~ 15 reclaimed wood projects you can make!~

Almost a year ago now I made these two planter boxes to flank our french doors.

They are still one of my favorites.

To see the original blog post, go here.

They were also featured on Restyle Source here.

They are looking pretty sad right now.

I think I need to go get some pretty flowers today and spruce them up this weekend.

Some other reclaimed wood projects I have made include this garden wall clock:

This reclaimed wood heart sign:

This giant "farm" sign made:

See what this be achy whale towel rack started out life as right here.

Check out this barn wood and burlap frame:

I love making frames out of chippy wood:

This Mr and Mrs sign I made was featured on TLC's Four Weddings!

This photo holder uses some interesting pieces:

This simple hand painted sign started out as a old cupboard door:

A couple other things I've made out of reclaimed wood.

This hand painted patchwork of recycled wood sign:

A whimsical Christmas tree using old moulding pieces: 

We used 2 old doors that were $25 each in our master and hung them on sliders.

One of my favorite things in our home!

Another holiday piece, this Halloween sign:

And finally, how to make picture frames out of FREE pallet boards!

I hope I have inspired you to get out your saw and make something special for your home!

xoxo

~thrifty Thursday~{designer placemats}

I have been wanting to do this project for a while.

I had leftover wallpaper from our kitchen nook and hallway, and I just couldn't let it go to waste.

This project is really simple.

All you need is some plastic placemats from the dollar store, wallpaper, scissors, and spray adhesive.

I picked up these placemats at the Dollar Tree.

Pretty huh? :)

Then I rolled out a section of wallpaper….

I flipped it over and traced each placemat onto the back with pencil.

Cut one out.

If you craft a lot, this is a must have product.

I use it for a lot of things.

Outdoors and in a protected area,

{this sprays everywhere}

spray the top of your ugly placemat covering the whole area and paying special attention to the edges.

Set aside and then do the same to the back of your wallpaper.

Set aside and let sit for about a minute.

While this is sitting, go ahead and cut your next wallpaper piece out.

The carefully working from one end to the other, smoothing as you go, adhere the two together.

That's it!

These only take a few minutes to make.

You can literally make them while dinner is cooking and have them ready by the time you sit down to eat.

The wallpaper I used is Schumacher Chenonceau

 and the beaded plates are from the Dollar Tree as well. The rest is thrifted ironstone.

xoxo

~diy no smudge chalkboard~

Savannah's 16th birthday is coming up so I am busy making things for it.

One of the things we will be having is a sweets bar, so I wanted to create a chalkboard sign for it that won't smudge.

I started with a plain frame, no glass.

I cut a piece of mdf to fit in the inside and secured it with screws.

Then I painted 2 coats of chalkboard paint on it and let it dry.

Next, you want to season your chalkboard. Do this by rubbing chalk 

over the entire surface, no rhyme or reason.

Once you erase it, your chalkboard will be seasoned and ready for wording.

Print out the appropriate size words in a word document and tape them to your chalkboard.

First you will want to scribble pencil over the backside of the words.

When your words are taped on, use a ballpoint pen to trace around each letter.

The pencil will transfer off onto the chalkboard like below.

Then simply fill in your letters with chalk!

To make sure it doesn't smear, simply spray a coat of this on when you are done.

Make sure it's a matte finish so it's not shiny.

I added a few hand drawn flowers as well.

That's it.

Please keep in mind that this is a permanent chalkboard now and you won't be able to erase it.

If you ever want it to say something else you just simply need to add another coat of chalkboard paint over the top and start again!

xoxo

~DIY bullseye bookends~{thrifty thursday}

I have to admit that I cheated on this project. 

I did not make these, however I would like too.

I actually purchased these bookends just like this, wanting to recreate them, but am having the hardest time finding a product to use to make them stand up.

I am not sure what type of thin metal was used here. 

Maybe you can tell me?

Do I have you thinking? 

xoxo

~toning down our log mantle~

On a whim yesterday I decided to "tone down" the log mantle in our living room.
It was looking a bit orange to me.

Here's the before:

I knew it had to be super subtle because my husband would freak otherwise, so I used this stain:

It's super subtle and I honestly don't think he will even notice.

I think it has the appearance now closer to driftwood.
Here's a side by side for comparison.
Sometimes it's the little things!
{and it took less than 5 minutes!}

Before on the left, after on the right.

xoxo

UPDATE TO ALL YOUR QUESTIONS! NO I DID NO PREP! OUR MANTLE HAD A CLEAR COAT PUT ON IT WHEN WE HAD IT BUILT ABOUT 12 YEARS AGO, BUT ALL I DID WAS BRUSH IT ON AND WIPE IT OFF!
FOLLOW ME ON INSTAGRAM FOR MORE PHOTOS AND DETAILS! {LINK ON THE RIGHT HAND SIDE OF THIS PAGE WITH ALL THE OTHER SOCIAL MEDIA ICONS}

~thrifty thursday~

What do you do when you come across a huge garbage sack full of leather scraps for $20 at a garage sale?
You buy it of course! That wasn't a trick question.
I wasn't sure what I would do with it, but after browsing the web
I found this post and went from there, adapted a bit.

Here is how you too can make leather pinecones.

First, gather your supplies.

Cut out each flower on paper using this pattern.
Then trace onto leather with a ballpoint pen, and using sharp scissors, cut out each piece.

Once all your pieces are cut out, place them in a cup of water. This will soften the leather. Using your hands, roll up each point.
As it dries, the shape will stay. This is the only thing I didn't get a photo of. Also, you need to cut and punch little "spacer" pieces. Just random little pieces to go in between each flower piece.

Then punch a hole in the center of each piece. I used a large nail and hammer on a block of wood.

This is what your pieces will look like. You do not need to let them dry before proceeding.

The other blog I linked to used pipe cleaners to put theirs together. I tried it this way and with wire and personally prefer the wire. Cut a length longer than necessary, you can always cut it off, and string on your pieces going from largest to smallest.In between each "flower" add a spacer piece. To ensure the pieces don't slip off, make a little loop at the base with your wire.

You can make these as short or as tall as you'd like. When you get to the last piece just bend the wire over using pliers.

Here they are all done!

We will be making these tonight at craft night!
xoxo