Re-purpose Menu Board

    The reasons everyone should make a menu board:

1. Its so easy to do.

2. It will save you money and time.

                        

3. It is super cute. :)

4. You pinned it on Pinterest but, haven't actually done any of the projects you said you would. Ya, me too!                                                                                           

So this is how easy it really is:

I made this one today and reused an old half-sheet cake pan that I no longer use.  Although an old cookie sheet would work or a piece of cardboard wrapped in fabric.

I spray painted the outside edge and inside edges.  The center and the back don't really matter since you won't see them but, if you feel the need to spray more then spray away!

Next you drill holes big enough to let whatever string or ribbon or hanger you choose to use but, small enough so if you knot it then it will stay in place.  If you drill too big then you can tie your string to a washer a secure it that way.

Tie your rope/ribbon/string in a knot on both sides!

Next I painted my clothes pins with craft paint.  I am using Making Memories paint because it dries fast and it is a flat paint so it will be easier to write on. 

  You can use any kind or paint or spray paint but, try to avoid semi-gloss or high gloss paints.  It will be harder to write your dates and menu.





















Using a pair of scissors, I cut the Popsicle sticks in half and painted them a bright color as well.









Next I trimmed the paper to fit into the pan and corner rounded the pieces to fit snugly in place.

Write the days on the week on the clothes pins and on the Popsicle sticks write your main dishes on them. Leave some blank and some with eat out!







You can make a little pocket to store the unused dish sticks in.













Then attach all the pieces however you would like to arrange them on your board with hot glue.


And voila!!  Menu board complete!






So making a menu board will help make you more organized and also save you money by knowing what to buy at the store and never having to throw food out. It will also help you change up the meals each week and makes a fun activity for the kids to do as well.  

End Table Re-Do

A few months back, I tried to distress a hand-me-down table from my mom.  The entire project cost me $5.00!!!  I think that is the best part.  


So here is the before:

I thought is was a little too...what's the word...hmm...ugly!

So I painted it with white spray paint and then did a light teal/turq color over the top. All of which was recycled paint from other projects.

I then sanded it down and tried to distress as well as I could.  I called it quits until today!

Here is the before my ah-ha moment:

Its not that is not pretty but the after is exactly what I was looking for!

This is where the $5.00 came in.  The original knob was just plain wood and I am totally into vintage and glass knobs so I had to find one. I originally wanted clear but, I thin the green is perfect! Successfully found at my local antique store!!!  Love it!


So here was the ah-ha moment:




Gel stain!!!  This makes anything look vintage and old and amazingly cool.  I used an old tee shirt sleeve and then smeared it on.  A little bit goes a long way but make sure you get into all the nooks and crannies!!  Also the previous owners of our house left a ton of paints and stains behind and this was one of them!

The last step was to clear coat it! Thanks to the spray can it was so easy!  I made sure I got the top the best since my previous attempt to this project, I skipped this step and I feel like the stains will repel more with this on it.

The final results:








Perfection!


















So I absolutely love this little table now!!  The knob is my favorite part and finding it was meant to be!

Tomato Plant Debacle

So my amazing neighbor brought over some Early Girl Tomato starts for me. I was originally planned on not growing tomatoes this year, especially since the Saturday Market down town has yummy ones but, changed my mind and figured a project was in order.  So off to our scrap wood pile to make our tomatoes a new home! Here's what came of it all:

 We used recycled wood from an old raised bed we had a few years back which is also the same wood we used on the entry-way table. The bottom is left over dog-ear fencing.  I painted them with some left over outdoor paint from the chicken coop.  Even the soil is recycled from lawn and yard debris and manure.  Hopefully they will be fruitful this year! 

Put-a-CRACKLE-on-it!

So I found this super amazing way to CRACKLE anything and everything!

So simple and easy to do!

Step 1:  Paint anything with a base paint. 

(Spray paint, primer, any color)

Note: this is the color that will show 

through your top coat.

This is the before picture. My mom painted this bed for me when I was about 8.
Isn't it just beautiful!?!  The white is perfect for the undercoat though!

I sanded anything that I didn't want to show through as much. i.e. The blue birds and hearts!

            Step 2:  After your base coat is dry completely.  

Brush on a thin or thick coat of 

Elmer's All Purpose Glue.

Did you hear that right?...YES!)

Any white craft glue that dries clear will work.
Even the  Dollar Tree glue works fine.

This is what it looks like when coated with the glue.
Some thin spots and some thick.  It all works!

I paint the glue on in different strokes
to make it crackle different directions.

Let it sit until it is tacky and sticky

 but, not dry completely.

(If you let it dry completely just add another coat)

Step three:  Paint your top paint color!

The brush strokes don't have to be perfect either.

Any color works and any type of paint works!!! 

Let it dry and watch the magic happen!  

Voila!!!

I still have another amazing project with this 

but, I will update as soon as it is completely finished and set up!!!

Happy Crackling!!!

Entry-Way Table

I was inspired by a table on Pinterest and said "Mr. Johnson?  Can you make a table today?" 

I was so excited when it was complete and I couldn't wait to the paint to dry! 

This table is five pieces of wood screwed together.  So simple and you don't really need plans.  

The wood we used was reused wood from a raised bed we use to have a few years ago.  

The paint was applied by using an old tee shirt (an old rag would work too) and was left over from a bathroom paint job.  

Basically, everything was recycled... so I say it was free!

This is the table once I put it in the entry way and decorated it!  I love it so much!


The color looks lighter in this photo but the true color is closer to the first photo!