Hey friends! It’s $10 on the 10th. This months theme is Ladybugs. Not gonna lie, I had to pull out the extra creative juices on this one, but I’m pretty happy with what I ended up with. Spring means planting season here in Texas. Which means that we are outside a lot more. When my boys were little I always tried to find a fun outdoor activity to keep them busy while I gardened. Since our theme is Ladybugs, it only stands to reason that I would think of a Ladybug bug box!

I picked up this colorful bug box at my local Dollar Tree.

It is so fun and colorful, however it was a little plain.

It needed a little something extra.

Plus, if you have more than one little it’s always good to do something that lets each child know who’s bug box is who’s.

Nobody needs a squabble going on while work is getting done!

Step 1

To make my bug box extra special, I cut out this vinyl ladybug on my Silhouette.

If you don’t have a cutting machine there are a ton of vinyl stickers available at craft stores.

Step 2

Apply the vinyl transfer to the bug box.

Step 4

Add extra embellishments.

I added a few “dashes” to show the ladybug’s flight.

On the back side I added the child’s name.

My Ladybug box is done!

I found this magnifying glass at Hobby Lobby and couldn’t resist adding it to the box.

Super easy and guaranteed to keep littles busy!

Now please join me in visiting the other bloggers to see what Ladybug things they came up with.

Patti – Pandora’s Box

Allyson – Southern Sunflowers

Terrie – Decorate And More With Tip

Barbara – French Ethereal

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Welcome to the DIY Challenge! Every month, on the First Wednesday, our hostess Terrie from Decorate And More With Tip issues a challenge to a group of fun bloggers. This month’s challenge is to Upcycle! I will be sharing my reversible Spring / Easter sign that I made from pallet boards.

If you are coming from Cindy’s at Cloche’s and Lavenders, I am so happy that you are here! Doesn’t she make the prettiest decor items?

Last week I shared my Spring mantle with you. In the middle of the mantle, the showpiece of the design, was a few signs that said Spring. Guess what? It’s reversible! I have to admit that my reversible Spring/ Easter sign may just be my favorite decoration this year.

When we built our pool last spring, everything that was ordered came on a wooden pallet.

Some we gave away, some we threw away and some we kept, thinking that we would use a few for projects.

Well, today is the day!

I asked The Hubs to grab me a couple of boards to use to make a reversible sign.

And because I’m a sharing kind of gal, here are the instructions to make one for yourself!

Cut your boards

After taking the pallets apart, I had The Hubs cut 2  of each 7″, 6 1/2 ” and 6″ boards.

Paint the boards

After giving the boards a good sanding I painted all of the boards white.

Place the “kick stand” on your boards

You will need a way to ensure that your boards will stand up.

To do this, all you need is a small dowel rod and a hole the circumference of the dowel in the bottom of your board.

Find the center of the board and drill the hole.

Cut the Dowel Rods

Using a small Miter box, I cut the dowel into 6 – 2 1/2 ” pieces.

To make your boards stand up, simply slide the dowels into the holes that you drilled into your boards.

If you are using the “Spring” signs, you will push the dowels all the way through, flush with the front of the board.

The dowels will then stick out the back, forming a “kick stand” to make your boards stand up!

Place Lettering on Boards

To put lettering on the boards, using your computer to print out the lettering of your choice on your printer.

Flip each letter over.

Using a pencil color around the edges of your letter. You should be able to see the letters through your printer paper.

Flip the letter over to the right side and place on your board.

Using a stylus, or your pencil  trace around your letter.

Your letter is now transferred to your board.

Paint your letters

Using the paint of your choice, paint the letters.

Embellish the letters

Now this is the fun part!

I painted a decorative edging around the outside edge of all of my boards..

Added highlights to each letter to make them stand out.

And added a little glitter paint to give them a little depth.

Oh, who am I kidding?

I added the glitter cause it’s fun!

So let’s take a look at my reversible Spring / Easter sign.

Here’s the Easter side.

And here’s the Spring side.

I’m seriously loving my reversible sign!

Now that you’ve seen my upcycled item, it’s time to head on over to CD’s at Pallet and Pantry to see her upcycled project!

Don’t forget to visit all of the DIY Challenge participants to see what upcycled items they’ve created!

DECORATE AND MORE WITH TIP | Blessings by me | JUNK TO GEMS | CLOCHES AND LAVENDER

PATINA AND PAINT | PALLET AND PANTRY | B4 & AFTERS | PURPLE HUES AND ME

SWEET SOUTHERN GRACE

Happy March 2! I know I say this almost every month, but time is flying!  Which makes me so happy as I can’t wait for Spring. We are still working on our kitchen, but progress has been slow due to the weather. So when I can’t be working on the kitchen I’ve been making a few fun decor items. Today I am sharing how to make an easy wooden tray.

I’ve been looking for a round wooden tray to hold my canisters in my kitchen, but so far I either haven’t found the size I need or one in my budget.

On a recent trip to Hobby Lobby I found this “tray” in the wood section.

Since it had a hanger on the back I feel like it would hang on the wall, however it was the perfect size of the tray I wanted.

Plus, the tray was on sale making it $11.89.

All it needed was feet.

I also found these solid  wooden balls for $4.99.

With both the feet and the tray base together the price came in well under $20.00.

Which was more than in my budget!

Here’s just how easy it was to make.

Step 1:

Paint your tray and wooden balls.

I used white spray paint.

Since the center of my tray was not wood, I felt that a spray paint would adhere to the surface better than an acrylic paint.

Step 2:

Glue the wooden balls to the tray.

Once the paint had dried thoroughly, I flipped the tray over and removed the hanger.

Tip: Remove the hanger before spray painting. Don’t be me!

Then, using a ruler found the center of the tray.

If you look closely you can see my pencil lines.

Using E6000 glue, I adhered the wooden balls to the bottom of the tray.

I used my pencil lines to make sure that the feet were spaced evenly apart.

Step 3:

Distress the tray.

Make sure that the glue on the wooden balls dries thoroughly.

I cannot stress this enough.

If they aren’t sufficiently adhered to the tray, they will fall off.

And nobody wants to have a tray loaded with pretties when a foot falls off!

After your glue has dried, give it a quick light sanding to distress the edges.

I just wanted hints of wood showing through, not a full blown distressed look.

So, easy on the sanding.

Once you have finished distressing your tray, you are ready to load it up.

I am so happy with the way my tray turned out!

Also, wouldn’t it be pretty if you added a design to the middle?

Maybe Mod Podge a napkin to the center to match your kitchen?

The possibilities are endless.

Making an easy wooden tray was well… truly easy!

Until next time….

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Welcome! Can you believe that it’s already September 1? I would complain, but for the first time that I can remember I’m ready for fall. With the first of every month comes the DIY Challenge and I’m loving this months theme – Fall inspiration! Nothing makes me feel like it’s fall until I get my kitchen decorated. One of the things that I love best is pulling out fall themed kitchen towels.  Which is why I’m sharing how to make fall kitchen towels with you today!

A great big shout out to Terrie from Decorate and More With Tip. She’s our fearless leader and  I can’t tell you how much work she puts into hosting each month. Thank You Terrie!

Also, if you are visiting here from Blessings by me, I’m so glad that you are here!

Now, let’s get started!

I love cute flour sack towels.

Especially the ones that have fun quotes.

One teeny tiny issue though, sometimes they can get pricey.

So, I decided that I could make a few of my own.

In some ways this craft is so simple that I’m almost embarrassed to share it with you.

Simple, yet time  consuming!

Supplies:

1. Cutting Matt
2. Vinyl
3. Scissors
4. Iron or Heat Press Machine
5. Computer
6. Flour Sack towels. I found mine here.
   

   
   Step 1:

Before I go much further, I realize that not everyone has a cutting machine, however I plan to offer you what I think is a cute alternative at the end of this post!

I used my cutting machine’s software to upload a design for my kitchen towels.

Step 2:

Once my design was finished, I loaded my cutting machine with vinyl and let it do it’s magic!

This particular design has several colors.

Each color was cut out separately.

Step 3:

Iron on your design.

In my case I had 4 different colors, so each color would have to be ironed on separately.

Honestly, I know that there is a way to put all of the layers together before ironing them on, I  just haven’t had the time to watch a tutorial to figure it out!

I ironed mine on with my new heat press machine, however an iron works just fine.

Here’s how my Fall kitchen towel turned out.

I love it!!!

So much so that I think that I will be making some Fall and Christmas ones for gifts!

Now what if you don’t have a vinyl cutting machine?

I have two ideas for you.

Did you know that you can buy precut vinyl decals?

Well, you can!

You order, then simply iron on.

And what about stencils?

How simple would this be?

All you would need would be kitchen towels, paint and a brush!

I love making kitchen towels, but I also like that I can choose my design, color and theme to perfectly match my kitchen.

Making Fall kitchen towels have never been so much fun!

Now it’s time to head on over to visit Liberty at B4 and Afters, I can’t wait to see what she has made!

Also, be sure to visit all of the other DIY Challenge participants and their wonderful Fall projects!

Decorate and More with Tip

Jessica Simmons

Cloches and Lavender

Bluesky at Home

Bushra’s Lifestyle

Pretty DIY Home

A Vintage Flare Farmhouse

Blessings by Me

B4 and Afters

As always, if you loved it, be sure to Pin it!!