Sandy Beach Picture Frame

I love pictures. They are little cameos of memories that don’t take up a ton of space. Pictures can be piled into books, scrap booked or framed. Unique picture frames can also be created out of objects that are too big or awkward to scrapbook.

 I am a little ashamed to say that at 19 months of age my son went to the beach for the first time. Living in Southern California, there is really no excuse for him to have not been yet. Oh sure, we’ve walked down the pier or along the sand on our way to lunch or to meet friends at the coffee shop, but he has not had an official “beach day”. My dear friend and her 5 month old daughter also came along for her first beach day. To commemorate the big event I decided to create some unique picture frames; one for me and one for my friend.

I bought 2 simple wood frames from Michael's for $1 apiece. I took the frames to the beach along with Modge Podge (MP) and a foam brush that could be thrown away (easier than trying to find a sink to clean out a nicer brush). I spread the MP generously and as evenly as possible and then pressed the frame gently but firmly into the sand. Take several minutes and enjoy the beachy sunshine. Pull up your frame and do a second layer of MP and sand.

At home, spray the frame generously with a spray fixative to keep it from shedding too much sand into your house. Arrange your shells, rocks, seaweed, driftwood, etc. on your “sanded” frame. Hot glue the objects to the frame. If you would like, bring some sand home with you from the beach and use it to quickly sprinkle over the spots where the hot glue squeezes out from under your objects. Maybe it’s just me, but it drives me nuts when I can see dried hot glue when a project’s done. You have to do it while the glue is still hot though! You can also use clear nail polish on those shells and rocks that are so much more colorful when they are wet. 

 While these are not the prettiest shells that the beach had to offer, they are the ones that my son deemed interesting enough to pick up himself. This would be such a fun project for older kids to do from a special vacation. Let them take some plastic bags to collect objects to take home and fix to frames. Bring home sand from the river, acorns from the camp ground, or rocks from the hike. It will be so much fun for them to look back and remember those places that they were found.

Mud Run Shirts

So my sister, Hollywood, and I did the World Famous Camp Pendleton Mud Run last month. In preparation for this momentous occasion we decided that cute customized crop tops died hot pink were in order. Most people would be loading up on water and sleep the night before a 10k obstacle course, but not us! 

Kristin found an idea on the internet for dying t-shirts and leaving a design with Elmer's Glue. It very highly recommended the blue GEL School Glue. I went to 5 different stores before I finally found it at Staples for around $3 ( I can't find the reciept). I also bought 2 white tank tops from WalMart for $5 each, and a package of pink Rit Dye for $2.29 from JoAnns. 

First, write or draw what you want on your shirt with the Elmer's. We put a piece of cardboard in the shirt to keep the front from sticking to the back. Use a paint brush to work the glue into the fabric and crispify your design. Use a hairdryer to speed up the dry time.

Second, dye the shirts according to the package. We used the bucket method with the logical thinking that is won't work the glue out of the fabric.

Third, throw the shirts into the washing machine and wash according to the dye packaging. Don't forget to clean your washer afterwards to prevent ruining your next load of clothes. Dry!

We decided to crop our tops since we had been training since January to become fit enough to complete this run and our tummies are looking pretty darn good. Definitly the best I've looked since having my son a year and a half ago!

Check out those arms!

Poking my sister, Hollywood.

BEFORE

AFTER

Vicious Mud Warriors!

Father's Day Toddler Gift

For Father’s Day this year I wanted to find a project that both my son and I could work on together to show Daddy how much we appreciated him. I looked and looked for something that he would really appreciate. Painting a tie or making a paper weight just isn’t our thing. Daddy doesn’t wear ties (and what dad really wears them beyond Father’s Day anyways?) and we don’t have a desk for a paper weight. Besides that, I am sorta anti nick-knacks. I really can’t stand things that have no purpose and take up valuable shelf space… unless it also has a use, which is different.

A toddler friendly craft!

I found this great idea revolving around cookies (what dad doesn’t like cookies?!). The original idea takes a Pringles package, have the child paint it, and then fill it with dad’s favorite cookie. Well, I hate Pringles and, unless you’re packing Oreos, the can really isn’t big enough for normal cookies. I found a can that works much better than Pringles, Pik-Nik Original Shoestring Potatoes. They taste like potato chips in more of a french-fries form, much tastier than Pringles. 

Anyways, I washed it the container and dried it as quickly as possible (it’s paper with foil). I painted it red all over to cover the printing and give the kiddo a clean canvas to work on. I handed him an old paintbrush and set up a paper plate with acrylic paint. I helped him by turning the can as he painted to keep him from overworking the colors into that nondescript form of gray that toddlers are masters at creating. We let it dry and I baked homemade chocolate chip cookies from scratch. I used a plastic bread bag to line the painted can since I don’t totally trust washed cardboard with acrylic paint all over it. The cookies fit perfectly, and we delivered the cookies to Daddy at work. There is always something about having special gifts delivered to you at work. Think about it, isn’t it fun when we gals get flowers at work? There’s something about having witnesses to your reception of a thoughtful gift. Guys like it too, it’s just harder to find a good opportunity.

                         BEFORE                                    DURING                                  AFTER!

Cheese Graters and Earring Storage

So I have storage issues in my home. It is VERY small, with very limited wall space. I also like having some negative space, which is a precious commodity. I have some of that precious negative space in my bathroom. As a rule, I don't hang artwork in bathrooms. The moisture and heat is terrible for canvas and paper. However, what about framing my earrings? I do not have any storage for my hanging earrings. It's fine to pile my stud earrings into my antique jewelry box, but it's rough on the pretty dangling ones. So it's Pinterest to the rescue!

Distressed picture frame with chicken wire.

I have been looking for a few weeks now for the perfect frame to turn into my jewelry rack. I finally found one that was the appropriate size and shape. I found two at my local thrift store for $2.95 each. I'll keep one the original naked wood for a photo. I removed the glass and the back board and spray painted it a bright blue. I waited for it to mostly dry and then spray painted over that with white. About an hour later I went at it with a fine grit sand paper and distressed it. If I do this again I'll probably use a slightly larger grit. I went to my parent's place and absconded with one of Mom's plant cages. I figured it was rusting and going to be useless soon anyways, right? I wire cut it to fit the frame, and since I couldn't find my staple gun (AAAAAAARG!!!) I very carefully hot glued it in. The frame already had hanging hardware so I was done!

          The Inspiration

          project cost: $2.95

          project time: 1-2 hours

The back side of the cheese grater earring tree.

I found an awesome idea to turn a cheese grater into an earring holder. I love up-cycling and re-purposing. I found this old cheese grater for $0.98 at the same thrift store. I cleaned it really well with dish soap and water and used some bright sunny yellow spray paint left over from another project. I would recommend painting the inside of it before the outside. I also highly recommend Rust-Oleum Painter's Touch Ultra Cover spray paint. I got some Krylon for another craft and I was sorely disappointed with it. I left the cheese grater outside all day to thoroughly dry.

       

          The Inspiration

          project cost: $0.98

          project time: 20 minutes 

 

BEFORE

AFTER