{How To: Spruce up a bulletin board}

I am so excited to finally get this posted! I have been so stuck on food, I had forgotten about my DIY projects I have been working on! :)

Today I am going to show you how to take an UGLY old bulletin board (or a new one if you want, hehe) and make it FAB-O!!

Here is what you need:

a bulletin board

fabric (enough to cover the front)

spray adhesive

ribbon (enough to go around the edges)

hot glue gun

scrapbooking paper

glass marble things from the floral department of your craft store

modge podge or school glue

pushpins that are almost flat

Craft paint (optional)

ok, here is what I did, I started by painting the edges of the frame so they are white. Then I measured and cut the fabric BACKWARDS to make sure it fit:

Next, I sprayed it down with spray adhesive:


then flipped it over CAREFULLY, make sure your sides don't stick (you might want someone to help you on this step) and press down fabric so there are no gaps or bubbles:


next, you want to cut your ribbon to fit each side...make sure they are separate cuts, not all one long piece, then use your glue gun to glue down to the sides:

Then you will want to make your push pins.
I started with these large glass thingys


and I cut our scrapbooking paper to fit the bottoms, glued it on using modgepodge, and then hot glued a push pin to the back:


Then you can push them into your board, and its ready for hanging! :)

Dont forget to check out all the awesome DIY projects at Kimba's Blog:

http://asoftplacetoland-kimba.blogspot.com/2009/08/diy-day.html

{A Christmas Project}

Have you ever seen something in a catalog and wanted it so bad, but you just couldn't justify the cost?
Well, I saw this in my Ballard Catalog a few weeks ago, and thought just that. I mean, $49????? I don't think so!

So what's a girl to do? Make her own of course!
And that's just what I did...and I'm going to take you along the journey with me so you can make your own too! :)

Step 1: Create your template.
Ok, so I used the same silhouette from their website by searching through istock. Its actually in sections so you will have to look for all three sections! I actually lost the links, otherwise I would share them! :(
Once you have your template, print it out in sections and trace around it onto a piece of white poster board.
**TIP: trace it backwards on the WRONG side of the paper. This way, you can cut it out on the back and not see your cut lines or any pencil lines that you miss.


Step 2: Cut out your pattern
Now you will want to cut out your design with an xacto knife.


Step 3: Make your Frame
Now you want to make your frame. I bought these frame pieces at Hobby Lobby on the isle with the canvas. They are SUPER cheap!
Then I painted them with black craft paint and allow to dry.


Step 4: Cutting the Background
Once your frame is dry, you will want to trace it's size onto a red piece of poster board. This one I am using is like a textured paper, not shiny like regular poster board.
Once you have measured the frame, then cut along that line.


Step 5: Connect the Dots...Glue Dots that is!
I LOVE these! I used glue dots on the back of the silhouette (remember, you cut it out backwards, so make sure you are putting the glue on the correct side for it to be able to flip over and be right!)



Step 6: Stick it to 'um
Once you have all the glue dots on the back, you want to line up the bottom and stick down the silhouette onto the red paper.


Step 7: Prepare the frame
Now you want to put the glue dots all along the back of the frame.


Step 8: Last step
Now you want to stick the entire background onto the frame, making sure to line up the sides and top and bottom. Once the glue sticks, you cant move it around, so try to be as accurate as possible!


Now flip it over and find somewhere awesome to put it for your holiday!




Here is the cost breakdown for you!
(I got EVERYTHING at Hobby Lobby)
White poster board: $0.49
Red poster board: $1.89
Glue Dots: $3.99 (plus 40% off coupon)= $2.39
Frame: 2 long pieces $1.69 ea.
2 short pieces $0.69 each
Total: $9.53

Ballard Design Inspiration:
$49.00 plus shipping= $60.95!!!!


Wow, that's a savings of $51.42!!
Now get to crafting!!!

{...and everything in it's place}

I found somewhere to put it!! :) On the top of an armoire!

{FALLing for Autumn...}

This really isn't a "project" that is original or creative, but it was cheap and fun to do! I have TONS of projects coming throughout the holiday season though! So keep your eyes peeled for that!! :)

But before I share, I just wanted to say thank you to everyone who posted a comment on my previous post. We had communion at church last night and 4 people that are members of our congregation all prayed for President Elect Obama in their native tongue, then we sang some of the most beautiful worship songs ever! One being "My Nation Healed" and the other was "He Reigns".
I truly believe that God's people will come together in every tribe, every tongue, and every nation to say that HE REIGNS, no matter what the situation!

Now, on to what I was talking about! :)
I was in Hobby Lobby the other day getting some materials for some upcoming projects, and I happened to spot this little wood sign and the fall colored paints in the "Fall Decor" section. They were both $2.99, but were on 50% off sale! So I got them BOTH for $2.99!
Now THAT'S a deal!! So I came home and painted the sign! I LOVE it! Its so "fall" and warm! I cant wait to find a spot for it! hehe



Oh, and did you spot my dollar store candle holder there behind it?! I LOVE those!!

{Thats a Deal Thursday, Baking, Baking Baking}

Baking, Baking, Baking!....Baking, Baking, Baking! (I'm singing in my best conga line voice)
So many of you know that I am always on the hunt for a good bargain, and lately that bargain hunting has transferred to the grocery store. I have been trying to find more ways to stretch my hard earned dollars and still feed my family what they like.
This can prove to be some what of a challenge, but most of the time it's really fun!

One of the ways I have learned to save money is by making things in LARGE batches. Like soup, I made 5 gallon sized Ziploc bags of baked potato soup the other day for the freezer. I also made three bags of homemade pasta sauce, and this weekend I will be making chicken stock. But the one meal I always have trouble with is breakfast! I despise having to get up at 6:00am and not only make Lagan's breakfast and lunch, but then make breakfast for everyone else and I haven't even worked out yet! So my breakfast is always cold and gross and I'm the one that made it! (Can you see my frustration here?)
So I read on several blogs about baking, and freezing, muffins.

Brilliant Idea! Cheap and easy muffins that last for months! So Mom and I put on our aprons, rolled up our sleeves, and baked FIVE different kinds of muffins all on one day! And ended up freezing over 30 muffins for future use!!

Here is a glimpse into our "Baking Day"...



We ended up making banana nut, zucchini and nut, pumpkin chocolate chip, apple spice, and blueberry muffins! YUMMMM.....



So what's a girl to do with 1/2 a can of leftover pumpkin? Well, make pumpkin pancakes...duh!


All in all, I had a great time spending the day with mom and baking! We will defiantly be doing this a lot! And since this was a "That's a deal Thursday" I will let you know that the supplies to bake over 7 dozen muffins cost about $10.00!! Now, I defiantly think that's a deal!

{Charting your Chores...}

Hey Everyone!! I am so excited to share this post with you, but first I wanted to say thank you to everyone who wrote me about the book review. I was ecstatic to see some of you go check it out or buy it just based on my recommendation! :) I'm totally flattered!!

Ok, on with the post at hand! :)
Keeping a house clean while your trying to sell can be quite a chore all on its own. But when your doing it by yourself, it is a nightmare! So I was surfing the web the other day and came across this post...but I thought "I can do that for really cheap!" So I did! One trip to hobby lobby and about 3 hours in between working, and I had a really cool chore chart.

And I wanted to share it with you all, so I took pictures along the way! I hope you enjoy doing this project as much as I did!

You want to start with:
-an unfinished wooden shelf
-1 piece scrapbook paper
-craft paint in choice of color
-2 yards of coordinating ribbon
-1 sponge paint brush
-1 set alphabet stickers
-1 picture hanging kit (only if your shelf doesn't already have this.)
(a hole punch and tape are also needed)


Next you want to wriggle the pegs out of their spots from the shelf

Now lightly sand the entire surface until smooth.
(I used a 220 grit sandpaper) and wipe down with a dry cloth.

Paint the sides and slightly up the top of the shelf, also paint the pegs.

Cut the scrap booking paper to fit on the top portion.
Mine is long so I had to cut two pieces to match the length.

Using Modge Podge (or glue medium a.k.a Elmer's school glue with a little water added)
paint on the paper to cover the top. Allow to dry for about 2 hours.

After glue dries, use a small knife to cut an "X" into the paper where
the peg holes are, then push the paper down into the hole.

Fit the peg in the hole just to make sure the paper is cut enough.

Now, if you were to just use this as a shelf, you could add wood glue to the peg holes and allow to dry.

Remove the pegs and use your stickers to write out your families names under each peg hole.

On my computer I designed these tags just using 3 different fonts.
Once printed, I used a pencil and a ruler to measure around them so I know where to cut.

Once you cut along the lines, you will want to cut out the sides around the { }

and this is what that should look like.
Now you want to punch 2 holes into the sides at the top of the cards...

Next you will want to measure your ribbon. I used 2 yards for 4 tags.
For each tag, I cut the 2 yards into 4 pieces (18 in.ea.)
then I cut each of those into 2 pieces (9 in.ea.)
I now thread the ribbon just through the hole and tape to the back of the card.

This is how it looks with the ribbon taped to the back.

I then hammered on the photo hanger to the back of the shelf.

Now you can tie your chores onto each person's name, and rotate them throughout the week! :)


And now for the price breakdown:
Wood Shelf $3.99 plus 30%off sale: $2.79
Alpha Stickers $2.99 plus 40% off coupon: $1.79
Ribbon $0.50/yd X 2yds plus 30%off sale: $0.70
Scrapbook paper $.50/sheet plus 50%off sale: $0.25
Picture hanging kit $0.99
Craft Paint $0.69
and I already had glue, sponge brush, tape, and hole punch
Project Total: $7.21
w/out coupons or sale: $10.16