Saturday, July 13, 2013

Getting Ready for Game Day! GOOOO GAMECOCKS!

I saw this on Pinterest and KNEW I had to try my hand at making it.

 
 
Supplies:
  • 5-1x4's
  • Paint- I like Lowe's Valspar Vanilla Steam, I've had a gallon for about 6 months I use on different projects. It is the perfect NOT WHITE, NOT YELLOWISH neutral.
  • Sample paint Madeira Red, I got a sample from Lowe's at Christmas for $2.50, I used it on this project, O' Come Let Us Adore Him. Then while at Lowe's I picked up another sample of it from their Oops paint for $0.50!
  • Electric saw and tape measure to cut the wood down.
  • Electric Drill and screws or a hammer and nails. (A drill is so much easier :-})
  • Paper for your stencil and scissors to cut it out.
  • Paint brushes: Foam and artist brushes
First I cut the wood down to 36" pieces. Screwed in the cross pieces to hold it all together.  I didn't take photos of this process (sorry:}) Here's the after.
 

 
To make my stencil I used my PC, scrap paper, and scissors. Open MS Word or what ever word processing program you have, type out your text and enlarge, trace the letter and cut them out. I guesstimated at the size I needed and it worked out:)
 
 
 
Side note: There are TONS of FREE FONTS out there you can get a little side tracked looking for the PERFECT font!
 
 
 
It took me about 30 minutes to copy all the text and cut them out.
 
OK, now paint your base.
 

You can either caulk the seams or leave them alone, I left them. I want my sign to look a little aged and tumbled.


After the paint has dried (of course) lay it all out again, and use a pencil and lightly trace around your letters.
 
Can  you see it???
 
After everything is traced start painting.
 
I have no idea why I started at the bottom....
 
 
 
So, here is my little BIG difference, LOL. I added the Gamecock's logo to the State.
 
 
 
 
Happy Pinteresting!!!
 
Mel:D

Monday, July 1, 2013

Clothes Pins and the 4th of July

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I saw several clothes pin wreaths but not one for the 4th. See the wreath I made last year HERE. Anyhoo, I started taking last years wreath out of the closest to put it up again, and got inspired to make a new wreath from clothes pins. It is a very easy project.


You need red, white and blue spay paint, a wire circle, silver paint for the stars, and don't forget the clothes pins. I bought 200 for $4.00, I wasn't sure how many it would take.

This project cost me $8.50, and that's because I didn't have white spray paint on hand, I ran out of blue, and I had to buy clothes pins.

The steps, I had a wire wreath on hand. I picked it up at a yard sale about a year ago for .50. Seriously! Go hit the weekend yard sales people it is a terrific way to get things CHEAP!

This is the ring I picked up

 
I got a pair of needle nosed pliers and clipped the rings.

 
I ended up with 2 rings, I guess you can say I did this project for $8.25, LOL.
 
 
Take your clothes pins and circle them around the ring. DO NOT PAINT THEM FIRST.
 
 
Mama's little helper :)
 
and
 
124 clothes pins later

 
Let's count by 5's :)
 
You will count out your red and white clothes pins first. I counted groups of 5's and ended up with 40 in each group, and the remainder I painted blue.
 
Get out the spray paint and go to town.  Side note, the red and blue paint covered the raw wood easily, the white however, did not. I bought a cheap $1 can and had to use the entire can.  




 
 
I got side tracked watching the paint dry :)

 
After and hour or so the paint was dry.


I started with the blue and then the red and white.
 
alternate 5 red and 5 white.


Before the stars

 
and after :) 

 
I think this project turned out really cute:) would love to hear your thoughts!
 
 
 
After thought: The clothes pins stay on really well, but I think I may hot glue them on after the holiday's.
 
Happy Crafting,
Mel:D