the green.  I quickly sprinkled on the green glitter while the paint was still wet.  I used rubber gloves to lean the paper tree from side to side to sprinkle the glitter on.  

This is how it looks sitting on my window sill.  I think it's even cuter now.  

I want to make this with smaller books, so that I have some trees of different heights.  I have to find an extra thick small catalogue or magazine.  Hope ya'll enjoyed, and happy DIYing, chris!

DIY Tombstone Decor Part III

One last update on how the Halloween tombstones are going.  Ok, that's a little lie.  The last one until I have them up outside my house, and looking awesome.  I finally got a stencil complete, and I spray painted one of the tombstones!  I started off by taping down the stencil, and some extra paper around the edges so there wouldn't be any overspray.  

Then using blue painters tape I traced, and cut out the inside pieces for the As and Rs.  

I carefully placed the little pieces inside the letters using the point of my razor knife.

Finally I was ready to spray paint.  I used white paint by Valspar.  

There was a little overspray around the letters, so I helped define the edges by going over the letters with white nail polish.  I did the last two words, 'at last' with a coat of nail polish.  

This is how the final product looks.  I'm pretty pleased.  I think the overspray under the nail polish helps make the letters look a bit aged, so it doesn't look quite like a brand new headstone.  

That's all for today, happy DIYing, chris!

Fancy Care Package

One of my brothers is currently living in Haiti helping build a community center, and I recently got the bright idea to send him a care package.  I don't know about you, but when I'm away from home getting a box full of goodies in the mail is just about the best thing.  But I'm not one to send a plain cardboard box in the mail.  It has no character, and takes all the fun out of the treats inside.  I love giving the boring exterior a major makeover.  

I started off by spray painting the outside a fun pastel green.  

Then I used a sponge pouncer to make blue polka dots all over the box.  I used fabric paint, because I figured it would dry quickly, but any paint would do.  I tested out how the dots would turn out on my canvas drop cloth first.  The sponge applicator is perfect for making polka dots.  It was even easy to make dots around the edges of the box too.  

The box looks awesome now! I'm excited to pack up all my goodies and get them off to Haiti.  I hope my brother and the people he's been working with enjoy the contents as much as I enjoyed painting the care package.  

I need to get myself ready for work, and off to bed, because I have to wake up at three in the morning tomorrow!  Then I have to drive for an hour and twenty minutes, to start working at 5:15am.  Pure madness!  Happy DIYing, chris!

Painted Wooden Frame

The weather has been great here.  The past few days have been sunny and in the mid 60ºs (F)!  I can't believe it's only March!  Last year at this time it was cold and rainy in Delaware.  With all this great weather I wanted to do something outside, and spray painting sounded like the perfect DIY for today.  I've had this cheap wooden frame floating around for a few years.  So today I finally decided to give it a coat of paint to spruce it up a bit.  

I turned this plain wooden frame into this lovely painted frame!

What I used for this project was a large drop cloth, a cheap wooden frame, a sheet of medium grit sandpaper, rubber gloves, spray paint, and a moist towel.  

Begin by lightly sanding the frame.  I used a medium weight sandpaper for this project.  This will help the paint bind to the wood, and hopefully prevent future chipping.  

Next, wipe down the frame with a moist towel to remove all the dust bits you've just created.  

Now you are ready to spray the frame (as long as the frame isn't still wet).  Make sure to follow the directions on your spray paint can.  I like to use rubber gloves so that the spray paint doesn't get all over my fingers.  Spray your frame from every angle you can comfortably (and safely) maneuver around it.   Spray the back first, and then let the frame dry for about an hour or two.  Once the frame is not tacky to touch you can turn it over and spray the back.  

When the frame is completely done drying you can put a piece of art or a family photo in it.  I framed a handmade piece of paper.  I embossed this paper with two lace dollies when I was drying it.  To complete this piece I used some acrylic paint to color in the dollies.  I love the color of the frame with this handmade paper piece I created.  I used cardboard to back my paper, because I like how it complements the edges and color of my handmade paper.  

Hope ya'll enjoyed today's project.  Is it unusually warm where you live?  Does the sun get you out of the house with your DIY projects?  Happy DIYing, chris!