DIY photo clocks

Now that their bridal shower has come and gone, I am so excited to share my latest project that I made! Earlier this week when I made the two canvas prints, I also made a fabulous photo clock for our friends Ryan and Alyson for a bridal shower gift to celebrate their upcoming wedding in September! I had emailed Ryan asking for a jpeg of some of their engagement pictures and he got them to me in record time - so thanks for being a big help, Ryan! This project was very easy and quick (and affordable!)....with a really awesome final product! I am already thinking of what picture I want to use to make one for myself to have at our place! Anyway, here is what you will need and how to make your own photo clock:

- plywood or MDF board (I used 1/4 Oak pinewood from Lowe's)
- mod podge
- paint brush
- acrylic paint color in whatever color you choose
- numbers (I used scrapbook numbers but you could place them on before printing the picture by using PhotoShop or some other photo editing program)
- clock parts
- battery
- easel/stand
- matte sealant spray 

1. order your picture and make sure it is a true .jpeg or formatted nicely...downloading one from Facebook won't print out nice at all! I ordered mine from Staples in a 16x20 and am very happy with the print quality!

2. get your plywood or MDF board. I knew I wanted the clock to be 16x16 so I had a guy at Lowe's cut the board down to 16x16 so now I have a left over piece...perfect for making a second clock! You can obviously choose whichever size you would like depending on where you plan to put the clock!

3. once you have the board, cut the picture down to match its size.

4. put a layer of mod podge onto the plywood and then starting with one side, align the picture and swipe across it slowly to make sure there aren't any air bubbles and to help keep it aligned on the plywood.

5. place the numbers onto the picture. I did this by measuring across creating an X and then down the middle and across the middle to essentially create a pie. I placed each number on and then measured to make sure then were all equally spaced. You could also get a clock template and mark on the picture where to place the numbers if you don't want to measure it out yourself.

5. **this is optional** on a few of the edges, just barely, the plywood was sticking out because the edges weren't perfect cuts and I wanted to edges to have more of a paint brush effect/look to match the background of the picture. So all you do for that is, get the paint color you would like, just dab the tip of the brush in the paint and then make quick/short strokes along the edges. There's really no right or wrong way to do this and you can make the strokes as thick/heavy as you would like. **this is optional**

6. once the paint has dried (or if you skipped that), paint a thin layer of mod podge over the picture including the paint and the numbers. Be careful going over the numbers so you don't peel one up but if you do, just stick it back down and make sure it is secure! This is just like painting over the picture with mod podge when making a canvas picture so it will look white/glossy at first, but it dries clear! Make sure to keep it a thin layer and if it bubbles, that means you have too much so spread it out evenly.

7. now it is time to drill the hole for the clock parts! I measured the width of the clock "hole" from the old clock that I took the parts off of so I knew what size of drill bit to use. Then, I measured an X across from each corner and marked the center so I knew the clock parts would be centered. Once you have the correct size, drill the hole .

8. **this is optional** I sprayed the matte sealant spray on top of the picture and along the edges to completely seal it and help protect it from sun damage and fading. I did two coats of this and it gave the clock a nice matte finish! **this is optional**

9. insert the clock parts along with a working battery then set the time and admire your new personalized photo clock! I found a nice picture stand for the clock but you could attach some poster hangers on the back of it if you would prefer to hang it up instead. 

"together until the end of time"
Congrats to the future Mr. & Mrs. Nelson!
We are so excited for your big day!

(more!) DIY canvas pictures

The crafting bug hit me again and I whipped up a fabulous wedding picture display that I love! And I did it super cheap and quick too so for anyone who is still afraid to take a stab at making their own canvas prints, don't fret any more! Canvas prints are a huuuge thing right now and as most of you know, they are also a huuuge expense. They are just plain crazy expensive! And you really have to commit to the picture that you decide for them since unlike a normal picture frame, you can't simply swap out the picture and update it as the times change! Which is why I knew I couldn't go wrong picking out some wedding pictures because those are ones that we will always cherish and I want to have on display to share and remember our special day! So, let's get down to business! Here is what you will need:

- blank canvas (I got mine from Hobby Lobby in an 11x14 two pack for $5 on clearance!)

- pictures of your choice (I got three 11x14 prints from Staples for $20! and they are awesome quality!)

- mod podge

- brush

- paint (if you want to paint the edges of the canvas instead of leaving it white)

- matte spray sealant (completely optional but since I already had this, I figured I'd spray on two coats to completely seal the final picture and protect it from fading)

1. paint the edges of your canvas whatever color you would like. I chose black since I had printed out and white pictures for mine. 

2. let the paint completely dry before moving on! I painted these at night and then finished the project the next morning so the paint wouldn't run or get on the picture. After the paint is dry, add a layer of mod podge and align picture onto the canvas making sure to do it from one edge to the next to help eliminate air bubbles.

3. ok this is usually the scary part of making a canvas picture and working with mod podge that people don't like and I was leery of it at first too (but I tested out the mod podge on a smaller picture just to verify and had proof it would dry clear and not ruin the picture!) Once the picture is set on the canvas, take the mod podge and put a thin layer across the picture and make sure to get all of the edges done too - this will help seal it entirely to the canvas and prevent it from trying to peel away. The picture will look sort of "milky" while the mod podge is still wet but I promise it will dry clear and leave a perfect matte finish! 

4. once the top layer of mod podge is dry, your new awesome and original canvas picture is done! After this, I sprayed two layers of the matte sealant spray onto mine but that is optional and not something you necessarily have to do!

Here are the final products up close:

I also picked up this float frame I found on clearance at Gordman's and used the extra set of vinyl letters I got when I had ordered them for our wedding mailbox to make this center picture:

And here's how they all look put together and hanging up to help decorate our bedroom. And of course there's Paisley, being my shadow and helping to model the complete look! I love it and even Jordan was completely impressed with these pictures! I wish I wouldn't have waited to long to make these but I see some being made in the future for gift ideas for people - they are cheap, quick, and easy plus such a great keepsake!

Double-Sided Headbands

Tonight I whipped up three of these double-sided headbands and they were SUPER easy to make and a quick project! I had plenty of scrap fabric left over from covering the rocking chair cushions and making a dress last year so that's what I used for all three headbands since two of them are going to my girlfriends to have! I followed this tutorial and free template from Happy Together Creates Blog and she gives step-by-step directions along with pictures! She also has several other fun projects, ideas, and tutorials so be sure to check out her website! I made all three headbands in about an hour and a half...it was just a matter of getting my assembly line in order which including tracing, cutting out the fabric, and pinning...then sewing it all together! You'll only need some scraps of fabric, some elastic and an hour (or less depending on how many you're going to make) of free time for this quick and easy craft! I love headbands and am ready for some summer up-dos now with this fun print headband!

bringing an old rocking chair back to life!

While we were all in Madison a few weekends ago, us girls spent an afternoon out thrift shopping. I love that  our form of quality time is going thrift shopping to see what kind of good bargains and old deals we can find....we usually find some pretty awesome and quality things which I'm always impressed by! So I was just browsing when my eyes laid upon a cute and perfectly old rocking chair. It was screaming my name actually. I promptly walked over to it, made myself comfortable and immediately claimed it as SOLD to ME! I just knew that I had to have it for Peanut's nursery. What kind of nursery doesn't have a classic rocking chair?! The cushions were definitely outdated so I knew I would want to do something about them but for the cool price of $25, we could not pass the beauty up! It was in great condition with no big knicks out of it anywhere or broken off wood pieces! Score! Thankfully my parents were coming back to stay at our place in North Liberty so we managed to fit the chair into their car so we could bring it home with us that weekend! I have been surfing the net for nursery ideas and I think we have it narrowed down to what we like and what we want to go with...I really like the ones with neutral colored walls and then bright vibrant colors paired with several mix-n-match bold patterns. Modern but still classic and so cute for a baby! With that in mind, I made a trip to Hobby Lobby last week to find some fabric to update the chair cushions and was pleasantly surprised with what they had in store....sooo many bright colors, fun patterns and awesome designs!!!! Perfect! I picked out the aqua chevron that was "duck canvas" fabric because I thought it would be more sturdy and hold up better for chair cushions! I scoured the website for a tutorial and how-to for recovering the cushions and couldn't find any that I really liked so I basically did my own thing. I didn't measure anything (sorry Mom, I completely ignored your tip of "measure twice and cut once!) and I didn't make a pattern...just winged it and thankfully, it all worked out! All in all, the chair only cost $40 total ($25 for the chair, $10 for the fabric, $5 for the batting) which is a steal considering how much a brand new rocker or glider would cost! I think I will still keep my eyes out for a bigger lounge type chair for the nursery too because Jordan says the rocker is too small for him...perfect size though for me and Peanut!

Paisley being no help whatsoever...
she kept trying to fluff up the batting and would lay on it!

the finished project! the bottom left is what I started with...
and then I redid the cushions and squared them off!
I also added arm cushions and side pockets!

Arm-Knitted Scarves

While on Spring Break, I learned the VERY easy and VERY quick way to make a beautiful, warm, big, cozy and snuggly scarf! It is called Arm-Knitting! Before this, I have never knitted before or even attempted it...I've heard a few too many horror stories from people about it all just unraveling and falling apart when they try to take their project off their needles so I've stuck to crocheting for now. But! With arm-knitting, it made for a really simple project and by using really thick/chunky yarn, the scarf (or whatever you're making!) builds up fast so it makes for a super quick project that can be finished in under an hour! I watched this video, How to Arm Knit from Simply Maggie Blog and that's all I needed. She goes through each step very clearly and slowly then does it several times so you can get the hang of it....and of course, you can watch it as many times as you need to (I watched it quite a few times for a few clarifications here and there!) and she has more tips/hints on her blog. Also, there are several other fun projects as well on her blog!

Here are the two infinity arm-knitted scarves that I made while on Spring Break: The yarn I used was Loops & Threads Cozy Wool. It is SO soft and SO thick! When making these scarves, you can use super chunky yarn like I did for a perfect winter scarf OR a thinner yarn for a scarf that would be perfect for the spring when it's still a little chilly but not cold enough for a scarf this big and chunky! Happy crafting! :)

solid purple

grey and teal

Braided-Crochet Scarf

Here is my latest (and finally!) completed crochet project!

I had seen a few similar scarves floating around on Pinterest (of course!) and decided to make myself one. None of them had any tutorials or instructions so I just made it up myself and it turned out pretty cute and similar to the ones I had looked at. The other ones were only one loop but I love being able to double it up so I made mine quite a bit longer. It was pretty time consuming since it is made entirely of double crochet stitches but here is how I made it:

You will need:

2 skeins of light weight yarn

G hook

How to make the scarf:

1. chain 220 (or however many to make it the desired length you prefer!)

2. double crochet stitch into each chain (that's why it took so long but has such a nice solid form to it and isn't "holey")

3. do four rows or until each strand is to your desired width

4. repeat three times to make three separate strands

5. once you are done with the three strands, loosely braid them and then whipstitch the ends together. and done!

crochet infinity scarf: broomstick lace

After starting one project and then giving up on it a few too many rows too late, I switched gears and found a different pattern that I wanted to follow. And turns out, while it looked a lot more difficult to do, it proved to be significantly easier! I worked on this over a three day span while lounging at home and watching some movies! It was a perfect side job to be working on between napping and relaxing! I found the pattern on All Free Crochet (thanks Mom for leading me to this website...I'm already looking for my next pattern!) and I followed the Broomstick Lace Collar pattern but I extended it to make a chunkier full scarf instead of just a collar! The pattern looked intimidating at first but if I can figure it out and successfully make an entire scarf for my first ever crochet project, I think it is pretty do-able for anyone else then too! Happy crafting and have a good week!

my first finished crochet project!
Broomstick Lace Infinity Scarf

a new project in the works

Over the weekend, I bought a new crochet hook and some yarn after looking up some patterns and of course, browsing Pinterest. I figured, "hey, this stuff isn't too expensive to invest in! And if I can't figure it out, I can just give it to my mom because she will be able to use it all!" So needless to say, it has been a bit of a struggle to get started and I think that is because my body and head just refuse to learn it right handed which means I have to fight it out and scour the web for left handed directions/tutorials/videos and figure it out from there! I found a realllllllly cute pattern and scarf so now I just hope mine comes out looking halfway like the picture does...once I have that done, I will be sure to post pictures and an update on the project! The one good thing I have learned about crocheting so far is that it is a nice, mindless project to work on. It doesn't require much thought or physical involvement which is good...with the combination of working this week and the stress of waiting to hear from hospitals, I need some mindless activity to help me unwind and relax! In other news, the week is half over at least and that is something to celebrate!

Sew Cute: tank top dress

Before my parents left to continue their roadtrip around the midwest before heading back to Texas, we did a little early birthday celebration here for me with Jordan, my parents and Janelle. My mom first gave me a present that left me super confused. It was a sewing kit and a huge book called "Guide To Sewing" and she had wrote a really sweet note in it. The only reason why I was confused was because I didn't have a sewing machine....and she knew I had been wanting one for a long time! Mainly thanks to all of the awesome projects I have seen on Pinterest and also so I can start being awesome like she is and just make my own stuff when I can't find what I want in stores! Anyway, so in my head I was all like, "gee thanks a heap for the sewing kit and sewing book...just rub it in that you have a sewing machine and I don't!" until she totally blew my mind and handed me another box with a sewing machine in it!!!!!! Ah yesssss!!!! Is this seriously my life now, married, turn 25 and freak out about getting a sewing machine?!! Yes, yes indeed it is and I love it. So, I practiced for a little bit with a test piece of fabric that I had and then scoured Pinterest to decide what my first project would be and I decided to go with a tank top dress! 

total time: 4 hours....this really IS a simple project BUT since it was a first one, I admittedly used the seam ripper a lot more than I would have liked to and spent more time rethreading the machine than probably necessary.

total cost: $9.00. The tank top was $3.50 from wal-mart and I found the fabric in the 60% off section at JoAnn's Fabric

tutorial: I followed this tutorial from A Small Snippet Blog and it worked out and was pretty easy to follow along with actually! I changed the sash by adding elastic to it and used snaps instead of keeping it long enough to tie. 

And here's my final product.....

my first handmade tank top dress!

It's a mailbox...No, it's a cardbox!

Is it a cute decorated, personalized mailbox?? Is it a fun, unique cardbox? Yes and yes! It's actually BOTH! Today I got home and ran to check the mail, just like I do everyday because I'm obsessed with checking the mail (or so Jordan says...) and today I was pleasantly surprised and beyond excited when I saw a big envelope and I knew instantly it must have the mailbox decals I had ordered from Etsy! It is only fitting that for our cardbox at the wedding that we use a mailbox! There were several options and people to go through on Etsy and I'm so SO happy and 100% satisfied with the shop I ordered from. First, I browsed all of the items at Marley In The Middle and sent Marley a message. She replied within the hour, was beyond helpful, and she even provided me with several proofs and different options to look at and choose from BEFORE I ever even placed the order and paid her anything. I could tell she was interested in providing good business, great customer service and amazing personalized products. I had ordered our last name and Est. 2012 in plum and the E monogram in light lavender, but when I got the envelope opened, Marley had included a note saying that she made a mistake and printed a set of decals in black too and included those as well at no extra charge! I ended up going with the black decals instead and I plan on using one of the extra plum decals on a glass backed frame with an enlarged wedding picture...also, something I've seen on Etsy and pinterest before but now I already have the decal to do it! The decals were super easy to apply and then I added the extra ribbon around the flag. It took me about half an hour in total. I ended up getting 2 sets of our last name/Est. in plum, 2 sets of our last name/Est. in black, and 2 E monogram decals all for $19. Now that is a bargain! This turned out SO cute and looks awesome, I'm happy it is the same on both sides! And big shocker, it has a monogram E on it...at least I'm consistent with my theme! Even Jordan is really impressed with it and excited that we'll have it at our wedding because it's so different than just a typical "cake style cardbox" and plus, I can't wait to use it at our first home! Yay for dual purpose wedding items that are so worth my time and money! I would highly recommend this Etsy shop for any personalized items and/or decals that you may need for a fun special occasion or anything else! Thank you Marley for helping add to our special day and creating these beautiful decals for us!

Sending Love Letters
To The Mr. & Mrs!

And finally, I can't stand secrets!! And right now, I'm keeping a BIG one in and it's killing me! Before we go any further, no, I'm not pregnant and no, we're not eloping or anything else crazy like that! But since I know Jordan from time to time reads this blog, I've been keeping this secret underwraps and trying to not even mention it because it's hard for me to not spill the beans. I don't know what is harder for me....trying to keep a secret to myself to not ruin a surprise? Or trying to get the secret out of someone, even if that means ruining a surprise for myself? Either way, they both frustrate me but I'm excited to be on the other side of it this time for once! I think tomorrow will be a good day to announce the big secret! :)