New Teacher Gifts :)

I've been a teacher for five and a half years now...two years in kindergarten and the past three and a half years in fourth grade. This year, I was given the opportunity to be a mentor to a student teacher intern. What surprised me the most was how much I learned about myself. 

In order to be a good mentor teacher for Alyssa, my intern, I had to coach her, collaborate with her, give her feedback. It gave me motivation to help her start the path in her teaching career.

As her time was ending with our class, I wanted to do something special for her. We made her a basket of teacher goodies to start her off on her first year. In the basket I included a canvas with her name and a personalized clipboard. 

I used a stencil for the chevron detail, polka dot detail, and lettering. I used the same effect for the clipboard.

solid navy for the front of the clipboard

The moment arrived to present her with her gift basket and the kids were so excited! ...and she was super surprised as well! :)

yay! basket full of swag!

happy student teacher :)

Personalized Canvas for Baby

Very good friends of mine are about to have their first baby...a girl! Besides buying them a few things from their gift registry, I wanted to make something personal. I have a hard time these days giving a present without putting some sort of personal touch on it...my heart and my time. For my friends BJ, Jason, and baby...they deserved something really special. 

BJ & I at her wedding, 2007

I knew I wanted to paint a quote on canvas, a quote from the bible because I knew it would have a significant meaning to my dear friends. I found this pin on Pinterest, which gave me the general layout. 

I started with a blank canvas and used a stencil to outline the chevron detail.

I then decided to paint two chevron bands together to make it thicker. I had to use a few coats of paint to make it fairly solid.

I free-handed the elephant...very carefully...and added some of my own personal details the original painting didn't have, such as a tail. 

I knew I wanted a different quote. For days, I struggled over which quote to use and I went back and forth between two specific quotes. Finally, I decided on one I thought had such a sweet meaning and used a stencil, white paint, and a foam brush to add the quote, letter by letter. This part took the longest.

The last step with the quote was to clean up the painting by touching up spots where the white paint bled. I was so happy to have the quote finished because it took so long!

The final step for the canvas was to paint the edges. I chose the turquoise color because, well, it was just so pretty. :)

Because I'm such a sucker for presentation...guess what? I couldn't just be done there. After putting the canvas in the basket and other items I purchased from the registry, I thought something was missing. I found a circular cardboard container I received in a gift for Christmas and decided...hey, I'll paint this.

Isn't it so cute?! I couldn't wait to give the gift after it was all put together. 

shower fun :)

It was a beautiful moment during the shower when she saw the canvas. We both had a little teary eyed moment and I knew I had made the right decision with the quote. I cannot wait to greet little baby girl..hopefully not too long from now! 

Mirrored Mason Jars

I found a pin on Pinterest that I had to try: click here

I spent the entire summer crafting items to redecorate my new place (see previous posts), so when I saw that pin on Pinterest, I thought it would be an easy way to add a little vintage and a little sparkle. I had also never used the Looking Glass spray before.

I found white flowers with silver sparkle in the middle at the craft store for a Christmas 50% off (score!) as well as discounted jars I could spray paint.

They turned out so shiny! I definitely plan on using the spray again in the future. :)

Yarn-Wrapped Halloween Wreath

I wanted a Halloween wreath that celebrated the holiday without being too silly or predictable. I decided to do a solid black with a little white wrapped around, using the same technique I used on my previous wreath. I thought it would give it the look of a web and I was pleasantly surprised.

I choose a bright orange felt and made simple roses using a technique I learned from Pinterest: How to Make Felt Rose Flowers

My final step was to paint wooden letters a bright orange and apply with a glue gun.

I'm really happy with the way the wreath turned out...I think it's simple and celebrates the holiday without Halloween throwing up on it. Haha :)

DIY Custom Coasters

One of the last things I wanted to make (craft) for my new living room was a set of custom coasters. I found this pin on Pinterest which helped me figure out how I would make these custom coasters. For supplies, I used:

1. 3"x3" black ceramic tiles (purchased at Home Depot)

2. scrapbook paper (6 different designs)

3. foam/rubber shelf liner

4. high gloss acrylic spray paint

5. Mod Podge

6. black acrylic paint

7. foam brush

The ceramic tiles I purchased had a glossy black top, which I though would make it easy because I planned on letting some of the black on the top show. The sides of the tiles were white, so I used the black acrylic paint to paint the sides. It took two coats.

I then used the ceramic tiles to trace and measure pieces of scrapbook paper.

I measured and cut the scrapbook paper squares smaller than the tiles so the black on the tiles would show slightly around the edges. I then used Mod Podge to apply the pieces of scrapbook paper to the tiles.

After applying the scrapbook paper, I made sure to turn the tiles over and set something heavy on them so the paper could try and all edges would stay down. When dry, I applied a coat of Mod Podge to the top of the scrapbook paper to seal it in.

After drying, I took the tiles out into the garage to spray the glossy acrylic paint. I applied two coats.

For the last and final step, I cut out squares of foam shelf liner and used Mod Podge to apply them to the back of the tiles, which would help them grip on a coffee table. 

I am so glad I found this idea because it seems much better than buying a standard set of coasters that are impersonal and all matching. This way, you can customize them and have fun at the same time. I think they would make an excellent gift!

Repurposing Your Home Decor

As I've been packing and getting ready to move into my new place, I have been getting rid of a lot of old furniture and decor that doesn't match my new theme. Some of the items, however, I realized I could repurpose. One of my new colors will be chrome, so I decided to buy chrome spray paint at the craft store and change the look of some of the items that do not match my new decor. 

I started with a light green glass vase. I made sure to wipe it of any dust or residue and then gave it two good coats of spray paint. I also did the same to a black porcelain try.

I also had a globe that had a bronze metal base and a tall candle holder that was bronze that I wanted to spray chrome. I used 220 sandpaper first to sand both pieces and use a wet cloth to remove the excess residue before spraying.

This was my first time spray painting to repurpose home decor and I am happy with the results. I cannot wait to incorporate these pieces into my new place!

A Wreath to Emphasize Your Accent Color

As I've mentioned in the past few posts, I am re-doing my living room, so I have been making a lot of items that will really add to the decor. My colors are silver, black, white, grey, and an emerald-turquoise pop of color. 

I decided I would like a new wreath on my front door to match my new decor. Because my living room will mostly be muted tones of silver, grey, black, and white, I decided to make the majority of the wreath in that emerald-turquoise pop of color. For supplies, I used:

1. 8" styrofoam wreath

2. yarn (2 colors…emerald green & a lighter green)

3. felt

4. small decorations: white buttons, small fake flowers

5. glue gun

I started out by wrapping the styrofoam wreath the darker emerald green. 

When that was finished, I used the lighter green and wrapped it around, giving a 3D effect that also matched the emerald-turquoise color I was going for. I didn't realize that wrapping the lighter color would have the effect it did, but I was pleasantly surprised!

Wrapping the styrofoam wreath is the hardest part for me because I am a perfectionist, so it has to look just right. For this wreath, I wanted to make two types of felt flowers. One is a simple rose that you cut from a spiral (you can do straight or wavy…I did both), and one is a folded petal flower. I found out how to do both on Pinterest. Here are the pins I used:

Straight Rose Felt Flower

Wavy Rose Felt Flower

Folded Petal Felt Flower

For one flower, I used the straight rose effect and cut out white and light grey. I wrapped them together to make a two-colored rose. 

After making the felt flowers, I began to glue them onto the wreath, thinking about color placement. I finished off the flowers by adding white buttons and small white fake flowers.

I am absolutely in LOVE with this wreath and cannot wait to hang it on the door of my new place. I really think it is unique and will go with my decor very well! :)