Simply DIY 2

So, my youngest sister has made a personal goal to run either a half or (eventually) a full marathon in each of the 50 states.  While she has run quite a few half marathons in our home state of Pennsyltucky, her only other states are Tennessee and soon-to-be Ohio.  She needs to get on that goal ! From doing each half marathon (and always kicking butt) she receives a participation medal.  Along with the medal, she has her bib as well.  What to do with these memorabilia from each race?  You could scrapbook the bibs with some photos, and throw the medals in a keepsake box, but why not display them?  I've noticed on my sister's Pinterest page (Oh, thank you Pinterest) that she has pinned a few bib/medal holders like this one : I decided to give it the ol' DIY try and make my sister one of these for her birthday.  This was a trial and error project, with lots of trial and lots of errors.  Bare with me while I try to explain. T...

On September 13, Kerry and I celebrated our five year anniversary.  I can't believe that we have been married for that long !  We actually aren't big gift givers for our anniversaries and we usually try to take a trip to celebrate.  In the past years, we've gone to Arizona, Tennessee, Colorado, and this year we went the Lone Star State - Texas ! So, the suggested gifts for five years is wood or silverware.  We really don't need any silverware and I couldn't think of any furniture needs either.  But while I was in Texas, I did some shopping and spotted a block of wood with some twine that was used as a picture "frame."  I figured, why buy it when I can make it, DIY style. Materials: 8X8 wood block canvas (got mine at Michael's) Brown paint Modge Podge Thick twine or hemp cording Tools: Paint brush Staple gun Glue gun and stick Hand sander (or a piece of sand paper) First, I painted the front, four sides, and part of the bac...

If you haven't noticed, I like making crafts.  Not only do I enjoy making things for myself, I get really excited when someone asks if I can make them something.  Even better…when I make someone for someone and they like it!  Last year for Christmas, my sister, Emily, asked for a memo board and this year, she wanted another one!  I've made many memo boards, but surprisingly not one since I started this blog.  There are plenty of other tutorials on how to make a memo board, but I thought I'd still share mine. Everyone's is a little different.  Of course, you can find memo boards in the store, but they are usually over $15 or $20.  Not only can you do them on the cheap, you can make it just the way you want it! Tools: Scissors Staple Gun and staples Needle Pliers/wire cutter (to pull out staples if needed and to cut floral wire) Ruler Materials: 16 X 20 inch canvas (usually purchased at Michael's with coupon) Quilt batting cut 16 X 20 ...

Another one of our weekend travels brought us a little further south in VA.  A few weeks ago, Kerry's brother was married. His brother and now wife asked us to help take photos of their wedding.  I like taking photos.  I am very far away from being a great photographer, but I like to try.  I just need more practice.  So I took this as an opportunity to practice and to test out some props that I had seen in other wedding photos - chalkboards.  Chalkboards are so popular now. I see them in paint form, frames, and labels.  I figured I could incorporate one into their photos. I stopped over at my favorite craft store, Michaels's, and purchased an off-white frame and self-stick chalkboard sheets: All I did was peel apart the back of the chalkboard adhesive and stick it to the matte of the frame. Then I taped it to the back of the matte just to secure it. And that was it ! Nice and easy framed chalkboard.  No painting necessary and ...

Last year, before I found Pinterest, I tore out a photo of these adorable Halloween spools from a scrapbook magazine: Source I thought that these were WAY too cute to pass up trying to make.  I already had the embroidery floss thread from when I used to make friendship bracelets (waaay back in the day) and all the paper.  I just needed to stop by Michael's and grab the wooden spools.  I can't remember the exact price, but they were definitely under $1.   And I found the little corks for Frankenstein's head at Lowe's for cheap as well.  I never thought I'd find those and during one random trip to Lowe's, I spotted them in the hardware section with all the bins of screws and eye hooks and what-not. I wrapped the floss around the spool until all the wood was covered.  I used tacky glue on the end of the thread to keep it from unraveling.   To make the little eyes for the mummy and Frankenstein, I used a hole pun...

In my last few posts, I've mentioned that we've been pretty busy.  Well, it keeps on getting busier.  A few weeks ago I was in charge of providing some decorations for my ten year reunion.  The reunion was at a bar, so they didn't have to be too fancy. Pillar candles, ribbon, corsage pins, and chargers make simple, yet pretty centerpieces. I made these centerpieces in the car on a way to a Pitt game (They were that simple !).  In fact, we were so busy that we didn't even have time to go to  the game - we just tailgated.  Anyways, immediatly after the game was the reunion.  I told you I was busy!   I cut the ribbon so that it was slightly longer than the circumference of the candle.  It needed to be tucked under so that you don't see the edge where it was cut and instead you just see the fold.  I centered the smaller ribbon to the bigger ribbon, wrapped it around, then folded the one edge and plac...

One of my favorite blogs, YHL , posted a Pinterest Challenge the other day.  This little challenge gave me the push that I needed to start a project I've been 'pining' to do for a while. I love earrings but I'm not a big jewelry wearer.  I usually wear my cross/medal necklace and my engagement/wedding rings.  When I want to switch things up, I change my earrings to match my outfits.  Currently, my earrings were placed in this...   ...a Pitt mug from college.  Yes, I know...not the most elegant of things to hold your earrings in, but hey, it worked ! I've been wanting to update my earring holder for a while, ya know, make it a little more grown-up, but I haven't found the right solution until I crossed the framed radiator grate from iHeartOrganizing . I fell in love !  I did a little research and found out that Home Depot had the radiator grates.  I went there and asked for a little help in locating them (I know my way around Home De...