DIY Custom Engraved Nail & Yarn Sign

Custom Wedding Sign

I wanted to make something super special for my friend so I decided on a custom wedding sign with mixed media aspects :)

Materials:

-Large piece of MDF (Medium Density fiberboard)

-Hand held router

-Small finishing nails

-Yarn

-Hammer

-Paint

My husband convinced me to use MDF because he says it "cuts like butter".  He was helping me out with the routing so I went with his choice of board!

The first thing I did was paint the board a nice basic white color.

Then I had to decide on size, font and layout.  I printed everything out, cut them out and traced them onto the board.

Then I handed the board off to my wonderful husband who routed out all the numbers.

After I got the board back I taped my letters loosely down onto the board making sure to use something that wouldn't pick up the paint.

Then it was hammer time!

After I outlined the letters I ripped out the paper leaving only the nails.  Make sure not to hammer the nails all the way through the board.  I made sure at least 1/3 were sunk into the MDF.

Finally I wound the yarn organically around the nails making sure the lines were abstract.  Also I made sure to outline the letters at the very beginning of twinning to give them definition.

And there you have a custom wedding sign!

DIY Yarn covered Glasses/Cans

One of the easiest projects I've done to date!

Materials:
-Empty vase or tin can

-Yarn

-Tape

First secure the yarn to the base of your vase.  I just used tape to keep the piece of string in place.

Then start wrapping!

I did two layers of yarn to really bring out the color.

I filled the cans with dollar store fake flowers dusted in gold glitter spray :)

I used them as centerpieces for a wedding shower I hosted.

DIY Knitted Purse

I can't believe it's been so long since I've done something crafty!  3 whole months?!  I'll blame it on love and life.  My wonderful husband came back from deployment and I started a new night shift at work (which is helping me stay up and post this after midnight).  I guess it took me a few months to adjust.  Anyways here is my first attempt at a knitted purse!

Mixed medias (yarn and pleather maybe?)

Materials:

-Yarn

-Cheap leather belt (this one was from Target)

-Travel bag (super cheap from an office supply store)

-Scissors

-Hole punch

-Yarn needle

First I knitted enough material to cover the travel bag I wanted to use as the inside of the purse.  Actually I initially wanted to knit a scarf with the new soft sage colored yarn I bought but sadly ran out of the the white yarn I paired with it :(

When folded in half the length measured around 10 inches

Second I stitched up two edges of the failed scarf to create the pocket for the travel bag to slip into.

Perfect fit!!

Third I attached the belt to the sides of the purse.

Blogger isn't letting me rotate this damn picture but you get the point.

Fourth I punched holes in the little travel case at one inch intervals.  I tried to sew straight through the bag but it was a little too tough.  Its made out of those recycled rice bags.  I should have known they'd be resistant to piercing being packaging material.  Whatever!  Trail and error right?!

The stitches blend in pretty well.

For finishing touches I tied two little bows around either side of the handles.  I'm thinking about knitting another little pocket for the front.  But that is going to have to be on another day.  I'm sleepy and have work tomorrow :(

Sierra is not in the modeling mood, lol.

DIY knitted purse attempt 1 done!  

DIY Save the Dates on a Budget

Time to be a bridesmaid!

Task to accomplish: making Save the Dates on a budget.  Pinterest came to the rescue (like always).  I found an almost free solution to the Save the Dates.

Use paint chips as "cards"

Materials:

-FREE paint chips from the hardware store

-Computer program (I used Microsoft Office)

-Printer

-Single hole punch

-Ribbon

-Stamp and ink

Punch holes where the paint names are located and tie a ribbon in between.  Stamp takes center stage and put the rest of the info down at the bottom :)

Almost free Save the Dates with pretty colors!

DIY Bows & Hearts Garland

Takes about 5 minutes to make!

Materials:

-Card Stock

-Yarn

-Heart paper punch

-Hole punch

Punch out hearts, punch holes on each side of the hearts and tie it all together with little yarn bows.

<3

DIY-ish Wedding Anniversary Gift for him

I wanted to come up with a creative and thoughtful gift for my hubby of one whole year.  What I came up with was a ton of fun to do and create!

One Year Wedding Anniversary Photo Shoot

Looking back at an awesome year of marriage!

I was able to wear my most expensive gown again and get all done up like a princess just for the heck of it!

Tools/ Materials:

-Wedding gown

-Friend to take gorgeous pics (for free!)

-Friend to style hair

-Make up artist (Aveda store at the mall.  Instead of paying a service fee they just let me buy some products.  So I was able to get my make up down and walk away with stuff too!)

-Accessories (for me it consisted of 3 different necklaces, a wrap, and a simple bouquet)

-Location with natural light
-Photo center

After getting copies of the pictures I uploaded them to my local photo center (Walgreens in this case) and make a cute little photo book in about an hour!

I had so much fun with this project that I might try it again until the dress doesn't fit any more!  Might as well get as many uses out of it as I can right?!

Corgi Connection

Karma isn't such a bitch after all! 

A few weeks ago I found a sweet corgi wandering the streets.  He followed Blue and I home so I decided to put FOUND posters up, post a craiglist ad and file a report with the animal shelter.  I figured if I lost my dog I would hope someone else would do the same.  The little guy was well groomed so I knew he belonged to somebody out there.

4 days later his family contacts me and picks him up.  Turns out he was the companion of a precious little deaf girl.  Whenever she strays too far from the house he alerts the parents right away.  Too freaking sweet!  I wouldn't have believed it if they hadn't brought her with them to pick the little guy up.

I asked where they got him because he was so well tempered and got along with my big dumb pit (which never usually happens!).  Turns out their sister’s corgi just had puppies around the time I found their dog.  This was a few weeks ago.  They said they would call me to let me take first pick.

I didn't hear anything for weeks so I figured they forgot.  Tonight I got a call saying they could drop off my new puppy right away!

Sometimes the hardest thing to do is the right thing to do  ß that saying is no freaking joke.  I don’t have time for a puppy right now so I had to decline their offer of a free corgi.  They even picked out one who looked like the dog I returned to them!  *sigh* I asked if they were planning on having puppies in the future (like a year from now) and they said that all I needed to do was call them and they would still give me a puppy free of charge.  It’s amazing to know that gracious and appreciative people are still out there in the world.  I was able to make their day by returning their dog and in return I now have a corgi connection for when I’m ready to bring my dream dog into my life.

Life is good and who knew that some people are too!