Dream Lovers

Dream Lovers

You could make a great picture like this one quite easily. All you need is a drawing that you like and a mirror to etch it on. My husband made this mirror with a picture he found online. He taped the picture to the back of the mirror and used an etching tool to engrave the image. Once the picture is completely done, spray the back of the mirror with paint. For a more subtle look, forget the paint. My husband made the frame custom. What a great gift idea.

I'm Sending You a Box of Love!

I'm Sending You a Box of Love!

Every now-and-then, I have the need for a small gift idea. Maybe it's for the woman I work with, or the child down th street, either way it's always useful to be able to come up with an idea in a short perid of time.

This idea is not my on, but I came across it years ago and have used it many times.

Wrap a small empty box with nice wrapping paper (mine is only about 1"x1"), spare no expense in the decoration.

add a small card with the message saying something like ..."i'm sending you my love..."

Here's what mine says:

In this box,

wrapped so tightly.

There's a wonderful gift,

so don't take it lightly.

What's in the box,

is so special, you see.

Because it's just for you,

and it's only from me.

I was given a sign,

sent from above.

And that sign told me,

that you could use some love.

I made the poem myself. You can use it in yours or make one of your own.

Under the Sea Bedroom Idea

Under the Sea Bedroom Idea

When my children were younger, I wanted to do something fun with their room. Since we were renting the house we were living in, painting the walls in wild designs and colors was out of the question. After some thought I came up with this idea. I think the plants look pretty realistic and more importantly, everything you see on the wall is completely removable.

By the way, the bench that you're looking at is made from a pallet, and the table is made from recycled wood. Inside of the table is a puzzle that my husband and I put together and epoxied to the top.

Back to the wall...

All you need to make these plants is contact paper! I bought a couple of rolls of white contact paper and painted it with green paint (keep some of it white for later). Keep in mind that these are plants, do not paint it solid green, just paint the paper with one or two strokes (keep the direction the same. for instance either paint up and down or left to right, don't do both). Once the paint is dry, then just cut the paper into wavy strips, and then begin arranging them on the wall. Since contact paper is made to be removed, it is completely repositionable.

The fish are cut out of fabric. I just cut around the outline of the fish and sprayed the back with spray glue. (Be very careful to use one that is not perminate! Do not put the glue on the wall, only spray the back of the fabric... This will keep it a temporary bond allowing you to remove it when the time comes.)

I added bubbles in different sizes above the fish's mouthes and dotted around the room. These bubbles were just circles cut out of the white paper you set aside earlier.

Cardboard Lampstand

Cardboard Lampstand

Here's a great recycle idea. This one of a kind lampstand is made from a recycled welding barrel. All my husband and I did was make the platforms on the top and bottom of the barrel out of scrap wood. Next put a dowel rod inside the middle and wrapped it with clear christmas lights. (the sides of the barrel had holes in it) Over the holes in the barrel we glued a thin fabric so the lights shine through. Finally we covered the whole thing with contact paper.

This project can be made in less than a day and when you're done, you have a great piece of furniture and a new memory. I love these stands, and use them all the time.

Abstract Butterfly

Abstract Butterfly

Here's a project that anyone can do (by anyone, I mean ANYONE!)

You can make an abstract painting for yourself or to give as a gift.

All you need to do is take a scrap piece of wood, or cardboard, or anything you want to use. You need several little bottles of latex paint. (you can get these at any craft store). Get the colors that work for you. After the painting is done, then you will need a frame to put it in. You can either make one as we did, or you can buy one.

Think about an animal that you like, or maybe you like flowers (you don't have to know how to draw it in detail, this is an abstract painting). Then just start creating the outline by dropping the paint straight from the bottle.

My husband and I did this picture of a Butterfly for our daughters bedroom. We had a blast making it. Our daughter loves it!