Canvas Art: Recycling Trees!

So Lotti and I fell in love with that Thankful tree. We adored the shape and the little leaves. Yay, inexpensive decoration! It stayed up in our apartment through the holidays until about a week ago. We just couldn’t bear to part with it. One day, when I was staring off into space, (Okay, looking at pinterest) I saw these trees on canvases. Most were one tree in four sections, each section a different season. I liked the idea of it, but the Thankful Tree ( Or a Wishing Tree) could not be divided like that. I stumbled upon some leftover canvases from this art project and this one. I had an idea!

I took took the tree down carefully and then laid it out on various canvases. Once I decided how I liked it, then I decided how many to space them. About 3/4 of the inch apart, so I had to adjust where the canvases were so that the branches lined up. Next I glued the branches down after using an craft knife to cut them.

Then I used the handy dandy boyfriend to hang them up.  I did what I do best: oversee! He hung them up and I critiqued where he put them. About 45 minutes later, we had our tree and one tired boyfriend! Enjoy!

P.S. Don’t forget to enter my giveaway and help a poor lonely blogger!

50 Dollar Fix: Fabric Frames

    
     So remember how I filled that blank space behind my couch, I had another blank wall to conquer in my apartment. This time it was behind my tv and quite expansive. Yet again, I'd show you a picture but it was a large blank white wall behind a tv, surely you don't need a photo, you can imagine it on your own. Anyways, I decided to try that whole framing a piece of fabric. It was quite inexpensive and I think it looks pretty plus it fills up space. Goal achieved. Here's my how to:

Materials:
Paint
Fabric
Modpodge
Hot Glue
Penny Nails
Decorative Molding cut to size
Thin Wood (for back of frames)

Directions:
1) Determine the size of the frames and have decorative molding cut at the store (most do it for free, see if they can cut the edges at angles to make it look prettier) Paint boards and all the sides!

2) Modpodge fabric to board and smooth out all wrinkles. I used modpodge because it allows for corrections.

3) Hot glue the baords down to frame the fabric the use penny nails to nail the board to the wall and secure the baords. I used hot glue to secure the boards in place until I placed the frames on the wall and then used the nails to actually secure the boards.

Pretty Pretty Boards

   
  I am always saving little mementos from trips be it ticket stubs to museum guides, but I never know what to do with them. Often they just get filed away in labeled shoe boxes at the back of my closet for what occasion, I don't know. My friend, Lily (of the cranberry compote and brie bites fame) has some great ideas of how to show off your little mementos or other important things. These cute boards look great when lined up or alone on a wall, and since they are made from foam board, you can use 3M wall adhesive so you don't have to use nails (a big help for those who are renting a place). With all the different themed papers out there, you can find something to match just about anything!

I just cut the boards in the center, they were the perfect small size!

Materials:

Modpodge

Foam brush

Scrapbook or other decorative paper

Foam Board

Scissors/ knife

Directions:

1. Cut the board and paper to desired sizes, the paper can be left a bit bigger to cover the sides of the board.
   
2. Modpodge the board with a light coat, then press down paper. Go slowly, and use pressure of fingers or ruler (be careful) to work out any bubbles. Lightly modpodge the paper as well once smooth.
   
3. Let dry, then coat the paper with a second and if needed, a third coat of modpodge.
   
4. Enjoy! Use push pins or ribbon to help decorate your board!

This one is for my roommate, Charlotte, who loves old keys. See you can match any theme!

Glitter Candles

      So I love candles and I love glitter, thus I combined the two to make some cute decorations. These are quite simple to make and can be customized to make a great gift. The color and style combinations are endless, so you could make one to match every room, or mood.

Materials:

Modpodge

Foam brush

Candle

Glitter (the finer the glitter the better it looks)

Newspaper or other drop paper 

Directions:

1. Use a generous amount of modpodge so outline your design on the candle. Then sprinkle the glitter over, sprinkle a lot!
   
2. Wait for it to dry, and then tap the candles to free lose glitter. You can take a damp paper cloth to pick up lose glitter off the candle to clean it up.

1. 

   
   
   
2. Good Luck!

Pretty Pretty Organizers

    
     I hate wasting things, and after everyone it seemed got sick this past month, I've gone through tons of tissue boxes. Luckily, Lily had just the idea of how to reuse them. With a few modifications, these boxes can now hold all sorts of things from pens and pencils to nail kits holding the files, polish removers and more. Plus they are super cute to make and look adorable all lined up.

Materials:

Empty Tissue Box

Exacto Knife

Modpodge

Scrapbook paper or decorative paper

Embellishments (Ribbons, glitter, stickers, etc)

Directions:

1. Using knife, carefully cut off the top of the tissue box (the part where the tissues used to come out) and try to make it a good even cut.
   
2. Take the paper and cut it to cover all four sides (make the height one inch more than needed). Then simply use modpodge to glue it down, leaving a half inch overhang on the top and bottom. (for a stronger box, once dry use another layer of modpodge on top)
   
3. Fold bottom of paper and secure the top section with modpodge.
   
4. Embellish it as you like. 

Good Luck!

Pretty Pretty Notebooks: Part Deux

    So I realized in previous post, I forgot to include a few photos of the finished product. So here it is and a few other notebooks I've covered lately.

Pretty Pretty Notebooks

 

     I love having pretty notebooks for class or just to jot down notes or recipes. Yet whenever I look for any in stores, they either can't be found or are way too expensive for me to afford. So I have taken to making my own pretty notebooks. It doesn't take a lot of money, time or effort and they are pretty enough to give as gifts or keep for yourself.

Here's all you need:

Modpodge ('m obsessed with the gloss version)

Foam Brush

Scrap book paper, tissue paper, etc. (You could use newspaper, magazines, even plain printer paper works)

Scissors (to trim paper)

Notebook (I like the 99 cent composition notebooks)

Directions-

1. Lay out paper over the notebook to position. Feel free to get creative and even layer papers!
   
2. Once you know where you are going to place everything, carefully remove it and use the brush to put down a layer of modpodge on the notebook. Press paper(s) on to the notebook, be careful to smooth out any bubbles or lumps. Take your time with this part.
   
3. Either cut or fold excess paper over the edges, tucking them in to glue down later. 
4. Apply with the foam brush 1 to up to 3 layers of modpodge on top of the paper to seal it in and give it time to dry between applying each layer. It should look glossy when finished.
   
5. Enjoy your creation and write pretty things!
   

How do you keep your notebooks from looking too dull?