Paint Chipping

Using paint chips for craft projects is all the rage right now. You can find inspiration all over Pinterest and craft books. My mom recently used paint chips to make a mobile - see it here! Here are some other craft projects using paint chips:

 

 

 

found at The Great Indoors

found at Ellementary Home

My favorite, the Chandelier! found at Hey Gorgeous Blog

found at Zodirowe

So obviously using paint chips is a cheap and easy way to make amazing pieces for your home...but how do you keep track of all of these free crafting goodies?

Remember how we used to use CDs to listen to music? And more importantly, remember how you used to store CDs? Since our CDs are now conveniently compressed into iPods, you can use your old CD holder to store your paint chips. An easy and cheap storage solution for a cheap and easy craft staple!

That mom of mine...such a thinker!

Tutorial: Window Pane Jewelry Board + our first Giveaway!

I know I've mentioned my jewelry board before but I just really love it! Both Viktoria and I have one, but it was time that Karoline got one as well. My mom made one for her 16th birthday, and documented the process. Make sure to read to the bottom to see our first giveaway!

before and after

Step 1: Find your window pane. This one was found in our barn.

Step 2: This window pane still had all of the glass in it, so it had to be removed. A screwdriver, hammer and sandpaper was used to remove the glass. Once the glass has been removed, sand down the wood. It doesn't have to be perfect (so you can keep that vintage look!) but just enough so you can paint it.

Step 3: Paint the frame. It took 3 coats to get the kind of coverage needed. (P.S. how funny is that old shower curtain used as a backdrop for painting?)

Step 4: You will need a piece of wood that is the same size of your picture frame. You can have this cut at any place that sells wood. A piece of burlap is cut about an inch wider on each side, and then stapled onto the wood. Burlap was used since it adds texture without being distracting like a patterned piece of fabric would be.

Step 5: At this point you will be combining the wood and the window pane. This requires a bit of planning ahead because you can use longer screws so that they can also be used for the pulls to be attached to the front.

Step 6: Add the pulls and hooks. You can use any assortment of pulls - my mom usually uses a mix of vintage thrifted pulls, and store bought ones. DIY silk flowers were glued onto the corner (tutorial to come!)

Step 6: Attach a hanger to the back, and hang up! I love the way this turned out, especially how the headbands are incorporated!

The button earring frame was hooked to the bottom of this frame.

GIVEAWAY: We are giving away one button earring picture frame! All you have to do is become a follower or like us on facebook, and leave us a comment telling us how you follow us! Giveaway ends Friday, 3 February 2012.

Stars

Tutorial: Mini Light Flowers

Winter can become really dull and drab if you let it. Nothing like a little crafting with lights to cheer you up!

Step 1: Cut felt strips that are about 1 foot by 1 inch. Cut in fringe.

Step 2: Place a pencil on one end of the strip. Using fabric glue, draw a line down the non-fringe strip. Don't glue the part where the pencil will roll.

 Step 3: Roll!

 Step 4: Wrap a rubber band around your felt roll, and let dry completely.

 Step 5: Make more!

 Step 6: Take the rubber band off, pull the pencil out and replace with a light bulb. It is highly recommended that you use LED mini lights, because they do not heat up - therefore there is not fire hazard!

 Step 7: Hang somewhere cute, and admire.

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Everyone gets a Hook

A couple years ago, we made our own coat hook rack for the mud room. We had one long piece of wood, which was (evenly and fairly, of course) split into 4 sections. We each had the chance to paint whatever we wanted "our" hook portion to look like...similarly to the Family Pole. The pictures above each of our sections are just printed from the MacBook. These are at least 7 years old...which is why we all look so young (and why Karoline looks like a demon child).

My hooks!

Viktoria's

Maximilian's

Karoline's

Of course Tobi gets hooks too!

Have you liked us on Facebook yet?  Make sure to follow so you can receive updates on our progress!

We'll Drink You Under the Table

In high school, I knew exactly where I wanted to go to college - the University of Wisconsin. It was my dream, and I was lucky enough to fulfill that dream. I was obsessed with that school, which made it easy for my family to get me presents!

My sister Viktoria made me this awesome Bucky Board. She waitressed for a bit, and was able to save beer bottle tops to make this. She found a cross stitch pattern, and everywhere there was supposed to be a stitch, she placed a bottle top. Then you just nail it in!

2 tops went missing in the 2 moves since I got this...but I just can't bring myself to buy Bud Light bottles....

Felty Balls

Can we ever have a post without a play on words? The answer is no, we can't. We have to be as dirty as possible with these crafty posts!


So felty balls have become a favorite pastime for my mom. Now, I wish I could give you a step by step tutorial on how to do these...but we aren't there yet people! If you want a beginning tutorial, check out this blog post or this one! I think the take away message is to be as creative as possible (obviously, this is usually the end goal...). Here are just a few examples of the felt balls made so far!

My mom obviously hates water and the beach. As evidenced here, here, and here.

Remember Hans and Baer? Obvious cute inspiration:

How cute are the backs?

Part of the decorations in the GetAway Attic

Have any tips for ball felting? Want to share your felting projects! Please share below!

homemade pin cushion