Easy Wreath for Your Nest!

Another 5 minute craft--just in time for Easter! All you need is some speckled robin eggs (found at any craft store), a vine wreath, some burlap and some hot glue. 

1d. Crossword Clock

This one was simple but time consuming. Pun intended. I knew I wanted to make a clock with this block of scrap wood, but didn't know what direction to go in. The idea for a crossword clock came about because I HATE numbers, LIKE words and LOVE crossword puzzles! 

1. I started with an unfinished piece of scrap wood, about 24" square. Unfortunately my plan for no numbers backfired when I had to do about 3 hours of math to figure out the size of each crossword square. Once I got the math out of the way, I drew the grid in pencil...which also took some time.

2. Next I used a lot of painters tape so I could paint the lines, black squares and letters. More time.

3. Then I stopped taking pictures. Whoops! After applying all of the black paint I let it dry and then stained over the entire clock with an antique stain. Next I drilled a hole and attached a regular old clock kit.

elf AND leprechaun

St. Patty's day is around the corner so I thought I'd honor my Irish initial with some green decor.

It's so easy you can do it after ten Guinness:

• Grab some festive ribbon, a wooden monogram and some "shamrock" grass from your local craft store
• Cut and hot glue the grass in the shape of the letter
• Hang with ribbon

Now if St. Patrick could please clear the snakes out of South Florida...

Light House

I found this $4 buried treasure at a local thrift store and was thankful the original owner threw it overboard. Hmmm....how to freshen up this castaway???

In the end I didn't really change much--added a fresh linen-colored lamp shade trimmed in nautical rope,  painted an anchor onto some linen cloth and stitched the cloth with matching blue thread.

Not So Lazy Susan

My sister-in-law received this really nice wine barrel lazy susan for Christmas and I immediately ran out to recreate it!

http://tinyurl.com/7xveck4


The William Sonoma version retails for $149, but can be recreated for $26 (even cheaper if you have access to a wine barrel)! Here's how:

• 23" diameter unfinished wooden table top = $11
• wood stain (any color would be nice--I used American Walnut) = $4
• lazy susan hardware (found in pulls and knobs section of Home Depot) = $5
• black acrylic paint = $2
• polyurethane = $4
• optional stencils (I used some stencils I had on hand, but wish I drew freehand)
• flat head screws
• optional wood 1" squares to raise the lazy susan from ground (I did not end up using)

Step 1:

Sand any uneven nicks or bumps before starting. Stencil on any words or designs you want with the black acrylic paint. I copied the William Sonoma version by writing Sonoma Cabernet and then adding my monogram up top in a floral design stencil. I did this under the stain to make the writing seem more "etched" than painted.

Step 2:
Stain both sides of the table top and let dry overnight.


Step 3:
Apply polyurethane and let dry.


Step 4:
Flip the table top over to the wrong side, measure the center of the table and drill screws through the screw holes in the lazy susan and into the table top.

Step 5:
Flip over and enjoy some wine, cheese and crackers!

Floating Nautical Shelf

This is an easy one-hour project that anyone can do! And surprise, it's not a Pottery Barn knock-off...it's a Pottery Barn Kids knock-off =). I saw this as a display a while ago in PBK although I am not sure it was ever for retail. Here's what you will need:

• Wooden shelf (I bought a ready-made shelf in the storage section of Home Depot)
• Sisal rope
• 2 drawer pulls
• Large drill bit

Step 1:

Measure and mark drill holes for the rope to thread through about 1.5" in from side and edge of shelf

Step 2:

Drill holes on marked spots

Step 3:

Mark and drill drawer pulls into wall keeping into account the length of the shelf and the distance between rope holes. (don't worry if it's not exact...this is one of the few shelf hanging projects that is forgiving when it comes to measuring and leveling)

Step 4:

Measure out 2 equal lengths of rope and cut. Thread one of the rope pieces through the back hole (hole that will be closest to the wall when hung) on the left side of the shelf and the other through the back hole on the right side of the shelf. Tie a knot so the ropes stay in place.

Step 5:

This step could use an extra hand but CAN be done alone. Choose one side of the shelf to hang first and loop the rope around the corresponding drawer pull and then down through the front hole tying a hole when through. Now, using the level, do the same on the other side of the shelf until your shelf is level. 

AHOY! You are done faster than you can say "She sets sea shells on her new sea shelf".

My Sewing Machine: Episewed 1

My husband bought me a sewing machine for Christmas and I am sew super excited! I'd never used a machine before and could barely sew a button on a shirt, but this machine is the best!

My first project with the machine was to make it a cover to protect it from dust, dog, etc...I have no idea why I thought this was a good first project, it was pretty difficult, but I made things up as I went along. I learned a lot of lessons as I went, most importantly "measure twice cut once, blah blah blah".

I chose a few different scrap patterns that matched at a local fabric store and cut out the pieces to make a nice design. Unfortunately since I was learning as I went, I didn't adapt this craft into a tutorial. I promise to post tutorials that are quick and easy as I learn. But right now, this post is just for bragging rights =).