Obsessive and Creative

Thursday, August 14, 2014

Thankful Sign

As I was cruising through Pinterest I saw this graphic. I can't find where I found it but I saved the image. I love argyle and thought it would be a great fall sign to decorate with. I went scavenging through the garage and found the following to help make this happen:

Some paint sample cards that I got out of the trash at the paint store last year. They were from the previous season and were being thrown away. The clerk could not believe that I wanted them. They have been living in a baggie waiting to be used.
A wooden placemat that I got at a garage sale for 25 cents.
Primer
Green paper

Step One: I cut out diamond shapes. This was the hardest part. I did not have a template and they kept looking wonky. The I remembered that a diamond is really a rhombus. I googled how to make a rhombus and found this video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JoEx5xVu5xQ
I followed the steps and cut some awesome shapes.

Step Two: I primed and then painted the placemat.

Step Three: I decided I did not like the half painted/half decoupage look so I decoupaged over the painted areas. I added the words and finished with a final coat of Mod Podge.
Step Four: I attached a ribbon so I could hang it on my wreath stand that always ends up having signs hung on it rather than wreaths. I like to make signs not wreaths.

The paint sample that I saved from the trash!

I primed the placemat because I did not think I was going to decoupage the whole placemat.
I did not hand letter the sign. After the new year one of my goals is to learn how to hand letter.

The finished sign ready to hang!

Sunday, October 6, 2013

Dumpster Diving/ Mid Century Modern

**I am only crafting what I have in my garage from 9/26/2013-10/31/2013. That is an important fact to remember in the month of October.

Not long ago I was driving back from my daughters house and had just driven through Sour Lake, Tx and on my right I spotted junk on the side of the road. I slowed down and pulled over. As I got out of the car a black Tahoe pulled up from the opposite direction. The women said, "I want that!" By that time I already had my hand on the shelf. I said, " I do too!". I did not make any further eye contact as I loaded the shelf into my car. She called me an old witch as she drove away. Close call but I had the prize.

All the way home I dreamed of how I would refinish the shelf. I love painted furniture but I love mid century modern stained. When I got it home I soon found out that it was not fine furniture. As I had been driving I imagined it was a Heywood Wakefield. (Mid Century Modern furniture like that produced by the Heywood Wakefield

Company has become highly collectible and sought after by Mid Century Modern

enthusiasts, Focusing mostly on their sparkling, blond furniture produced from 1936-1966)

When I got home I found out it was pressed wood with a peeling veneer.

By this time I had decided that painting was the only option. I wanted to paint it gray but am

committed to using what I have this month. I mixed black and white paint and made my own

gray. I like the color that it turned out.

I decided it needed some detail and painted some wavy stripes. Then I promptly decided that the

stripes were a bad decision and painted over them.

What says the 60's more that bookends brought back from THE WAR and some Reader's Digest Condensed books!

I am partying at:

http://gracelangdon.blogspot.com/2013/10/making-monday-9.html

http://missmustardseed.com

http://www.bystephanielynn.com/2013/10/sunday-showcase-party-215.html

http://www.sunnysimplelife.com

http://sundayview.blogspot.com

http://diyshowoff.com/2013/10/06/that-diy-party-37/

http://www.alderberryhill.com

http://www.ishouldbemoppingthefloor.com/2013/10/inspiration-monday-today-were-inspired.html

http://boogieboardcottage.blogspot.com

http://rainonatinroof.com/2013/10/give-goods-link-party-29/#more-2337

http://www.dreamalittlebigger.com/post/link-party-8.html

http://obsessiveandcreative.blogspot.com/2013/10/signs.html

Sunday, September 29, 2013

Tiered Baskets

**I am only crafting what I have in my garage as of 9/26/2013. That is an important fact to remember in the month of October.

Last month I went to an amazing garage sale. I went Friday morning, Friday afternoon and again on Saturday with my daughter. Several of the things I have crafted lately came from that garage sale.
We I walked into the kitchen and saw the graduated wire baskets I knew they had to be mine. As I got closer I was afraid that I would lose them to someone closer than I was. When I picked them up and saw that all three baskets where $2 I was so thrilled. Then they came home with me and sat in the garage until it was their turn to be repurposed.
I had seen so many inspirational tiered thingys on Pinterest lately. These were a few that inspired me.

15 Creative And Useful DIY Desk Organizers

Both can be found on my Pinterest board: http://www.pinterest.com/creative5426/pinterest-made-me-do-it/

I started with three baskets and some leftover spindle parts.

Everything was primed and I found some knobs to use as finials. I found a small wood plaque to serve as a base. You will notice two paint cans in this picture. Orange and red were my first two choices. I did not use either. I had some spray paint left over from a craft weekend with craftdictator.blogspot.com and used it because it was quicker.

I used double sided screws and glue to put it all together.