jane's apron

craig's list table redo

Guess what we did last weekend?  To review, we were fixing our living room walls and I bought a dining room set on Craig's List with the idea to cut the dining table in half to make two console tables for either side of the fireplace.  I said at the time that my husband was a bit of a goofball carpenter...this is still true.  If we can manage something like this, I know that anyone can.

The challenge with the china cabinet was to make it look a little more casual and not too stiff or old lady-ish. I'm still working on it but I think by adding fun thrifted stuff, family photos, magazines, and stacked books, it looks just right. Two thrifted robins's egg ceramic planters have been my inspiration for adding color into the room...I'm loving the robin's egg/orange combination.

I still have to redo the dining chairs and fix the TV area with the dining room buffet so there's more to share....later.

what I know about glue

I have been asked a few times about the glue I use on my projects and I am happy to share everything I know about glue...

• Mod Podge is the sealer that I use on anything that will be handled (like clipboards, altered train cases, etc.).  I'm a bit of neat freak with glue and I apply this sealer with a nice wide watercolor brush.  The brush doesn't put "too much" on the piece.  I sand lightly between coats and usually add about 3 coats.  I also use the matte finish because I'm not a shiny girl.  The biggest piece of advice that I can give about Mod Podge is to apply it and WALK AWAY from your project when it starts to bubble or wrinkle...don't even peek in on it.   Learn from my mistakes and know that the stuff always dries flat.
• UHU is the glue stick I use for anything that doesn't need to be sealed (cards and paper collages that will be framed).  I use an old magazine or catalog as my scrap paper to catch extra glue...just turn the page to get a clean surface.  I use a bone folder to smooth the top of the piece to make sure everything gets glued to the edges.
• WackyTac (labeled as k&company craft bond) is the super strong glue I use to apply buttons and other heavier things to my projects.  It just takes a drop and it dries strong and clear.
• Finally, I use a Quickie Glue pen to add touches of glitter to some projects.  I'm not a big glitter girl and this pen allows you to put a small, precise amount of glue.  I apply the glue and sprinkle the top with fine glitter, let it dry, and then brush off the glitter with a small round paint brush.

I hope this is helpful...if you have any questions, just ask! 

 

amy butler cards

I know there are lots of Amy Butler fans out there...I've seen the beautiful bags (and fun pajama pants) that all of you talented blog girls make.  Did you also know that there is a line of Amy Butler scrapbook goodies?  I found these purse stickers at Archiver's a few months ago and submitted to their fabulous-ness. 

Most of the cards I make are standard A2 size (4.25x5.5).  To make a card like this, cut an 8.5x11 piece of card stock in half (so you have two 8.5x5.5 pieces).  Fold each piece in half (use a bone folder to get a good fold).  I cut pretty scrapbook papers to 4x5.25 (so they layer on the card with a 0.25 edge).  Then peel and stick the purses on. I did not use Amy Butler scrapbook paper for these...that would be too matchy-matchy for me...just play with a color combination that you like.   

paper tree forest

I found a tutorial for the cutest little fabric stacking trees at the small object last week.  I really don't have much in the way of fabric scraps...but paper scraps?  Now that I've got. 

The boys weren't that interested in participating but Ellen and I couldn't stop making them.  Easy, fun, addicting...the perfect little craft.  I love that Ellen's are way cuter than mine.  Very Rankin-Bass-ish.

The original pattern is for fabric but you can do the same thing with paper (even stitch it if you want).  We tried using pinking sheers too.  If you'd like to make lots of these (for a school class party or something) use a circle cutter to create 3", 4.5". 6", & 7.5" circles and then cut them in half to create each little cone shape.  One other thing I might do is add a sparkly puff ball to the tops of the trees.  And maybe make a bigger version...and...see?  Told you they were addicting.   

hooked

I'm not the kind of mom that can teach her kids to crochet.  I'm just not.  But, after seeing a crochet project in an old Martha Stewart Kids Magazine, my 10 year old Ross was pretty persistent.   Ross: "Mom, did you get that stuff for me to crochet yet?"  Me: "Ummm...no".  I just didn't want to do it because I thought someone (me) would end up in tears. 

I finally broke down and picked up 3 crochet hooks and a thing of yarn and sat down with the magazine and taught myself how to do the basic crochet stitch.   Before long, I had all 3 kids chain stitching like crazy people.  My 6 year old was taking and recording measurements of the dog's head and the cat's neck (for hats and scarves).  When I went to bed that night, both of my boys were up in their rooms crocheting. 

I needed a little more instruction about how to actually make something and found this "Kids Crochet" book at the library.  It's a really good and cute book for kids so I went ahead and ordered it from Amazon.  I highly recommend it...if you are at all intimidated by crochet I would encourage you to give it a try.  If I can teach my kids, believe me, anyone can do it. 

As Ross was practicing his stitches, he said something like "Wouldn't it be fun to sit and watch football and crochet?".    Yep, that does sound pretty fun.

project helpers

I have to warn you that this is a bit of a boring and technical post but I wanted to share some resources for anyone that might be interested...

First up are postcards that I had made for my sister.  She's in the PTO and is in charge of birthdays for the school staff.  I wanted to try a digital design for this project and found this cute kit at designer digitals.  They make it very easy to buy a design for either personal or commercial use.  This particular kit is from Katie Pertiet.   I designed the layout in Adobe Photoshop and then sent it off to overnight prints.  I added some colored envelopes from paper source...one for the postcard and one for the gift card.  An order for 100 birthday cards...completed pretty easily. 

Next up are invitations for a baby shower that we are having for a girl in our neighborhood. I also designed this one in Adobe Photoshop using a vintage maternity sewing pattern I had.  I ordered these from vista print because they offer printing on cotton paper and because you can order smaller quantities.   Vista was a little more wacky than Overnight (lots of weird offers, higher shipping costs) but the paper and print quality are very good...I would use them again. 

an inspiration book

Like everyone else, I get quite a few magazines and am always tearing pages out for "later"...but putting them together in some sort of form just never seems to happen.   When I saw this vintage pleasure post about inspiration books, I loved it...thrifty, easy, and cute.  I bought a book at the thrift store (it's a nice new one with those "uneven" page edges), removed the dust jacket, and added a pretty paper to cover the binding.  And the best part...did you know that a crop-a-dial will punch through a book cover?  I punched a hole in the front and back covers and added a big eyelet.  I don't have a ribbon in it yet but, when the book is full, I can tie it closed.

After putting the outside together, I went through my pile of  loose "inspirations" and glued them into the pages of the book....no filing system, no order...just a little surprise on every page.

my best trick

I had book club at my house last week and remembered to take a picture to share.  This is the prettiest, easiest, thriftiest (enough adjectives?) idea in my bag of decorating tricks...see them on top of the china hutch?   All you do is line up a bunch of milk glass dishes, add a tea light, and watch them glow.  It's a great way to add a little light anywhere you want it...also looks cute in a powder room to light the way for your guests.  Grab a piece of milk glass (if you don't have one you can thrift one...easy to find and cheap) and try it tonight.

bucket tree stand

I got this idea from the current Martha Stewart Living Magazine.  The tree in the article on tree trimming was placed in a planter...skipping the tree skirt.  With three cats, a dog, and three kids, my tree skirt was always a little bit of a mess so I thought the idea of a planter was a great idea.  I didn't have any luck finding a planter or basket large enough so I went to Home Depot and found a nice big galvanized bucket.  I think it  looks cute...fits the mood of my vintage tree pretty well.

...and here's my little helper